Cleaning AC System and Evaporator

[hkimsoft]

Yet another alternative...

I went to the local Toyota dealer and asked about the BG Frigi-Clean... well the parts representative said that they stopped using BG products... and gave me an AC kit which comes with an Evaporator cleaner and refresher from "PETRO Checmical A/C Power Foam". This is what they use on Toyotas for A/C service according to the parts rep.

Anyways, total cost is $18.95 for the entire kit. Also, there is no hole to drill. Simply snugly fit the wedge adapter at the end of the dispensing apparatus into the evaporator drain tube and dispense it. 10-15 mins later, foam will liquify and drain out. Then follow with "ConditionAire 2005 Refresher" into the fresh air intake with blower on high...

Whole process took me 20-25 mins... and best of all, SMELLS GONE!

-hkimsoft

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by RavenTai

Maybe they mean wile the evaporator is removed and open (see context) you should not use water on it in fear of getting some in the open ports? Water contamination on the inside of the system is a problem. On the exterior of a sealed evaporator should be fine,

Interesting to hear that the AC now seams t work better, if it was covered in funk before it would make sense that it will cool better with that insulation removed.

I think you may be right....after posting that I am not sure what getting it wet could hurt.

Originally Posted by Arleaux

Any chance of a group buy?

Feel free to call them and ask...BG Products on Jones Road West. I am not interested in orchestrating a group buy on a $25 kit just to save $2-3....I love you all but I am too busy for that.

Originally Posted by Vitesse_6

Im very disappointed....I went to my local BG dist. which is about 1 mile away, $70.00 !!! !

That's if THEY hook it up to a machine and do it. The local distributor showed me that too, but that's not what you want. You want BG part #708 and 709....less than $25 total.

Originally Posted by hkimsoft

...kit which comes with an Evaporator cleaner and refresher from "PETRO Checmical A/C Power Foam". This is what they use on Toyotas for A/C service according to the parts rep.

After looking around I think there are half a dozen of these types of kits out there. Regardless, my system is blowing very cold and smells great (no smell actually.)

[schlopecki]

Originally Posted by hkimsoft

(...)
Then follow with "ConditionAire 2005 Refresher" into the fresh air intake with blower on high...

I'm new to FZJ80...
Where is the fresh air intake located?

Thanks

[Grench]

The slots in front of the hood next to the wipers I believe.

[schlopecki]

Originally Posted by Grench

The slots in front of the hood next to the wipers I believe.

I see.
In some trucks/cars there is a small filter just past those slots, is it the case for FZJ80?
I can check that in the manual once I get back home, but maybe you know that already?

[Grench]

I have no idea. My only trick with the fresh air intakes is to put the 2nd row floor mat carpet side down over them and under the wipers when its going to snow. It helps a lot to keep the inside defogged if the intakes aren't sucking frozen water or clogged.

[schlopecki]

Originally Posted by Grench

I have no idea. My only trick with the fresh air intakes is to put the 2nd row floor mat carpet side down over them and under the wipers when its going to snow. It helps a lot to keep the inside defogged if the intakes aren't sucking frozen water or clogged.

Good advice - thanks!

PS
I'll be in Omaha with kids, visiting the zoo some day in Labor Day wekeend.

[jomo]

I just bought one on Ebay. Since people were having problems finding them before, thought some folks might want to know. No affiliation with the seller.

[PScottBx]

First, thanks Jim for helping out. I managed to find a local distributor for BG products. Seems like many have the same active ingredients on the can. I know the pics don't really add anything but we all like pics:

1996 LX450



The "kit" comes w/ the cleaner/foam, applicator tubing (bicycle nut), the Frigi-Fresh spray and then the small brass self taping fitting and a plug in case you wanted to remove the fitting when you're done.




Drilled a 1/4" pilot hole and screwed the fitting w/ a small wrench.





