A/C not cooling effectively?
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Texas
A/C not cooling effectively?
I have a 06 LS430 with Nav and 34k mi. While the air conditioner is cooling in the auto setting and cold temp setting the car never seems to cool off and the fan doesn't adjust down. The air coming from the vent just doesn't seem cold enough. Any ideas on achieving resolve will be appreciated.
Bill
Bill
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Alabama
The LS430 has the best AC I have ever felt in a car. Even in Texas on the hottest days the LS AC will cool the car down to an almost uncomfortable cool level in 5-10 min whereas our Toyota HL stays warmish unless the AC is permanently maxed out when it gets over a 100 degrees here. My guess is that the AC coolant is low, or the compressor is shutting off or not coming on for other reasons, or else the cabin air filter is blocked. If it is low coolant take it to a real AC specialist or to Lexus - just re-filling it with coolant at a general repair shop will mean it will discharge again unless they find the root cause of the leak. Coolant just doesn't evaporate by any significant amount unless there is a leak somewhere.
Last edited by Jabberwock; Jun 7, 2014 at 07:27 AM.
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From: Texas
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: CA
Domestic cars have far more powerful AC systems than Japanese cars, IMHO. One could freeze in a Ford if sitting in front of the AC at full blast. No AC setting in my LS430 could do that.
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Brett Foote
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From: AZ
Changing the air to inside recirculate should not be the answer to your problem. For instance, if you have the air on recirculate when you start up after the car has been in 100F ambient, the interior of the car may be 130-135F. The A/C would have to deal with this 130F air when it is in recirculate at startup. How can it cool the car down faster than if the air is set on soutside air which is 100F? Makes no sense. If the compressor is operating properly and fully charged, it is fully capable of quickly cooling the car down when set on auto. This car has one of the best A/C units in the business. Get it checked out and let it do it's thing!
Driver
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 102
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From: WA
I thought this was pretty common knowledge, but AC is run with a refrigerant called R134a. Colloquially, it's called freon, but that's a term for the old R12 refrigerant that is no longer used in modern cars.
Over time your air conditioning loses its charge of R134a and stops cooling as effectively. This happens naturally over time or very quickly if you have a major leak in the system. Take your car to a shop with HVAC certification (most do) and have them recharge the refrigerant in the system and ad UV dye.
Best case scenario: your AC works like new for years down the road. Worst case scenario: AC loses its charge quickly again and the UV dye the added will show where your car is leaking refrigerant from. An AC recharge usually costs around $100 but it could be more or less depending on where you go.
Over time your air conditioning loses its charge of R134a and stops cooling as effectively. This happens naturally over time or very quickly if you have a major leak in the system. Take your car to a shop with HVAC certification (most do) and have them recharge the refrigerant in the system and ad UV dye.
Best case scenario: your AC works like new for years down the road. Worst case scenario: AC loses its charge quickly again and the UV dye the added will show where your car is leaking refrigerant from. An AC recharge usually costs around $100 but it could be more or less depending on where you go.
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