AC doesn't blow hot air - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

yobujji · 07-25-2010, 11:47 AM

Hi All,

My first post in this forum. I have a 1999 Corolla and the AC works in a funny way. Whenever I leave the car in the sun for a sufficiently long time, the AC doesn't blow cold air. But if I had it parked it in a closed garage, the AC works fine. Also, the AC works fine in the mornings but after I have driven it for a long time in the heat, it stops working again. Can somebody help identify the cause?

Thanks.

mr1114 · 07-25-2010, 01:16 PM

Is the air noticeably warm? have you checked the temperature of it coming out of the vents with a thermometer?

Bitter · 07-25-2010, 01:42 PM

get it evac'd and recharged, you may have air in the system.

yobujji · 07-25-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr1114

Is the air noticeably warm? have you checked the temperature of it coming out of the vents with a thermometer?

The air is not warmer than the outside air. I haven't measured it with a thermometer yet.

mr1114 · 07-25-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

get it evac'd and recharged, you may have air in the system.

+1

This is what I do every time I buy a used car, even if the A/C seems to be working ok. Most of the time I find that the charge is a bit low, so I top it off to the correct specification. As I work in a shop, it doesnt cost me anything.

yobujji · 07-25-2010, 10:55 PM

How much does it cost to get the system evac'd and charged?

Thanks

Bitter · 07-25-2010, 11:42 PM

depends what they charge, call around.

yobujji · 07-27-2010, 10:54 AM

I called Midas and firestone in my area and they seem to charge anywhere from $20-40 for a diagnostic check and 125-150 for a full evac and recharge. Does that sound right?

Thanks..

yobujji · 07-28-2010, 11:38 AM

Well, I got the bad news yesterday. Midas tells me that the compressor needs to be changed. I don't want to believe that's the case as it sounds like it will cost upwards of $500 to get a new compressor. Any opinions plz?

mr1114 · 07-28-2010, 12:29 PM

I would take it somewhere else for a second opinion. Midas wouldnt be my first choice if I was having an A/C problem.

Hialeah Florida · 07-31-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yobujji

I called Midas and firestone in my area and they seem to charge anywhere from $20-40 for a diagnostic check and 125-150 for a full evac and recharge. Does that sound right?

Thanks..

I would stay far away from Midas and Firestone or any of those kind of shops as all they do [down here in Miami anyway] is rip people off big time every day of the week...You know when they are lying cause it's when their mouth is moving....All the managers of those places belong in jail for the rest of their life.

I would stick to a A/C shop only but do not take your eyes off of them!...Maybe you can find a honest independent but they are hard to come by.