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1997 Rav4 A/C install....Can it be done?

6K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  leon r 
#1 ·
My Rav4 does not have A/C. It was sold without a unit installed.
Because the car is so old, Is it possible to get one installed?
I did price a complete unit for 1,100 at Autozone and that's fine, I'm not to worried about the price
My car has never had one, I'm afraid of it not being correct or not working properly.
If it can be done, has anyone had any issues with first time new A/C installments? Thanks for your input.
 
#2 ·
Well ... buying a new car would be a lot easier ...

Next, I'd be looking for a same-year car with a "fatally" bad engine, etc., but with a complete AC system (that the seller at least said worked fine). A wreck is possible, but a frontend wreck might have a damaged system. Then either move the AC to yours, or if the donor car is better, move your parts to it.

You'll have to discharge/recharge the AC, so be sure to have that work done by a pro.
 
#3 ·
Well, I have a 2003 Sequoia and a 2005 Camry XLE in great condition.,,
Lttlbits is my toy I'm just trying to upgrade....This is my second year owning it and I would like to drive
during the summer....It seems upgrading is going to be more difficult then I imagined, but I'm not giving up...
Thanks for your help, I really appreciate your info...:)
 
#4 ·
I have seen this happen in South Africa and Asia. First gen ravs getting ACs in the ones that didn't come with it.
Finding the right skilled people to do it is the key.


Some mechanics would freak out and may charge you a lot of money just because they don't know how to do it.


I would continue the research!!


First of all figure out the parts involved and how they get installed. You will have to know everything before you hold anybody's hand to do it for you.
 
#5 ·
When you say it was sold without a unit installed, do you mean that the compressor or other parts are missing? Or, was it never installed? Looking at old US Toyota RAV4 options A/C was standard and not an option. So you should at the very least have all the dash components in place. So now you have to look and see what you are missing.

Check for a compressor just below the alternator
Look for the condenser coils in front of the radiator
You should have a large drier somewhere between the compressor and condenser; on mine it's on the driver's side mounted to the "frame" near the radiator.
An AC expansion device
And of course all the related hoses

You can pick up a compressor with clutch, expansion device, seals, and drier for 242.95 see https://www.amazon.com/Compressor-C...8&ymm=1999:toyota:rav4&keywords=compressor+ac

Probably all that would be left is the condenser, hoses, put a vacuum on the system and recharge.

The last time I had extensive work performed on an A/C system (2000 Chrysler Sebring Convertible) I bought all the parts and had a local A/C specialist remove the freon, swap out everything, put a vacuum on the system, and recharge it for a really good price. At that time I replaced the hoses, compressor, clutch, drier, and condenser.
 
#7 ·
Sorry to be late to this thread. My Rav4 came with AC and Auto as the only options. So I picked up another, rusted out 2 door to salvage power window, morrows and locks. Unfortunately, I immediately discovered that my Rav4 was lacking ALL the related wiring to those power accessories!


In the end, I only got power windows to run (the most important part, IMO).


So if your Rav4 is missing related AC wiring, this job will be virtually a non-starter, unless you are very good at wiring. Paying someone with this level of expertise will be prohibitively expensive.
 
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