Weak A/C but recent regas - 97 VX Grande

[owoodland Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close owoodland]

Continuing my saga of my new hail dented Prado - I have now shipped it up to Karratha (35 degrees plus) and discovered that the air con is weak. I had it regassed before I brought it up here, but even running flat out the thing is just cool - you would hardly describe it as cold.

Please assume that I have done the obvious like a) turn it on, b) turn it to cold, c) wait a few minutes for it to cool down, etc. The rear a/c is similarly insipid.

Any ideas? The hot-cold blend door is a little sticky but is turning fully to the cold position ( I can hear it thunk into place). The sight glass on the receiver dryer is showing full gas, without bubbles. The clutch on the compressor is definitely engaging, I can see the compressor wheel spinning.

The compressor is not noisy.

Is there some sort of thermostat or similar that can be dialled down on these?

Cheers
Owen

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Re: Weak A/C but recent regas - 97 VX Grande

First thing I guess is why did it need to be regassed - perhaps it does have a leak albeit small.
Second too little or too much gas can cause it to not cool properly. I have heard of several people having their AC fixed by reducing the pressure to the factory specified levels.
Thirdly, is it cycling in a normal manner...i.e. does the compressor turn on for 10-20 seconds then turn off for 10-20 seconds (times may vary).

If so this means that it thinks its getting cool enough to turn off, if not then its not able to get the air cold enough to turn off. This will indicate if the issue is a setting or a failure of the system for some reason.

(Put the AC on in the work car for the first time today on the way home, must be warming up!)

Cheers

[Chriso57 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chriso57]

Re: Weak A/C but recent regas - 97 VX Grande

Only other thing to check really is that the heater tap is definately closing off when switched to cold. Dont ask me where it is though .

After that take it to an auto sparky and just ask them for a diagnostic check. They will check the pressures and let you know in 2 mins.

I feel your pain though - I did two years in Karratha and A/C is mandatory (all year round!).

Chriso

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Weak A/C but recent regas - 97 VX Grande

when it was regassed, did they change the filter/reciever/dryer, if that is blocked you wont get cold air.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Re: Weak A/C but recent regas - 97 VX Grande

hey guys i have a mate who is a mechanic , well i have several who are mechs . mate has a lexus 470 ie 100 series with dual air con , not sure whether its the same with the prado grandes but ill check , but there is certain way of regassing the air con to get it right or it works like crap .please excuse me but im half tanked , ill check it out and get back to you soon . some body here will contradict me or poo poo this but ill try to help . i Know 2 people who have had to regas the lexus dual system.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Weak A/C but recent regas - 97 VX Grande

I dont know this system but as some of the other guys have said why did it need re gasing in the first place it has to have a leak some where. if you go get a check done on it again you will find out if it has lost its gas. if they have the right equipment the should be able to find the leak as the gas has stuff in it to glow under uv light or something i am sure. On some systems they wont work if they have to much gas in them as to prevent over pressurizing the system and same with to little. or there could be a problem with the pressure switch it self

[Taresk Member Find all posts View Profile Close Taresk]

Re: Weak A/C but recent regas - 97 VX Grande

Might be worth getting your compressor checked, mine made no unusual noises right up to the point that it seized, I had similar symptoms, fresh gas, fresh belts, cool, but not cold air. Smelt something burning at a 4wd comp, checked the engine and my AC belt was smoking, had to cut it off. It remains off to this day due to the expensive replacement cost, hope that's not your problem, but check it anyway.