Carl Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Not sure whats up. If I hit the aircon button it lights up and I can feel the revs rise as if the compressor has kicked in as it usually does. Problem is, im not getting any ice cold air, just seems to be ambient temp coming in, the same as having aircon off and heater control to cold. Is there anything I can check before taking it to an aircon specialist. I did use the search function but cannot seem to find the answer to my problem. Help appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymdee Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Not sure whats up. If I hit the aircon button it lights up and I can feel the revs rise as if the compressor has kicked in as it usually does. Problem is, im not getting any ice cold air, just seems to be ambient temp coming in, the same as having aircon off and heater control to cold. Is there anything I can check before taking it to an aircon specialist. I did use the search function but cannot seem to find the answer to my problem. Help appreciated At the front of the car under the bonnet is an Air Con gas sight glass (there's an H marked on it IIRC). Run the car with aircon and see if any bubbles are moving through the sight glass. if not, you've lost your gas and need to get the system checked and regased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 (edited) At the front of the car under the bonnet is an Air Con gas sight glass (there's an H marked on it IIRC). Run the car with aircon and see if any bubbles are moving through the sight glass. if not, you've lost your gas and need to get the system checked and regased Right, just checked, no bubbles when aircon is off, lots of bubbles when i turn aircon on with the usual increase in revs to about 900rpm. So what does this normally mean? carl Edited March 21, 2009 by Carl (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4packet Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I had a similar experience with my air con. Generally it didn't work, but on occasion did go slightly cold for a minute or so. Turned out to be a dodgy expansion valve, which was dumping too much refrigerant into the evaporator. This causes localised freezing and promptly blocks the flow. 2 ways of diagnosing this. Check the pressure of the system pre and post compressor (this may involve a specialist). Alternatively remove the glove boxes and unscrew the main plastic cover of the air con/heater unit. Run the AC and you will see ice form around the expansion valve and in a localised area on the evaporator, but the rest of the unit will be warm. It is possible to buy a Hella aftermarket valve part (with O-rings) and dryer/filter for not much money at all. I fitted it myself and then had the system recharged. Don't damage the pipes - Toyota charge a fortune! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonB Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Or just do a search for aircon diagnostics and do a diaagnostic check. That will tell you if it's low on pressure, which it probably is. http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=58&highlight=aircon+diagnostic http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=22128&highlight=aircon+diagnostic The bubbles in the sight glass should clear after 20 seconds or so IIRC if there's enough pressure in the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 Well I tried the diagnostic test but struggled to get any sense there. I guess I was doing something wrong as it flashed ok but never stopped. Anyway, I decided to go down to Halfords & buy one of these aircon ragas bottles with gauge. It says that your aircon pressure should read 25psi+. I stuck the gauge on the Low pressure valve started the engine & run the aircon on full. I had virtually no reading at all on the gauge. It seems to have been almost empty. Anyway, I have re-pressurised it up to around 30psi and the aircon seems to be ok now. Got a handy gauge to check it in future to. As a matter of interest, when my aircon is on, the compressor seems to turn on & off quite regularly. The revs climb & fall accordingly. Is this normal? It’s always done it but never having heard another aircon on a Supra I didn't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Yes pump should go on off/on, thats normal. My neighbour has a nice aircon machine in weston and charges £35 to do leak test, discharge - full charge etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4packet Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 If your system was too low on refrigerant then the pump should not have been running?? There is a pressure switch up by the inner wing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplavery Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 (edited) i bet you need a reGas or recharge and you can do that at any local garage....i bet it has not been done from new, your ment to do it every 2 years other wise you lose the coldness to it..when you get it done you should also get a aircon debugger. Its a can that slowly goes off when your aircon is running full blast in the car (while your outside) which takes about 5 to 10min...It kills all the germs in your aircon which will stop it smelling funny when you first turn it on and prob give it a nice apple smell or something instead...i get mine done for free at work .. Edited March 23, 2009 by mplavery (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_d Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 You need a reGas or recharge and you can do that at any local garage....i bet it has not been done from new, your ment to do it every 2 years other wise you lose the coldness to it..when you get it done you should also get a aircon debugger. Its a can that slowly goes off when your aircon is running full blast in the car (while your outside) which takes about 5 to 10min...It kills all the germs in your aircon which will stop it smelling funny when you first turn it on and prob give it a nice apple smell or something instead...i get mine done for free at work .. Sorry mate but i cant see how a refrigerant would loose its coldness. Only time you should need to recharge is when you have a gas leak in the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplavery Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Sorry mate but i cant see how a refrigerant would loose its coldness. Only time you should need to recharge is when you have a gas leak in the system. http://aircon-regas.co.uk/faq.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_d Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 How can it loose upto 40% of its refrigerant every year? leak?? I do agree about the fungus if its not performing correctly as there are filters etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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