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1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Mrnavy1
Novice
Jul 16, 2014, 1:11 PM
Post #1 of 15
(4940 views)
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1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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1998 Toyota Rav 4 with 350k A/C would work and then stop working then after car set all night A/C would work some times 3 days then blow hot air again . And continue to do the same thing again.
What have we done replaced fan on right side the is for A/C as it was not working . Did not fix problem. Next drain refrigerant and evacuated system recharged worked for about 3 days and again stopped giving cold air . Next replaced 3 relays (2 black1green)as new fan was cycling on and off every 5 seconds . Worked giving cold air for 2 days and then start putting out hot air (seams like the heater is on) My friend says maybe a derision switch in under the dash blowing the air over the heater . We do know the compressor is cycling ok but why are we getting hot air at times and the car sets over night i get cold air in the morning Hope some one has the answer Thanks Norm
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 16, 2014, 4:51 PM
Post #2 of 15
(4926 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Norm,
A/C isn't for everyone. It needs a working fan for condenser which you seem to have fixed. No clue what you did or used to evacuate and recharge this system and with what but probably the problem now.
Please read this on just plain charging a known working system which is also at the top (locked) at the top of this section. This is at a minimum what you need to do for a chance.
http://autoforums.carjunky.com/..._A/C_SYSTEMS_P45460/
Cycling compressor means little without a lot more information. They can if too full, too low as noted by pressure switches cutting out for that or other reasons.
In charging you should be going by the book, pure refrigerant (no cans with gauges on them things with junk added) into a well held vacuum to specified charge. I have a chart (they can be wrong so go by under the hood information first) that states it calls for 25 oz. of 134a refrigerant from empty meaning a total vacuum! No air in the system and take care not to allow air when charging even in hoses of equipment - should at least be using a decent gauge set and way to weigh in the proper charge.
Chances are it's all wrong is my hunch. You can rent for free (full deposit) vacuum pump and gauges but need to buy refrigerant, a scale at a minimum and know how to operate them. Not sure but having this done for you is usually going to save you $$ vs buying a lot of stuff. You must have a known weight of charge or not much else matters if still not right.
If the heater was adding heat thru a malfunction of a blend door that is it's own separate issue. I tend to think it's not being intermittent on you but rather a problem with plain age and miles on this vehicle are way past life expectancy for many things including A/C components that can get very expensive quickly especially when things are done WRONG.
BTW - Parts stores sell products and that's their job. Knowing what to do and use for your car is YOUR responsibility NOT theirs so watch out for that at some places,
T
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Mrnavy1
Novice
Jul 17, 2014, 2:28 AM
Post #3 of 15
(4912 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Thanks Tom for your reply . The person doing what i described above is a Navy friend who operates a car repair business for over 30 years in town and has all the equipment you talked about and works on my other car & truck so i do trust in him .
He is using pure refrigerant and with the gauge set and using the info from the sticker on the car. I will let him look at how i explained the problem to you and see if i did it correct and see how things go today and get back to you . Again thanks for you help Norm
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 17, 2014, 2:34 AM
Post #4 of 15
(4906 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Sounds good. As said this is scary biz and the mistakes not only don't work but some wreck a system! Some regulars here get overly anxious about the crap sold out there that claims any idiot can fix their own with little warning of the trouble those "kits" can cause. Good luck and hope it's NBD,
Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 17, 2014, 4:06 AM
Post #5 of 15
(4897 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Has anyone even determined what happens when it goes hot?
Is the compressor running?
Is the suction line cold coming out of the evaporator?
What do the pressures reflect when this happens?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Mrnavy1
Novice
Jul 17, 2014, 10:42 AM
Post #6 of 15
(4885 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Hammer thanks for your input . I just got back from the garage and they had it over night from when the A/C went hot and Earl said he first checked all the controls in side the car and under dash all seam to be working . Then he started it and drove for about 40 miles and said it will freeze you out. He let it run for over 1hr at the shop and still cold air. As of 1 hr ago i cranked it up and got cold air. I will take it for the weekend and see how it does.
Answers to your questions Yes the compressor was running when it went to hot . Both fans were running at med speed tempter gauge in side car was normal. The condenser fan did not cycle fast & slow stayed same speed while car idled . #2 He did not feel the suction line coming out of evaporator #3 did not check pressure when it happened But if it goes hot again this will be done and can give you answers . Will keep you posted and thanks so much for your help Norm
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Mrnavy1
Novice
Jul 18, 2014, 5:58 AM
Post #7 of 15
(4871 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Went to mechanic again this morning car A/C doing ok will get it this afternoon and use it over weekend see how it goes
I have a question what side is it condensor fan on drivers side or passenger side . While it was running at the shop about 20min the driver side fan kept running and passenger side did not turn on while i was there for about 10 min. The passenger side fan is the one we replaced.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 18, 2014, 6:31 AM
Post #8 of 15
(4868 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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You made me go look and it didn't show which side but did list one for radiator and another for condenser. The radiator one had 4 bolts to mount housing and all the condenser had 3 if look up was accurate?
