Air Conditioning

[MyYarisMakesMeSmile]

I just bought a used base model 2007 Yaris sedan a few weeks ago. I love it, and don't want to stop driving it! Whenever I come home at night, I feel sad that I won't drive it again until the next day!

My only real gripe about the car is that it came without air conditioning. It is in almost brand-new condition and I got a good deal so I really couldn't walk away from it. So here is my question: has anyone here ever installed air conditioning in a Yaris? How much did it cost, would you recommend a chain like Midas, Meineke, or Canadian Tire, or an independent shop? I live in Southern Ontario, and the summer temperatures can hit close to 40 degrees Celsius with the humidity, so having a/c would make my life a lot more comfortable!

Any advice, warnings, stories, etc. are welcome and appreciated!

[yaris2010RS]

personally i rarely use my ac. and a job like this i would try to do urself (if u can) i could see a shop charging u out the ass for it. im assuming all ud need is the compressor and hoses.... i have changed a compressor before and it was fairly easy. i dont know how toyota sets up the yaris and how much of the components are there but just need to be plugged in

welcome to YW

[MyYarisMakesMeSmile]

Thanks for the info and the welcome!

I'm not good with mechanical things at all and wouldn't dare to do anything with this car. I wouldn't even trust myself to change a tire unless it was an emergency. I had my last car (a pontiac) for two summers and used the a/c almost daily, but I may look into just tinting the windows as dark as legally possible.

[yaris2010RS]

lmfao, u remind me of my mom, she called me the other day cuz her car had a flat and she didnt know what to do. lol(and she uses the a/c 24/7)

tint really helps durring the summer.

if there is no way u will do it yourself and the cost isnt too important to you, go by toyota and get a quote, they can do it forsure. i could see it costing about 1800.

[WeeYari]

So far, the only other Yaris I've seen without a/c is thebarber's base '07 hatch. He, by the way, also lives in the K-W area.

[thebarber]

air conditioning? whats that?

if you need help with something, im up the road... ;)

[MyYarisMakesMeSmile]

air conditioning? whats that?

if you need help with something, im up the road... ;)

Haha thanks, small world! The Canadian Tire mechanic who inspected it before I bought it was really surprised that it didn't have a/c so I guess the super-base models are pretty rare. Do you really miss a/c in the summer? Or do you get by without it? The fan itself seems pretty powerful so I may be okay but I'd like to hear how others cope.

[WeeYari]

Just don't drive to Timmins on a hot July day, car packed full of luggage and a baby in the back.

Someone knows what I'm talking about. :wink:

[MyYarisMakesMeSmile]

go by toyota and get a quote, they can do it forsure. i could see it costing about 1800.

So do you think it's better to have toyota do it instead of a place like Midas, Canadian Tire, etc? I can see the advantages of having an OEM system, but the possibility of saving money elsewhere is tempting too. Plus my parents both drive toyotas (01 and 99 camrys) and I never found their a/c systems to be outstanding, although they are both older cars.

[MyYarisMakesMeSmile]

Just don't drive to Timmins on a hot July day, car packed full of luggage and a baby in the back.

Someone knows what I'm talking about. :wink:

Oh man, that reminds me of road trips my parents used to take my sister and me on when we were younger, in a tiny little subaru with no a/c and leather seats. Fun stuff.

[yaris2010RS]

lol, any fan durring the winter seems very cold, lol. before i replaced the compressor on my moms camry it sucked on hot days.

the only way i would say u would be fine without the a/c if u like to have ur windows open.

[nemelek]

The Air in my Yaris is one of the worse I have ever owned. You aren't missing much.

[thebarber]

i have plenty of air....just roll down the windows.

do i miss air? not on my daily drive.

did i miss a/c coming back from timmins with a loaded car and a year old? yes.

i bought the car when we were in new brunswick, where despite what the locals say, it doesnt get that hot or humid. now that we're back in southern ontario, have 2 cars without a/c kinda blows....but mainly on road trips.

the reason you got a good deal on the yaris in the first place was because of the lack of a/c. if you can get/are willing to pay for a/c installation, go ahead.

if you're only commuting in-town, you won't really miss it....but prefer driving with the windows down any day of the week versus a/c...

