Air Con blowing hot air again, after a re-gas 4-5 months ago

[yotka]

Ok here's the scenario:

Air con was re-gassed with dye added and after passing a leak test, 4-5 months ago.

For the last 2 weeks, there is a plastic smell coming from my vents. Was not sure if its from the dye, as it kinda smells like it, for the first few weeks after it was regassed.

Now, there is no more cold air coming from the air con.

Looked around in my engine bay for the green dye, and there was none.

Pressed on one of the valves and green dye pissed up like a geyser, so there are still gas in there.

Compressor appears to be working, as in there are sounds coming from it, when aircon is turned on.

Just noticed there seems to be a hissing sound from the passenger side's dash, when I enabled air conditioning mode, and none, when its in fan only mode.

Have not gone under there to have a look yet.

Any ideas?

[silverGPX]

tx valve

[yotka]

tx valve

You meant this? -> http://www.camskill.co.uk/m3b0s596p6052 ... alve_-_FTO

[silverGPX]

Yes you can replace it yourself, just go in to an aircon place and take yours in and get them to find the same one.

Put it in yourself and yeah, you will save a lot of money on labour, aircon places like to charge an arm and a leg for anything.

Then just get it gassed up.

Also it could be leaking at the connections at the firewall that lead into the evaporator.

[yotka]

Is there a DIY guide, or some pictures of where all these stuff are?

Hoping to get a more car-savvy mate to help me out here.

Also, any tips on how to avoid all that Predator blood spray(dye) coming out, during the dismantling of the air con system?


Cheers

[silverGPX]

Lol no DIY guide man, its pretty simple to take the evaporator out theres a couple of clips, a nut on the top and bottom and taking out the 2 bolts in the firewall that connect the pipes from the engine bay to the evaporator.

And to stop dye? take a hose off the compressor drain some from there. also when u remove the connections at the firewall for the evaporator, dye will come out then as well.

To minimize how much dye you spill into your interior comes down to how careful you are manouvering the whole evaporator out of its position and out of the car.

Tip: Try to keep the pipes at the top when removing it. And the dye doesnt really stain the carpet. I spilt some and just got a rag and wiped it up and once i was finished just hit it with upholstery cleaner.

Good luck!
Definetly not rocket science, just attack it with caution and confidence. Im not an approved mechanic or aircon retrofitter and im only 21, and ive replaced my aircon compressor, TX Valve, Receiver Dryer and Condensor and my aircon is cold as ice!

[yotka]

Haha, ok young one.

Thanks for the advice.

[payaya]

How can it be the tx valve if he is clearly smelling something? If the smell is a hot electrical/hot drill bit type of smell he has a leak and clearly has not looked hard enough for the leak.

Unless something happens to the tx valve to make it leak.

[silverGPX]

Blocked tx valve, could be making it leak at the connections to the evaporator.

The tx valve is the smallest opening the gas has to get through in the whole system.

[payaya]

Guess you can look at the sight indicator and see if there are any bubbles forming while the AC is on.

[silverGPX]

Ill ask my dad, but you can also check whether the pipes are hot and cold in the wrong places to diagnose the problem without a pressure gauge.

[payaya]

Ill ask my dad, but you can also check whether the pipes are hot and cold in the wrong places to diagnose the problem without a pressure gauge.

Yep inlet and outlet of the compressor and determine if there is a diff in temp at other places (blockages).

[yotka]

Ok, just an update that this has been fixed.

Evaporator had cracked and dye can be seen on both sides.
papaya was right.
Replaced with a 2nd hand part from Dstocks, and all's cool now.

Cost me nearly $500/- excluding the part and freight cost.
Regas with dye and a change in drier/filter included.
The part number for the aircon filter is RNIS16.
It fits the CE Lancer and Magna of that era as well.
All done professionally, hence the cost.