Toyota Repair: AC kits for the Tercel, frivolous luxury, toyota vehicles

Question
I would like to restore a Tercel that presently does not have AC.  Although I did find an aftermarket AC kit online, I do not know if the quality is worth it and if it is complete. If there is such a thing as a Toyota made AC kit where would I get it?  I realize this is frivolous luxury and an old Tercel may not be worth it but the taxes on a new vehicle aren't worth it either so I am looking into this.


Answer
Hi there,

As a Toyota fan, I feel that there is no need for justification on your part to restore a Tercel. Personally, I drive an old Toyota truck that I bought as a Junior in high school brand new off the lot in 1990. The oldies are just as good if not better than the new! Anyways, I would be careful about purchasing ANY vehicle part over the internet unless it's from a reputable company. There is nothing wrong with aftermarket air conditioning systems. In fact, when Toyota vehicles are manufactured without air from the factory and sub sequentially purchased at a dealership and the customer wants air conditioning, some dealers contract with other air conditioning shops around town to install aftermarket systems before delivery. I would discourage you from purchasing an OEM AC kit from a toyota dealership. You can buy an aftermarket AC system from a local air conditioning repair shop for a fraction of the cost without the sacrafice of quality. When you do, please make sure your system comes with an "idle up" valve.