It seems I have 2 leaks on the LX 570 and the mechanic needs to remove a lot of parts in order to replace the pipes leading to / from the evaporator on the rear end of the car. Did anybody replace those parts ? It seems the mechanic needs to remove tank, muffler etc. to get to the pipes.

 

AFAIK Lexus routes the cooler lines under the vehicle instead of through the cabin, this is the correct way for safety but makes the lines hard to access. So yes I'd say it is likely a bunch of stuff has to be removed.

 

Corrosion from salt on the roads in winter, or something else?

 

We have salt / corrosion here in Chicago, but the car is in the garage most of the time and we don't use it that much. We only put about 5,000 miles on the car per year. We hope to keep it for another 10 years. I think the issue is that the pipes are made of aluminum ? and are more susceptible to corrosion as they are exposed under the car.

We intend to invest into the repair of the air conditioner as the alternative would be adding coolant every year, the leak would only gets worse over time.

 

Thanks, that makes sense, I like the safety approach from Lexus.

 

I'd like it a lot better if Toyota used stainless steel.

OT, not an issue in Idaho as magnesium chloride is used a bit for ice control...far less corrosive than salt.

 

What was the total bill?

 

It's a good habit to turn on the AC once in a short while as u want the freon to cycle inside the system otherwise iit may corrode and result in a leak later. Anything that's sitting for too long will disintegrate. So drive more, enjoy it more frequent

 

The mechanic has to order the parts first, the estimate is around $2200, the problem is that the pipes are outside the body and he needs to take off the tank, muffler etc., so majority of the expense is labor, will keep you posted.

 

How bad are the leaks? How long does freon last?

If it's a small leak you can just band-aid it and go somewhere like Mr. Freeze and have them evacuate and charge the a/c once a year. It only costs $69.95 plus the freon. This is nothing super complex so I wouldn't waste money going to the dealer. Trucks are designed to be easy to work on and ours are no different.

We band-aid it with our upstairs A/C unit at home, have for 4 years now. Better than paying for a brand new one at this time.

 

There were a few aftermarket companies that made a line block, where you either cut the line and install a type of cap or it bolts on at a junction point towards the front, they can approximate the lesser amount of R134 you’ll need after eliminating the rear A/c, may be a viable option in Illinois as opposed to a very hot climate, Illinois has about 4 hot months, the A/C would still function but take longer to cool off the entire vehicle as opposed to having both evaporators working.

 

The mechanic found 2 leaks. The leaks are bad enough that over a hot summer all the freon would escape. I didn't go to a Lexus dealer. I went to a local car repair shop near us. We decided to get it fixed, the mechanic ordered the parts and will start with the repair next week, keep you posted.

I had a freon leak about 2 years ago, at that time the Lexus dealer who did all our services told me they don't know how severe it is, filled it up and "lets see". So obviously the leak / leaks has evolved and now it is time to fix it. I am disappointed that the original Lexus dealer wouldn't look more precisely what's happening. I feel the damage is now more extensive.

 

If the LX was under warranty at that time, then you should have insisted to find the leak, as no system should leak under normal conditions (theoretical), over time seals will dry our an develop small leaks, but that is + 10 year when in normal use.
I know its easy to say this after, but it might be good for other members to be firm with dealers, especially when you have factory warranty, but I'm happy to see that you will fix it and not only make a butchered solution.

 

I just leave the AC on...and that works well with both the LX and Land Cruiser.