Aircon Questions

[fr0st]

Since summer is coming up I've been trying to fix the aircon so it actally blows some cold air for once.

I've tracked down the problem to two places -

I took out the aircon relay and put my multimeter in there and measured the clutch current (3.5 amps) and it makes a definate click when it engages so I assume that isn't the problem. If I put the climate control into full cold mode and the relay won't engage, all the fuses are ok (#8 & #17) and the relay is fine.

Is the only thing between the climate control and aircon relay a fuse and the pressure switch?

Is the pressure switch at the front of the car on a tank like thing hanging off one of the aircon lines?

The other problem is when I had the engine running and the clutch engaged using the multimeter there was no cold air still. Theres a sticker under the hood saying it was gassed with 250grams of HR12 in 2003. I'm pretty sure its gone, which leaves the question why

If I regas it is it just going to leak out again? How much am I looking at for a regas?

Cheers for the help

-Matt

[cowie165]

Hey Matt.

I can help with some but not all. There are two different types of aircon refridgerant: R12 and R134a. R12 is now banned in Australia as it is a greenhouse no-no. The current standard is R134a and when you hear/read about guys having their aircon 'converted' it is to change the fittings from R12 to R134a.

A conversion will cost anywhere from $150 to $300 depending on where you shop and a regas probably around $60 to $80.

If you are sure the clutch is ok (as most dead aircon systems seem to have dead clutches) then I'm not sure where your problem is. The only other thing I can think of is the diverter flap behind the dash...? Mine suffers the same problems - regassed twice and still no cool cool air

Mark

[Rekin]

Dont know if this helps, but its the steps to diag your climate control. Maybe you have a faulty sensor?

[Mickyb]

I have just got my car, and I am the first owner in Aus, the A/c does not blow any cool air, I can hear it engaging, but no coolness. The car is a dec. 97 r33, so would it have had the r12 drained from it before being shipped from Japan? I heard that all imports had to have their a/c drained before shipment, but I wasn't sure if this is the case. Any help would be appreciated, thanks guys.

[SECURITY]

its has probably been de-gassed. to check if theres any gas in the system there is a little valve that looks like the tyre thingo, its usually has a cap over it, it runs from the condensor to the compressor on the front left of the motor.

get a screw driver and push the little valve in and see if theres any pressure in the system. the gas is poisionous so dont breath it in.

[Mickyb]

  SECUR1TY said:

its has probably been de-gassed. to check if theres any gas in the system there is a little valve that looks like the tyre thingo, its usually has a cap over it, it runs from the condensor to the compressor on the front left of the motor.

get a screw driver and push the little valve in and see if theres any pressure in the system. the gas is poisionous so dont breath it in.

Thanks heaps mate, will give it a shot tomorrow, perhaps parked outside the garage!

[DJRIFT]

firsty all imported car A/C systems are ment to be degassed before the car leaves japan. when the car lands in aus compliance shops may or may not regass them. most to save costs put a new reciver-dryer on them and then just gass them up. (the reciver dryer is the little gass tank looking thing infront of the radiator)

most of the time this will just fail as the car may have had the old R12 gass and needs to be retrofitted for the 134a gass. this means that every joint on the a/c system that has a tiny O-ring in it needs to be changed.

if your car was made after 92 than it shouldnt have the old r12 in it. in this case if it still doesnt work 90% of the time it will be a leak. leaks can be expensive to fix. one of my mates is finding this out the hard way as he fixes one leak then gasses it and a few weeks later hes got another leak.

as for the a/c compressor clutch not working the system has a pressuer switch in it wich is in series with the a/c on button and the relay for the compressor. the pressure switch cuts out on either low or high pressure. so if it is not working than you have a 99% chance that you have no gass.

sorry that may not be very clear but the best i can do.