Air conditioning gone west

[andy500]

I'm going to add to this aircon thread instead of starting a new one if that's ok.

Just got a 120 LC4, and I noticed before buying the AC pulley wasn't spinning, even with the AC light solid on the dash.
Dealer said it needed a regas, which was then done as part of my purchase.
On collecting the car, pulley still didn't spin, with dash AC light still solid. Pipes around the pulley were warm to the touch, ie no cooling effect. Cue whinging customer (me).

Here's the weird bit - I found that pushing the warmup button (and therefore raising the idle speed) lets the AC pulley clutch lock up and spin the compressor quite happily.

Reading the handbook doesn't make me any the wiser - should I expect the AC compressor to run at idle without the warmup button on in cool (sub 10 degrees) weather?

Many thanks, Andy

 

[Crispin]

That top pump is not the ac pump but the second heater pump which only turns on when you have the power heat button on.

It pumps the water around a water jacket on the exhaust manifold to quickly heat up.

The dealer was confused by this? Please say it's not a mr-T dealer...

For the sake of confusion, the ac light can be on without the compressor (above the alternator) engaged. There is no (visual) indication that the clutch is engaged or not. Revs climb slightly and a slight knock as it engages but that's all. Light is always green.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[andy500]

Now that post makes more sense than the entire AC and warmup section of the handbook! Many thanks!
I feel like an idiot now - ooooh look, the pipes are getting warm...
Not a Toyota dealer, just a small independent.
But bad news... now I've had a fiddle about and looked properly and worked out what goes where the aircon pulley appears to be located directly below the warmup pulley... and the AC pulley is stationary no matter what I do.
I'm guessing there's a gas leak. I'll have to get it checked out by a proper AC specialist at some point - rather that than have the dealer have another 'go' at it.
Pleased with it overall though - needs a good derust and treatment underneath but is very tidy up top and inside, plus it's got a good history and has had the injector seals done.

Edited to add - I did have a PM about a compressor that's for sale. I was going to reply to it after posting here... and now the PM has disappeared. So apologies for being rude and not replying - when I get the AC looked at I'll post back here if I need (gulp) a new compressor.

 

[Crispin]

If there was a fault the aircon then the light on the switch would/should flash as has happened to Gary many times

To "test" it I would turn the AC on, turn the temp down as much as possible and then watch the pulley. It should engage at some point, on mine it is about every minute for a few seconds and then off again.

Not sure though what the self-diagnostics are like for the AC though. Mine had a gas leak and still worked, just not very well. Gary's had a failed clutch and it gave a fault because of that.

The clutch on the compressor is electro-magnetic so would have a fuse somewhere for it. Try that?

 

[Sam]

Old thread I know - but for what its worth....

My 120 had air con problems for aaaaaaaaages... most frustratingly the occasional flashing green light.
Got re-gassed by Mr. T a few times (free of charge I must add) but it went wonky after a few hours every time.

Turned out in the end to be the relay. I've since learned it can cause many an air con issue.

There's a simple test for anyone having problems. The air con relay is the same as the front fog light relay. Both little white boxes in the relay panel under the bonnet (right hand side looking in from front). Simply change them over and see.

They cost about £75 + vat I think. So yup... my air con works just fine now... the front fogs? not so much anymore