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

cccpman · 07-05-2011, 01:31 PM

Its finally hot enough for me to justify using the A/C, it was pretty weak last summer so when I turned it on today I didn't expect much. It was blowing fairly hot air, so I went out and bought a can of EZ Chill r-134a with that gauge built in.

Followed the instructions, ran the thing for 5 minutes and Lo setting (max vent) so the compressor would engage, I felt it engage from the drivers seat and finished my smoke. When I attached the hose it read right around 20psi so I followed the directions shaking the can up and pumping in some more r-134. I ended up bringing it to 35 psi, which is right dead in the center of the 'safe' zone. As I was about to detach the can I heard this loud grinding noise, the pressure on the can gauge went from the 35 and flew up into the red zone around 65psi. When I was getting back into the car to turn it off I noticed a plume of smoke from under the hood, and it had a pretty bad smell (plastic/electrical?) but I didnt get a good look at where it was coming from

I shut the A/C off immediately, and turned the car off to seek some advice.

The sight glass next to the high side is clear, I dont actually see anything at all in it (is that normal?)

Its a 2003 V8 with a little over 150k miles on her. Whats wrong with her? I really didn't want to spend over 200 at a dealer to charge some AC but if this damn $20 can causes a $300 repair I will be furious. Im going to be in the desert for work, I dont want 120 degree heat in a black car with leather seats without A/C

jetwhine · 07-05-2011, 03:34 PM

cccpman,

There should be a fuse type of bolt on the compressor that will blow when the pressure gets too high. That is maybe what happened. If that has happened you might want to take it to a qualified mech. to get it taken care of.

cccpman · 07-05-2011, 04:16 PM

I dont quite understand. Is there a diagram or a picture, more of a visual person I suppose. Would I need to remove the compressor to be able to see this fuse type bolt? Do I have to bleed the system anyways if I were to remove the compressor?

Thank you