More 120 prado a/c issues

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

Hey guys,

I bought my 120 about 18 months ago. A/c didn't get cold, fan worked. A mechanic mate replaced seals on condenser and put fresh gas in. Lasted 6 months then went hot. He looked and couldn't see any die anywhere and couldn't work it out so I took it somewhere else. They then couldn't work it out and gassed it again saying it looked fine. 10 months and its bloody gone hot again. I will take it somewhere else again but really can't understand what it can be. I dont see how it would take that long for the gas to disappear, normally gas goes straight away if there is a leak due to the pressure.

any ideas?

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

dont know whether to just bite the bullet and replace things like compressor condenser etc and re gas but then if they haven't found an issue why buy them? It is costly regassing the bloody thing every 6-9 months and really giving me the shits!

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

Did they replace the desiccant bag in the condenser when they gassed it? That may be the problem in the hot weather.
Are you sure it is out of gas.
If dye is in the system and out of gas, it may have a leak in the evaporator.

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

If evap leak it may only leak under expansion and contraption, when it is used.
That may take longer to leak.
Only way to see if that is the problem is to take the evap out and fully examine.
Have had TX valve leaking in some of the Landcruiser's as well. Again evap may have to come out if that is the problem.

[FC_Holden Member Find all posts View Profile Close FC_Holden]

Take it to a proper automotive A/C mechanic, the previous 2 have broken the law and can lose their licence's by re gassing the unit without locating the leak, a decent mechanic could find the leak by pressure testing the unit and using a leak detector.
It is also possible that the gas could be leaking out of the compressor front seal as these dry out and leak if the A/C system is not used regularly even if it is not hot, a very small leak will take quite a while to leak out the gas charge but would still be findable

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

Interesting as the other 2 are AC mechanics! I am taking it somewhere else in the morning and he said he's got a sniffer to test for a leak so will advise what comes of it this time!

Cheers guys

Take it to a proper automotive A/C mechanic, the previous 2 have broken the law and can lose their licence's by re gassing the unit without locating the leak, a decent mechanic could find the leak by pressure testing the unit and using a leak detector.
It is also possible that the gas could be leaking out of the compressor front seal as these dry out and leak if the A/C system is not used regularly even if it is not hot, a very small leak will take quite a while to leak out the gas charge but would still be findable

[FC_Holden Member Find all posts View Profile Close FC_Holden]

Interesting as the other 2 are AC mechanics! I am taking it somewhere else in the morning and he said he's got a sniffer to test for a leak so will advise what comes of it this time!

Cheers guys

So am I but like most things these days there are tradesman and there are 'tradesman' and than of course there are component changes who just keep changing things until they strike it lucky.

Good luck and hope you find the right person, oh and if the first 2 are A/C mechanics and do not have a leak detector than they are not tradesman

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

So am I but like most things these days there are tradesman and there are 'tradesman' and than of course there are component changes who just keep changing things until they strike it lucky.

Good luck and hope you find the right person, oh and if the first 2 are A/C mechanics and do not have a leak detector than they are not tradesman

If you were in QLD i'd love to get you to look. This guy definitely has a leak detector "sniffer" he called it so fingers crossed he can actually diagnose the issue instead of gassing me up and saying thanks see you later.

[FC_Holden Member Find all posts View Profile Close FC_Holden]

If you were in QLD i'd love to get you to look. This guy definitely has a leak detector "sniffer" he called it so fingers crossed he can actually diagnose the issue instead of gassing me up and saying thanks see you later.

Sorry too far to go for an A/C job, under law they are not allowed to just gas it up, big fines and loss of lic. Besides the gas is much too expensive now to just keep putting it in

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

The new a/c mechanic finally found the problem with his sniffer detector. Crack in the pipe down below the air box. Once he showed me even I could smell the gas escaping, I think it has worsened dramatically then previously. Anyway am taking it back Tuesday for him to remove the pipe and have it repaired. Finally problem will be resolved instead of regassing and being sent on my way.

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Prado2004 I'm pleased you finally got it sorted...when I need some a/c work done on mine (getting old/similar vintage) I'll make sure to PM you as I don't want 'larries' fooling around and charging me every 6 months.

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

Yeah I actually ended up getting the guy who services my car to do it, I never even realised he too is a a/c specialist. He couldn't believe he was the third mechanic to look at it as he picked up the issue in literally 5 mins in front of me. There are definitely some suspect people out there.

[FC_Holden Member Find all posts View Profile Close FC_Holden]

Good to hear it is all being sorted