A/C help needed (yeah, I know there's a gazillion posts)

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Sep 19, 2003 | 06:04 PM

AaronE

Thread Starter

Pole Position

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 319

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From: California

A/C help needed (yeah, I know there's a gazillion posts)

Sorry to start yet another A/C thread, but I can't find the information I need. Quick lowdown:

* A/C doesn't work at all. Seems the compressor isn't spinning up.
* A/C light is NOT flashing. Comes on normally and looks like it's working.
* Tried the Recirc + A/C switch combo to get codes, but it didn't do anything. (am I doing this wrong?)
* Don't know where the relay is, so I haven't checked that
* Don't know where the A/C sight glass is, so I haven't checked that either
* Previous owner said that the A/C kinda petered out last summer

Sounds like low R12 to me. How do I check that? And does that seem like a reasonable explanation? I'm hoping the comressor isn't bad, but if it is, there's one in the classifieds...

Thanks in advance,
-Aaron

Sep 20, 2003 | 10:04 AM

VVT-i

Lexus Champion

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 2,781

Likes: 6

From: Georgia

Look for any kind of oil or heavy dirt bluid up around the compressor and one of the A/C line that run across the front part of the engine to the compressor. The SC400 are bad about leaking freon arond this area. Good luck.

Sep 23, 2003 | 08:53 PM

smelkony

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 32

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From: California

Had same problem

I had the same problem when I first got my car a year ago. The car automatically stops the compressor from spinning because it knows it is out of the FREON (R12 or R134). So get it filled and the compressor should start working again.

Sep 23, 2003 | 10:29 PM

ChuH

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 1,189

Likes: 15

From: Guam

There must be a leak. In my case had to replace the evaporator coil (~$500 including labor) on my 92 & 95 SC400.

Chu...

Sep 29, 2003 | 04:05 AM

UncleNick

Pole Position

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 389

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From: Florida

Re: Had same problem

Quote:

Originally posted by smelkony
I had the same problem when I first got my car a year ago. The car automatically stops the compressor from spinning because it knows it is out of the FREON (R12 or R134). So get it filled and the compressor should start working again.

If the system is low, the system has a low pressure cut-off switch to avoid damage to compressor. If you jump switch it should come on while adding freon but there is the other problem. If it is low, you have a leak somewhere. Most likely in the evaporator.

Last edited by UncleNick; Sep 29, 2003 at 04:06 AM.