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A/C performance

G

Guest

Guest
A bit subjective but it should be uncomfortable to hold your hand in
front of a vent when on full blast for any length of time. If I do this
on my wife's if makes my hand hurt after a minute or so even in this
weather.
If it doesn't feel like it's working properly then it probably isn't has
been my experience of air con ...
Maybe there's gas but not enough?
Jon.
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed] [mailto:[Email address removed]]
On Behalf Of Christopher Bell
Sent: 15 June 2004 10:38
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: [ELCO] A/C performance
It's hot, and while the A/C in my 80 is working I'm not sure that it's
doing as well as it should.
There is definitely gas in the system: I can see fluid in the sight
glass, and hear the evaporator hissing away.
The pump is definitely pumping: high pressure pipe is hot, low pressure
cooler, sight glass shows fluid flow.
I had a leak fixed and the system regassed about 2 years ago.
And it is definitely cooling air ... but just not as much as I'd like
and, more to the point, less effectively than I remember. But that's a
very qualitative judgement.
Is there any simple way of measuring its efficiency, and estimating
whether or not I need to take some action?
Christopher Bell
Devon
1996 1HD-FT
 
Julian
Definitely R134a - says so on a sticker. I think that became mandatory round about 1989 in Europe.
Probably does need recharging, so I've just booked someone to come & do it.
Wish we could find the leak though. Last time it was the joints either side of the A/C radiator, which got cleaned up & new O-ring seals, but clearly something is weeping out somewhere.
Christopher
 
Jon
That's my sort of test!
It definitely used to get seriously cold, but not so now, so I've called in a mobile A/C man.
Thanks.
Christopher
ps: Still not quite brave enough to put vegetable oil in the tank ... yet. Currently getting around 29mpg on dead dinosaurs, what do you get?
 
Christopher Bell said:
Sorry, no expert advice, just wanted to say that it does sound that it needs recharging again.
When you talk to a specialist they will need to know what gas is installed, either the old R12 or the newer R
134a. The newer stuff is less efficient, particularly with higher temps that we don't get here, but more
environmentally friendly.
You should find a sticker on either the compressor, receiver (below right of the radiator behind the bumper),
bonnet or on the bulkhead somewhere.
--
Regards,
Julian Voelcker
[Email address removed]
Mobile: 07971 540362
Cirencester, United Kingdom
80less at the moment - Roll on June!
 
Christopher,
There is a spec for the temperature of the air blowing out. I have
forgotten what it is but I had my AC Toy. checked and they used a temp.
probe in front of the vents.
The sight glass should have no bubbles in when the system is working.
Regards, Clive.
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed]
[mailto:[Email address removed]]On Behalf Of Christopher Bell
Sent: 15 June 2004 10:38
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: [ELCO] A/C performance
Further Info: http://www.landcruisers.info/lists/
 
Christopher,
When you get this gassed get the guy to put a dye in with the gas, it makes
leak spotting in future easy. Also ask him to put oil in, this will
lengthen the compressor life.
Regards, Clive.
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed]
[mailto:[Email address removed]]On Behalf Of Christopher Bell
Sent: 15 June 2004 13:02
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: Re: [ELCO] A/C performance
Further Info: http://www.landcruisers.info/lists/
 
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Clive
Thanks for the advice.
The sight glass currently shows about 1/4 level when not working, and "turbulent flow" (= bubbles?) when running. When it was gassed ~2 years ago it took 1.5kg of R134a + some lubricant; it will be interesting to see how much remains.
He added yellow fluorescent dye when leak testing, but the leak was so small that there was no external evidence. It was only when the joints were opened up that you could see weepage past the O ring seals. His "sniffer" detected nothing at low sensitivity, and was struggling to detect anything other than background noise at high sensitivity.
I don't know if he put dye into the ultimate refill - I've a feeling he did. However I can't see any yellow colour around any of the joints or hoses.
The chap is coming next wednesday evening, and I'll report back what we find. I had to have a new (coolant) radiator about 6 months ago, and in fitting that the A/C radiator was probably disturbed, so I imagine that the leaks will be in the hose/radiator joints.
Christopher Bell
 
C.
If your system took that much gas you must have a cruiser with an AC unit
in the back, the normal single AC system takes 800 - 900 grams. The dye is
for viewing under ultr-violet light, and it really nworks well. A sniffer is
a bit useless with the draught that you get working in the open. You should
be able to see the dye in the sight glass.
Clive Marks,
West Sussex, (very close to Gatwick)
HDJ81 (import), 1997
-Further Info: http://www.landcruisers.info/lists/
 
Clive Marks wrote:
No, bog-standard ("comprehensive" to use DofE speak) front only A/C.
I notice that the US thread on this last week recommended 32oz, which would be 900g, so this must be the correct value.
But the chap who did it, and who has his own mobile A/C kit, used to be a Toyota mechanic and he said that experience showed that more than the "correct" amount worked better. The cost of the extra gas is probably negligible compared to his time & call-out charges. But maybe this over-pressures he system causing premature leaks?
The sight glass used to show pale yellow when it was working, but is now clear. Perhaps I'm just pumping round condensation now, which may be why it isn't working too well!
I didn't know about the UV light, although I imagine sunlight would contain enough to make it fluoresce. I don't have a UV tube, but I'll ask him when he comes.
Chris
 
Headlight flasher sticking

I had cause to flash the headlights this am, and the front LH one stayed on. Flashing a few more times sorted it out.
I presume this is a relay sticking on, but I suppose it could be the switch on the steering column. Has anyone had any experience of this?
Christopher Bell
Devon
1996 1HD-FT
 
Christopher,
Sunlight is not enough, you need a light source and yellow lensed glasses
to see it, and it works well. Your AC guy should have this gear.
Regards, Clive.
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed]
[mailto:[Email address removed]]On Behalf Of Christopher Bell
Sent: 17 June 2004 11:31
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: Re: [ELCO] A/C performance
Further Info: http://www.landcruisers.info/lists/
 
Every Toyota I've owned over the last 6 years has needed re-gassing at least
once during my ownership.
Classis symptoms are the air not being as cold, or even the pump not
operating due to low pressure on the system.
Refrigerant systems and cars is not a good combination for longevity.
Chris- I think two years is not bad going.
Next time give me a call, there's a guy in Exeter who re-gasses mine,
charges about ?40 if you go to him.
Dave Harris
[Email address removed]
97 VX 1HDFT Devon UK
 
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