Sounds good thank you! I have a new clutch on hand so if needed I can replace that at least.
Air conditioning maintenance?
- Thread starter SWUtah
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Old thread I know, but I am a big proponent of keeping refrigeration coils clean to help keep pressures in spec and air cold (and not musty-smelling). Any canned foaming coil cleaner meant for evaporator coils will be plenty gentle enough. The condenser coil is hard to hit (between the radiator and the trans cooler) so if you ever have to pull the radiator, THAT'S the time to clean/flush the coil (from the backside). And if you have trouble getting to the evap coil, a pump sprayer with a 90-degree nozzle will work through the air filter door (if you have one).
I cleaned the evaporator coil by pulling the fan and filter out. Set the mode to floor and set blend door to max cool to prevent any particles to go into heater core, keep the filter replacement door removed, apply compressed air (wear goggles) to the evaporator and that just let any loose particles to fly out throught the filter door and fan opening. Then spray water and let it soak and then apply compressed air to clean the fins. Some will eject out from those two opening and some will pass to the other side of the evaporator core. With the mode set to floor those will come out upon running the blower at full blast.
Anyone with their rigs from new that still have good ac without servicing? I think these forums might make it appear more ac units need servicing than reality.
My 2006 Camry AC that’s been in the family since new still blows ice cold without ever having maintenance done. That makes me inclined to think the ac system shouldn’t lose much coolant over the life of the car to noticeably impact ac performance unless there’s some accelerated “wear” in the system. It’s been many nights since new so it’s possible my Camry’s ac max cool temps have gotten noticeably higher and I just now lack a reliable reference point.
My 2002 hundred series with 300k miles is blowing slightly-cooler-than-ambient-temp air. It’s been a cali car all its life and just has on-road miles. I’m tempted to just recharge and hope I don’t have to think about it ever, but I get the nagging sense there is a slow leak due to aged components. The underside is shockingly clean and lines visually look to be in great condition. I want to do this the “right” way but dreading having to do the whole pulling a vacuum, pressurizing with nitrogen to hunt for any static leaks only for it be a active only leak at the compressor.
My 2006 Camry AC that’s been in the family since new still blows ice cold without ever having maintenance done. That makes me inclined to think the ac system shouldn’t lose much coolant over the life of the car to noticeably impact ac performance unless there’s some accelerated “wear” in the system. It’s been many nights since new so it’s possible my Camry’s ac max cool temps have gotten noticeably higher and I just now lack a reliable reference point.
My 2002 hundred series with 300k miles is blowing slightly-cooler-than-ambient-temp air. It’s been a cali car all its life and just has on-road miles. I’m tempted to just recharge and hope I don’t have to think about it ever, but I get the nagging sense there is a slow leak due to aged components. The underside is shockingly clean and lines visually look to be in great condition. I want to do this the “right” way but dreading having to do the whole pulling a vacuum, pressurizing with nitrogen to hunt for any static leaks only for it be a active only leak at the compressor.
2005 LX ~280k miles.
I had a leak and took it to a local very reputable cruiser only mechanic. They advised to replace the condenser, compressor and a line. I was not totally convinced it needed all that, but I bit the bullet and had it done .. peace of mind and now it blows ice cubes. Hopefully the system lasts for another long time. I’d like to get to 500k or more if gas is still available
I had a leak and took it to a local very reputable cruiser only mechanic. They advised to replace the condenser, compressor and a line. I was not totally convinced it needed all that, but I bit the bullet and had it done .. peace of mind and now it blows ice cubes. Hopefully the system lasts for another long time. I’d like to get to 500k or more if gas is still available
2007 LX with clean coils and filters. Blows very cold. You can hang meat in my LX in the summer.