Well after 4 months of summer here in Fl with a BLACK 4runner without AC ive decieded that I've waited long enough. Take her in and I get a call about 2 hrs later.

Evaporator has a slight leak but the system is still charged, however the AC compressor literally grenaded.

The guy is now quoting me about 1800 to replace the compressor, evaporator, convert from R12 to 134....



My truck isnt even worth about 1800.... What would you guys do? Pop on a new one that I can get from ebay/NAPA/CarQuest, then bring it in to be converted and charged? Switch AC shops?

 

if thats whats wrong, call around and get some other price quotes then decide if you truely want to pay that much or maybe do most of it yourself.

 

You could take it in and have the refrigerant evacuated and then buy and install the parts yourself if you feel confident enough to do it. Once it's all together you can pick up a 134 conversion kit just about anywhere for about $35. The whole conversion and charging with the kit is pretty simple. As I said, if you feel confident to do it, I'd give it a shot. Just be sure to have a shop evacuate the R12 first.

 

That's nuts. When I was younger I was looking at a really stripped down ranger, only thing it needed was AC. Dealer wanted 1200 to install it on site. That would include all of the parts, tearing the dash apart to wire it etc. Replacing what you already have should be much much less. I'd probably call around first, but swapping it out yourself will be a lot cheaper.

 

ive never swapped or messed with the AC system on this truck. Im sure I could rebuild the 3vze engine, but Im not so sure about the AC system - that being said I KNOW I can swap out the AC compressor and the evap if need be but the rest im clueless to it or where its located.... *checking the FSM*

 

That's ridiculous... at my dealership, the tech in the stall next to me installed both a condensor and the compressor (both were leaking). Total cost was about $800, the compressor was $250 alone so it's expensive.

 

My experience has been even with a totally thrashed system you're looking at about a grand tops to get it fixed. I would certainly shop around. I'm sure in Florida there are a LOT of reputable shops since AC is mandatory for survival in the heat and humidity. That's how it was for me when I lived in Houston.

 

also I was reading up on the conversion from r12 to r134 and people said not to do it. That the r134 doesn't get as cold as the the r12 does. They still sell r12 on ebay if u can get the permit (online class/test) or find someone who can cross the border, cause they sell it to the public there.

They also sell brand new compressors at advanced auto. It's a couple of hundred bucks and if you can swap it out, it's probably your best bet.

 

What border? Mexico?
The various provinces in Canada may be different, but in British Columbia they do not sell R12 to the public. License required, and they better not catch you putting it in a car.

 

Of course mexico .. Ca is just a wanna-be USA, so they pass similar laws.



j/k

 

Take the AC test and buy the R12 yourself! The test is only $25, multiple choice, open book, online. The thought ran through my mind when the shop said it'd cost $700 to replace my evap and expansion valve. They also said they could evacuate the ref for me, while I replace everything myself...and then they'd recharge the system with my old ref.