VS V6 Air Con repair/ renew parts.

[Paul13pp]

Hi,
I have a 96 wagon and would like to try and get the air con working.
There are some known recently working parts available from a smashed Lexcen that had nice cold air prior to it being crashed.
Parts like the compressor if mine is no good.

My wagon is unknown, as in when the air last worked and this car has done a lot of klms.
What I am looking for is some advise on what to replace, and maybe the best place to purchase the required items prior to taking it to an air-con specialist for gas etc.

After reading some threads here, it seems there are many places leaks can be and I dare say the air system would need some new parts like the receiver/ drier and maybe the pipes that connect to it.
Are there any other parts that should be replaced that are common faults?
Everything is still connected as it should be with a visual inspection, but the engine has been changed and at this time any gas in the system was lost. (not that the air con worked prior engine change) but there was a small hiss when I pressed on the test/filler valve.

Any advice appreciated, because if I drove the thing in to get it fixed without doing some work myself they would prolly charge me more than the car is worth. lol

 

[hako]

If the unit still had some gas in it before you disconnected it you might have at least half a chance, however once disconnected if air enters the unit it will have moisture in it and this can quickly corrode the internals of the compressor. The PAG oil in the A/C is hygroscopic apparently. If the evaporator in the cabin is leaking it will cost almost $1000 to replace by a mechanic....you can DIY this however and use the parts from the wreck however you will not know what needs replacing till you put it all together and gas it up which is what I'd do first up. Use new correct "O" rings and a new drier then take it to an aircon bloke and get him to gas it up. This project could cost many many dollars as you are aware.
Good luck with this....I hope it can be done.

 

[Paul13pp]

Cheers hako,

Hopefully the evaporator is intact and not leaking. That one would be a pita but am willing to strip the dash out if need be.
Might be able to fix a few squeaks and other problems along the way if need be....

I will get a new drier and some quality 'O' rings for the compressor pipes and where ever else they are required and fit it all up and go from there as you suggest.

Only makes sense to do these things prior to taking it in.

The other crashed Lexcen actually was repaired to the point where it is still a daily for the owner but the air no longer works due to the radiator and associated air con parts being crushed in the bingle.

When we were pulling the front end back into shape to fit a new radiator, I noticed the pipes for the air con were squashed and cut in several locations effectively sealing air from entering the system so I will grab the compressor off that car and block its connections off immediately then fit a new shorter belt rather than mucking around putting my old compressor back in it.

While researching air and gas, some people just make up a gas hose fitting and fill the system with household BBQ LPG or vehicle LPG.....
That idea is tempting with my old compressor to see what happens..
No great loss if it doesn't work and really I can't imagine a flammable gas like LPG being a real problem in an accident considering the small amount used???

 

[hako]

Yup...I've read about the LPG used in it's liquid state as well...actually if you read up you will find that R12/freon is also flammable. Make sure you get the proper "O" rings....think they are blue. If you try LPG (which is not advisable) remember that if it don't work, the bloke who you get to regas the system may freak out etc....the smell would probably stay there. It's only $100 or so for a test regas where they only fill to test for leaks.....then if OK they should put a vacuum on the system overnight then add the R134A. It might pay to go to a 'friendly' aircon place and buy what you need and explain to their mech what you are doing....may pave the way to a smoother instal. Good Luck.

 

[Paul13pp]

Progress. :blah blah:

Drove the car to a friends workplace whom does air con work.
He vacuumed the system for an hour or so, then measured and added some compressor oil with dye and re-gassed the system with R 134.
Wow, it works and the compressor is not too noisy.

Well it did work.... for 3 days.
So all the magic has leaked out it seems.
Now to find the leak.

Did not change the drier or anything at this stage, just did the above, and for those 3 days it worked, it was nice and cold no worries there.

Planning to dig out an old U/V light I have in the shed somewhere in the morning and see if I can spot any tell tale dye marks.

At this stage, if you turn the aircon on, the compressor still kicks in but there is quite a loud hissing sound coming from somewhere behind the dash area.

This exact same noise comes from the aircon in a Ford 1998 model work vehicle I drive from time to time. (no cold air too)

 

[mr031]

The hissing noise is from the tx valve, its not operating correctly in changing vap to a liquid and a hiss noise produced. Using lpg is very stupid, the high pressure goes off the scales and is the compressor usually struggles and you hear it loading up the engine.

 

[Paul13pp]

Cheers for the advice 31.

It seems a new TX Valve and Receiver Drier would be a good idea and I will get the good known working compressor from the other car.
Fit that lot up and go from there.

The LPG was a thought, but only from googling air faults.
Shall go the proper avenue with the gas.

 

[VS_Pete]

Why aren`t you going back to your mate?

 

[Paul13pp]

Oh I will be early next week Pete.

It is a bit of a drive to where my friend works. (not local)

I just like to have things organized and ensure the replacement parts needed are ordered and on hand.

I figure the car is old and replacing these parts will be worthwhile in the long term even if some of them may be still working....
Although the compressor on my car did work for those 3 days after a re-gas, it was slightly noisy, and that can only get worse, so I figure seeings I have another compressor that I know 100% was very quiet and does not leak which came from a 96 Lexcen with nice cold air has to be worthwhile to fit prior to next weeks repair and re-gas.

My u/v light showed up a leak around one of the connection threads at the old receiver/drier.
Not sure if that whole aluminum pipe will need replacing or not due to the threads being seized or corroded inside, but I'm sure we will find out next week.

 

[VS_Pete]

I got my system flushed overnight ask your mate about this.
After you get it sorted run the aircon at lease once a week.
And one other thing I do is run the heater up and down as the heater tap can sieze.
Hope it all works out mate.