A/C Issue - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Rycon · 07-21-2006, 09:45 PM

So my gf's 94 camry has another problem, the A/C works great in it, but every so often it just blows warm air, i cant find any sort of pattern to it as to when it does it, just randomly. If you let the car sit a while, it will start working again. It idles normally, no weird noises, it just simply starts blowing warm air at any random time. The light doesnt flash on the button.

So i got a recharge bottle from walmart of R-134A that has a gauge on it to test it, i tested it and it reads 65 PSI saying that it may be overcharged and to seek professional assistance, so i tested my Acura Integra (Which the A/C works fine) and it tests at the same exact PSI. (Yes i tested with car running, A/C on max, and gave it time to stableize). The compressor seems fine, i tried reving up the engine to give the compressor more power, didnt do anything, it just does it randomly. I heard it may be related to the incredible humidity, which we are having here (NC). Or that somthing may be full of leaves and trash.

Any suggestions? Thanx

marc780 · 07-21-2006, 10:01 PM

Sounds like you have tried every reasonable DIY repair, except for one - clean the exterior of the radiator and A/C evaporator (mini radiator looking thing attached to radiator). To do this use low pressure air (30 psi) or water (low pressure rinse or hose). Clean the evaporator but good, blow from the engine side out to clean out between the fins, i am sure a load of dirt and leaves will fall out. And run the A/C and see what happens. If this doesnt fix it, might be time for the A/C shop to look at it.

Dave's · 07-22-2006, 08:08 AM

I had a "I can't" Stanza which did this from new. Stealership kept telling me nothing was wrong, I just didn't know how it worked. Finally an outside shop drove it around several hours and it happened so they traced it to a loose wire on a relay. I think the relay was made so the light stayed on but the output wire didn't make contact so the compressor shut down and I got hot air. Then it would make contact and cool off again. It was very random. And it always seemed to work when 1st starting the car. Checking all your connections (I'd probably start at the compressor) might be the thing to do.

Rycon · 07-23-2006, 12:02 PM

Yeah this defintly could be the case, because the engine doesnt seem to lack that bit of power while its blowing hot air like all cars usualy do when the compressor is on. Thanx for the info.

I was also told that it could be some sort of pressure sensor that tests the pressure inside the A/C and if it gets to low, it shuts off the compressor so that it doesnt kill itself (because it lubercates itself with oil using pressure). If the sensor is going bad it will read low pressure when it the pressure is actuley fine. The way i could test it is to find this sensor, take out the harness (because i was told if you take out the sensor, you will allow air into the system, which then has to be removed by making a vacum) and then put a paper clip into the harness and see if the compressor turns on.

Is this the case on a camry? If so, does anyone know where i can locate this sensor?

DFBonnett · 07-23-2006, 12:18 PM

When this happens are you getting power to the clutch on the compressor? Is the clutch engaging? Perhaps the relay has an intermittent problem.
FWIW
YMMV

Rycon · 07-24-2006, 12:04 PM

Its an automatic, no clutch.

DFBonnett · 07-24-2006, 02:41 PM

The electric clutch on the compressor. Go here....

http://oregonstate.edu/~tongt/camry/index.html

Download the manual and familiarize yourself with some of the terminology and components.