[WeeYari]

^ at least the OP has a sedan and can roll down the rear windows to help with ventilation.

[CTScott]

You can always do the ice trick - When I was just out of college I rented a top floor apartment with no A/C (and the landlord wouldn't allow window units). So I took ten 2 liter soda bottles, filled them with water and froze them. At night I would set them on a table in my bedroom, arranged like bowling pins, and blow a fan across them.

[MyYarisMakesMeSmile]

That's a great idea, CTScott. Given that the cupholders are right by the vents, it would probably work pretty well.

[thebarber]

That's a great idea, CTScott. Given that the cupholders are right by the vents, it would probably work pretty well.

agreed.

window tint would help on road trips in the summer

but im too cheap for that..

[yaris2010RS]

barber, let me know if u ever get uncheap and want tint, lol. i got a guy that will do a good job and give discount for the more ppl we can get. i dont plan on doing it till prob june

[Bluevitz-rs]

you also have to consider that if A/C is going to cost you 2G, then could you have gotten the next model yaris with power locks and windows AND A/C?

[Tom48]

If you have a shop that you like.They can order the unit from Toyota or where they can get the best deal for you. Usually a dealership is the highest priced place to buy any part for you car and the highest priced labor also. If you don't have a trusted mechanic. The the dealership my be least costly ,as there are cheats every where.

[thebarber]

barber, let me know if u ever get uncheap and want tint, lol. i got a guy that will do a good job and give discount for the more ppl we can get. i dont plan on doing it till prob june

i might take you up on that....aveo could really use tint....since it also doesnt have a/c PM me the price id be looking at...

[MyYarisMakesMeSmile]

you also have to consider that if A/C is going to cost you 2G, then could you have gotten the next model yaris with power locks and windows AND A/C?

Yeah, I did know that when I bought the car but really didn't have another $2000 to add to the price right then. Also, I kind of prefer having manual locks and windows, and 99% of the time I am the only person in my car so the inconveniences don't really affect me. I figured I would wait and see if I could live without the a/c in the summer, and will try to save up the money until it gets really hot and I make the decision.

Also, having read multiple people's experiences saying that the Yaris' a/c isn't that great and that with an automatic the a/c saps a fair amount of power from the engine, this still a decision I will have to think carefully about.

[MyYarisMakesMeSmile]

If you have a shop that you like.They can order the unit from Toyota or where they can get the best deal for you. Usually a dealership is the highest priced place to buy any part for you car and the highest priced labor also. If you don't have a trusted mechanic. The the dealership my be least costly ,as there are cheats every where.

This sounds like what I was thinking - I know the dealerships are expensive for pretty much anything. I have a great mechanic so I will definitely get a quote from them. Thanks!

[Tom48]

We have the bash model Yaris with A/C and Auto Tranny. It has very good response to the pedal and a consistent 35 mpg. You really need A/C in our 100+ temps in the summer here.

[thebarber]

the only time i miss a/c is highway trips with the family...

and hot/humid rainy days

a wise investment would be the rain guards for the windows so at least you can crack the windows when its raining or on the highway without getting wet

[yaris2010RS]

^barber, where did u get ur rain guards from? i have been looking for them everywhere

[WeeYari]

Same place as me. OEM Toyota.

[white_rice]

I personally cannot live without A/C... mine stopped working one summer in the Celica and it was the worse summer ever. I barely even took the car out, as the few times I did were most unenjoyable. Some days when the sun is just beating down and there is no wind/breeze the sweat was just pouring off my face. I will never own a vehicle without A/C in my life. I use it every single day from the time it gets warm until its almost snowing. I also find that it works very well in the Yaris. Mine is a standard, but I can't see the auto being much worse. All you can do as the others said is call around to multiple places and find the best quote.

Good luck!

[thebarber]

Same place as me. OEM Toyota.

^^ what he said

mine are OEM toyota. i had a bunch of OEM toyota accessories thrown in as part of the purchase/trade deal w/ my matrix