Maverick

Hey everyone,

I'm getting ready to buy a used ac kit and try to install it. I have a 92 4x4 with a 2.4L manual trans. No power windows or locks, just the basics. Any last minute tips before I tear into it? Is it really difficult or not so bad. Any info. anyone has would be helpful thanks again.


Maverick

Steveh29

I will say to make sure everything is really clean. I'd run lacquer thinner or Brake Kleen through each component and then blow it out with compressed air. That way there are no contaminants in the system. You'll also want to install a new dryer/accumulator and replace any o rings or rubber seals at the joints in the system and compressor.

Maverick

do you think ac kits.com or someplace like that is a good place to purchase a kit? Do you think the install will be diff. or not too bad?

Flamedx4

If you are mechanically skilled, like if you grease your own bearings and could replace your water pump and stuff like that - then you can do it. It's quite simple, it's just a lot of work. Should take a weekend. The guy at the dealership who does this everyday can install a complete system in about 2 hours... I did it once, it took a weekend. In another Yota I paid the guy from the dealership to do it at home - took him less than 3 hours including charging it up. $100 well spent.

Maverick

Where did you buy the kit from? How did your truck run after words good/bad?

Flamedx4

At that time my father was the finance manager at the Toyota dealership, so we bought factory kits at cost from the dealer. That was around $600 in 1985, retail price was a cool grand... It ran perfectly afterward - why wouldn't it? I drove it for $240,000 miles and never had a single AC issue. The other one still had cold a/c at 324,000 miles until it was totalled in Jan this year.

Maverick

So do you think those aftermarket kits will work as good?

Flamedx4

No reason why not. AC ain't rocket science. For that matter, for American vehicles most 'aftermarket' kits are actually from the same vendor that made the OEM stuff, so there is no difference in quality or function. They know how to make the components.