Air Conditioning

[dug320]

My 1999 Solara SLE is not producing cool air with the A/C on. While I am slowly working through all the tests any insights would be invaluable.

The A/C relay works. The fuse is not blown. The magnetic clutch engages and disengages. The A/C switch on the panel works. T

The DTC shows 00. Even after clearing the codes it will show 00.

If it is the Evaporator Temperature Sensor where is it so I can test it.

[ThatVietGuy]

Perhaps it needs a recharge?

[02slera]

^^yes
you can buy a recharge kit for around $30 at an autoparts store that comes with a gauge to measure psi so you can see exactly where you stand on refrigerant levels.

[TheGreenDutch]

yeah man its all dried out....Get a recharge done or buy the specific kit. If you trust your mech its about $30-60 to recharge the system.

[solara90]

Well not all states allow the sale of R-134 in the small cans I.E. Wisconsin. Did your A/C work before? if it did you most likely have a leak some where, or missing the caps on your A/C lines.

Also if you do have a leak if suggest go to a professional and get if fixed, they can pretty damn hard to find sometimes. Most off dont just throw some sealant in it if you want someone to recover and refill your system again. Most places are very fussy about sealant and their $6,000 machines.


I can help you a lot in this area, I just got certified this year in school to work on automotive A/C systems

[dug320]

Thank goodness the oil can be see under a blacklight. It turned out to be the compressor shaft seal.

To answer your questions. It worked fine last time I used it. There is some gas in the system as I can see a small air bubble in the window. I would never use sealant.

[TheGreenDutch]

your lucky the magnet on the pully to my a/c compressor is off and makes a finger in a fan noise every once in a while. I still got air tho...whew!

[LatinDragonXJC]

How often do you guys recharge your A/C?

I think I may have a leak, I have to recharge it every year. (my family owns a Refrigeration/AC shop, so it's free)

It works great throughout the summer, but soon as next summer comes....hot air!

How hard is to seal up a leak?

[dug320]

Don't just seal the leak fix it. Shame, shame you should know better. Ask the people in the shop how they feel about sealant.

[solara90]

yeah, dont use sealant, use a leak detector or use a ultraviolet dye in your system to find the leak!

[dug320]

The oil in A134 has an ultraviolet dye in it. No need to add anything. A simple blacklight in the dark will do the job of illumination.

[02slera]

^^ lol i just bought a recharge kit that has dye in it. what the hell is the point of that if all of this refrigerant has ultraviolet dye in it? anyway i just charged mine this morning and its blowing cold for now. when i removed the kit from the low side port on the car it was spraying back past the valve on the car and i got hit in the eye with dye, when the instructions say wear eye protection they mean it. i used a small screwdriver to press the valve in and released it quickly and it seems to be sealed, better anyway. i suspect i will have a small leak from this valve still but if that is the only leak i have i am lucky.

[solara90]

did you put the black cap on it? the schrader valve is actually the secondary seal. The cap is the primary seal.

[dug320]

The oil is ultraviolet sensitive. Sometimes the valves get frozen in place during the recharge.