Aircon (1 Viewer)

[Jim_Phillips]

Ever since I bought my Landcruiser I've been having problems with the Aircon.

First year I had it I needed to recharge the aircon juice. The year after that it stopped working again (it didn't really matter since we never really had a summer that year) Last year I had another top up of Aircon juice but the thing was leaking so badly it was all gone in a couple of days. A trip to Toyota led to a quote of nearly $1000 to replace the aircon radiator. In the end I tried to fix it myself with some epoxy resin. I paid for more aircon juice and the damn thing worked for only about 10 minutes.

This year, thanks to global warming, I'm optimistic that we will be having a summer . I'm going to tackle the radiator job and replace with a new one.

Is there any good advice out there on what I should look out for? Are there any other aircon components I should be checking?

I've also heard that Aircon should be run through the winter to stop the seals deteriorating - since the juice acts like a lubricant?? What views on this topic?

Cheers, Jim

 

[Beowulf]

Jim,
In the sunny Southwest we have shops that specialise in A/C repair. They can put a dye in the refrigerant and detect the location of the leak. I would seek out a specialist in the UK and be certain the leak is in the condensor before I parted with $1,000.

I know of one case where the dealer estimated a high dollar repair and it turned out to be a 25 cent O-ring that the guy fixed himself after finding the location of the leak. That was 4 years ago and the owner's A/C is still running fine.

We have about 6 months where we don't need to run the A/C. I try to run it about 1xMonth to keep the system running and the seals lubricated. We all need to establish a routine to excercise the E-brake, engage the diff-locks, and cycle the A/C. Say every 3rd Wednesday at 5PM GMT?

-B-

 

[Jim_Phillips]

-B-

You may be onto something there. Toyota originally traced the leak to the condensor - which I repaired. When I put it back together I reused the old 'o' rings. Maybe that's what's leaking. The condensor was fixed OK - I put it in water, blocked one end and submerged it in water whilst attaching an air hose. No problem !

I think I'll have the leak traced once more.

I try to engage low range etc once a month just to get the oil splashing around.. every 3rd Wednesday will be fine..

Cheers, Jim

 

[cruiserdan]

Jim,
Re-using the O rings is like taking a shower and putting your dirty clothes back on.......Start there........ :dunno:

 

[Beowulf]

C-Dan,

>> ... taking a shower and putting <<
>> your dirty clothes back on <<

It's a good thing that Jim's a Brit. That metaphor would be lost on the frogs.

-B-

 

[semlin]

wulf, I am sorry to tell you it is lost on many brits too. In fact, Jim might not even have a shower...

 

[Jim_Phillips]

Semlin - you're right ! I don't have a shower!! We Brits prefer to soak in a bath. Much more relaxing. My bath is a work of art - nearly 7ft long, 150 years old and made of cast iron. Don't compare us to the French, that would be cruel -

Dan - I like the analogy. I'll get the O rings replaced.

Cheers, Jim

 

[Jim_Phillips]

At the risk of sounding defensive, I thought I better add that it's considered perfectly normal in the UK to bathe rather than shower. Many consider a shower to be rather too continental, an opinion with which I concur.

 

[Beowulf]

Jim,
Pics? Occupied is OK as long as you're not in it. :G
-B-

 

[Jim_Phillips]

....No, I won't be taking any picturs of my bathroom. I've already left myself wide open to your jibes without revealing more about the British bathroom. Some things are sacred

-B- What on earth is a doing on the list of your vehicle's extras?

Cheers, Jim

 

[Jim_Phillips]

....No, I won't be taking any picturs of my bathroom. I've already left myself wide open to your jibes without revealing more about the British bathroom. Some things are sacred

-B- What on earth is a thong doing on the list of your vehicle's extras?

Cheers, Jim

 

[Beowulf]

Jim,

>> What on earth is a thong doing on the list of your vehicle's extras? <<

As you'll recall from the SOR days, eric got us booted off SOR and the whole darn thing shut down because he tried to sell a thong with a picture of his truck on it.

At my request, he created me a custom thong with a picture of me in a thong on the thong. Since we both went to a lot of trouble for that darn thong, I now hang it from the rear view mirror.

-B-
(That's the way I remember the story and I'm sticking to it.)

 

[cruiserdan]

-B-, Oh, So thats what that is "dangling" from you mirror.

BTW, How DO you see out the windshield anyway?

 

[Jim_Phillips]

Now I remember - thank you so much for reawakening that rather unpleasant memory

 

[Jim_Phillips]

Isn't it about time Eric appologised to the ex SORs for getting us booted off?

I can't blame SOR for not wanting their company associated with a picture of B in a thong