01 Avalon AC stops blowing cold after 2-3hrs

[wineguydfw]

I am new to this Toyota forum, but not to the concept. I have another benchmark import brand and have spent many hours on their supporting forum.

A good friend has a 2001 Avalon XLS with Auto Climate control. He spends MANY hours on the road travelling on business. Well towards the end of this grueling Texas summer, his AC would stop blowing cold after 2-3 hours. He took it too the dealer and they advised him it was likely the Cabin Filter. He said they wanted $250+ to replace, which I thought was VERY high even for a dealership. I fear, he doesn't recall everything they were going to do. Anyway, I changed the filter no problem. He was on a trip last weekend and it happened again.

Any ideas? Could something be "freezing" up or overheating causing this to happen?

Thanks in advance.

WineguyDFW

[bobflood]

Originally Posted by wineguydfw

I am new to this Toyota forum, but not to the concept. I have another benchmark import brand and have spent many hours on their supporting forum.

A good friend has a 2001 Avalon XLS with Auto Climate control. He spends MANY hours on the road travelling on business. Well towards the end of this grueling Texas summer, his AC would stop blowing cold after 2-3 hours. He took it too the dealer and they advised him it was likely the Cabin Filter. He said they wanted $250+ to replace, which I thought was VERY high even for a dealership. I fear, he doesn't recall everything they were going to do. Anyway, I changed the filter no problem. He was on a trip last weekend and it happened again.

Any ideas? Could something be "freezing" up or overheating causing this to happen?

Thanks in advance.

WineguyDFW

Make sure that the condensate drain tube is not plugged up. It allows the water that condenses on the evaporator in the cabin to drain outside the car. It comes out thru the floorboard under the passenger side just aft of the firewall. If it is not draining, condensate can build up in the coil, freeze, and restrict the cool air flow circulation in the cabin.