If engine isn't hot enough (sometimes not) it may not be needed for both. By default if A/C is blowing properly cool (measure if need be at center vent) sitting still with one fan going it's happy with that much air flowing.
You are there to look at it. Is condenser only on one side not the entire area? You should still know that both work as intended. Usually if warm enough if you shut down engine for a few minutes heat would rise in engine and probably trigger fan for radiator at least for a while just sitting there.
Most fans for condensers run constantly when A/C compressor is engaged AND blowing cool for you. Some wait or quit as needed but not likely sitting still,
T
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Mrnavy1
Novice
Jul 21, 2014, 2:24 AM
Post #9 of 15
(4832 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Update
Over the weekend i took the car and drove it to a flee market in the morning about 25 miles and it was cool out the A/C worked good all the way stayed there 3 hours . Then from there in the afternoon went up the highway about 15 miles (out side air temp about 87) and the A/C went to hot . So i went into a parking lot open hood and first checked the evaporator line and it is hot both fans are going. But while there i notice the A/C fan(passenger side) does not turn on or off to high speed (and this is a new fan) the radiator fan will cycle on & off. When i clicked off the A/C button both fans stopped and radiator fan only cycled on and off .Then i turned on A/C and the fan A/C fan only stayed on regulator speed and never cycled to fast the compressor is also clicking on.
Came home and after car sat 4 hours checked A/C and temperature gage showed cold but A/C still did not work blowing hot. Now car sat over night and this morning checked A/C and blowing cold air .
I am wondering if it has some thing to do with this new A/C fan not cycling and keeping the condenser cool enough so back i go to the mechanic Earl
(This post was edited by Mrnavy1 on Jul 21, 2014, 2:27 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 21, 2014, 2:29 AM
Post #10 of 15
(4829 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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With all these observations, did anyone check to see if the compressor was running?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 21, 2014, 2:41 AM
Post #11 of 15
(4827 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Quote"Then i turned on A/C and the fan A/C fan only stayed on regulator speed and never cycled to fast the compressor is also clicking on."
Does that mean compressor is engaging and quickly cycling on and off? Chances are it is losing its charge but too early to conclude without taking pressure IF IT CYCLES pressures would likely show why.
Then if low already find the leak if convinced. Dye, sniffer for refrigerant, oily spots where they don't belong. Oily drain for evaporator and several other checks also including a good look at front of compressor behind the clutch for a shaft seal leak. Most wouldn't be totally dry at age and miles but this fast if there probably shows new oiliness and a sniffer would verify it.
Then your call on the next step and how much you wish to spend or need A/C enough that price (always important) isn't a choice and you must have it?
T
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Mrnavy1
Novice
Jul 21, 2014, 5:59 AM
Post #12 of 15
(4811 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Just got back from repair shop
When i arrived this morning A/C was working and all pressures were ok. So i took it for a 30mi ride and it quit blowing cold air. When i arrived back at the repair shop he put the gages on and nothing. He is thinking it might be a expansion valve it is behind the fire wall. The compressor is working & the condenser in front of raider is cool. but the evaporator line is hot .
Will keep update I want to thank all of you for responce Norm
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 21, 2014, 6:16 AM
Post #13 of 15
(4807 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Being intermittent can be trouble but agree that if it can work again that expansion valve would be on my short list. If never again it would be fast leak so glad nobody jumped to conclusions.
I still maintain let the pros do it as it will take total evac and charge again. Seems it happens enough that if you do that and it keeps working you are all set till some other thing big or small,
T
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Mrnavy1
Novice
Jul 28, 2014, 12:18 PM
Post #14 of 15
(4758 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Well i waited until i was sure things were working. And your short list was correct Yes it was the expansion valve. My mechanic replaced it he said it was not to hard to get to under the glove box. I have been running around town for several days now and the tep here in SC has been up to 91. I hope this form helps others that might come accrost the same problems Thanks to everyone who commeted on my problem
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 28, 2014, 6:04 PM
Post #15 of 15
(4749 views)
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Re: 1998 Toyota Rav 4 A/C Problem
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Great. I call this solved and thanks for the report. Closed to keep spammers out and can be reopened on YOUR request,
T
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