Connected it all up, ran the truck w/ max A/C and sprayed the foam. Blower squeeked a bit and had to pause as the directions state but got it all in < 30seconds. Ran it a bit (1 min) and shut it down.

On the sidewalk, I've gotta say was not the mud and grime I expected but my biggest problem was trying to kill the dog that lives in there. I did have two brownish stains from dirty fluid come out. (maybe a bit more impressive in person)



After sitting for 10-15 min, I ran it for 8 min and sprayed the Frigi-Clean in the cowl vents and ran for two more. Must say, smells much better so far.

Capped off and ready for next time.




Thanks again Jim. I paid right at $30 for the kit.



Bx

[RavenTai]

Got a funky smell in mine this spring that would not go away, yesterday went all around town looking for evaporator cleaner foam, no one had ever heard of it much less have any, they kept trying to sell me the spray you put in the vents " make it smell real purdy" only thing I found was a can of car quest house brand "coil and vent cleaner" for $7, very little info on the can besides don't eat it don't get en eyes etc in 4 languages.

removed the transistor heat sink (see pictures above near where they installed nipple, remove glove box and displace one computer and a harness, remove two screws) found a bunch of oak leaves pine needles and short Grey hairs in there, especially up in the aft corner closest to the passenger seat, the evaporator had a bunch of slimy funk on it, mostly near the bottom, seamed to be held together by the same short gray hairs,

Rat hairs?


pulled out the leaves and the big chunks of slime and a chunk of white plastic that I cannot identify, sprayed the evaporator down with this stuff and to my dismay it was not really cleaner and did not touch the slime but instead it was just perfume stuff, now my ac smelled like a combo of cherries and urinal mint

plan B got our the liquid sprayer and a gallon of dawn and hot water, moved the tip around to blow out every fin, was careful to not bump the evaporator and bend any fins, that seamed to blow most of the funk out the back and down the drain, the thickest spots did not budge though, next mixed up a gallon of bleach solution, about 6 OZ in a gallon of hot water. that did it, sparkly clean, finished up with the garden hose on low, to remove as much of the cleaners as possible, the drain can handle a surprising volume of water


not sure if the chlorine will damage the aluminum before it evaporates/is neutralized long term but I had to do something to get that funk our of there.

my vents now smell like a faint mix of cherries & bleach, a not so pleasant combo hopefully I wont have to put up with that for long but it is better than before, bonus ac blows noticeably more air and colder.


the short answer, don't be a impatient like me, get the right stuff before you start and I would certainly remove the heat sink and look at the evaporator and see what you are dealing with, no foam is going to remove a fist full of FOD from the box. make sure you feel around the left aft corner where you cannot see. as that is where the fan blows most of it.

wish I had taken pictures.

[RavenTai]

ha no pictures needed,

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...ead-dog-c.html

my evap did not look quite as bad as post number 6, they gray funk was the same, the leaves collect about where the hole in in post #8

Does not appear that that 94 has the transistor heat sink? so no access?


Edit looking at the pictures of elmariachi's 97, his does not have the access plate either

is that large access only on the LX450? see PScottBx pictures.

[super90]

I went this whole route about three years ago using DWD2, I think it was. Same sort of procedure, some type of product. Used that about every six or eight montyhs. Smell would come back. Although, not as strong as it originally was.

Funny thing is, it's not that hard to obtain almost direct access to the coil by pulling the blower motor. There are maybe three or four bolts and the electrical connector. You'll find the whole thing described using "search". Anyhow, pull the blower and then spray down the coil directly with whatever you want to use. I think the very last time around I even used some household mold and mildew killer, like Tilex. Let it sit, then rinse.

While you have the blower off, clean it all out with mold and mildew cleaner too, remembering it's an electric motor and we have to be careful with moisture. Maybe follow up with something that smells nice.

A little more effort, but you'll get it cleaner.

Old wet dog smell gone.

You might even find some coil cleaner at Lowes or Home Depot. Don't know that it works as well, but it might be a good option.