Car: Camry 4-cycl, 1994.
I had it refilled last summer and I was surprised that it stopped working earlier this month. I'm not sure if it's out of refrigerant again, leaked, or something else is broken. Are there a few steps to diagnose the problem. When I turn on the air, I can hear different noise like it would sound when working but just no cold air out. Is it possible that it wasn't filled correctly that it was out of it sooner than it should?
Thanks for the help,
With a car that old it sounds like a leak to me .
They should have put in refrigerant with a dye in it so they can tell where it is leaking , with ultra-violet light.
Thanks for the suggestion. How long can refrigerant last at regular use? I didn't have to refill until last year.
Do you see bubbles in the sight glass on the drier can?
Like old struts and speakers, by the time you felt it it was bad enough. These systems typically leak about 0.5 to 1 oz every year. And that's considered new and "completely sealed." Good thing parts stores carry $20 all-in-one gauged cans. It's a rough ball-park method so don't over charge it.
Depending on the system a small recharge every 3-4 years should help. But if it leaked out since last summer then you probably have a big leak than 0.5-1 oz/year ;) ;) ;)
The refrigerant will last forever. It is not used. but just changes from liquid to gas and back again. It is not like oil and never needs changing. It can leak out and you have to add more. If it leaks out quickly, then find the leak.
I had a new1991 Camry with over 190,000 on it when I sold it in 2007 and never had anything done to the airconditioner and it cooled the car fine in
90+ deg heat.
I had to replace the expansion valve and seals in my 92 Camry.
The expansion valve o-rings were leaking and you cannot see this as the expansion valve is enclosed in the expansion coil air box. I was told this was a common problem with Camrys.
I bought a seal kit and expansion valve at Advance Autoparts and tore into the dash. Took me about 8 hours. Replaced the freon and it cools very well now. No more leaks!
It is such a pain in the ass to take apart the dash be sure to have all replacement parts for reassembly.
Good luck!
Sure, there was a recall of expansion valves in all Toyotas of early
1990s. The defective expansion valves corroded and let refrigerant out. I would think by 94 these were fixed. Maybe not.SSCP01 JUN 93 Campaign - A/C Expansion Valve
Most owners would probably think that their ACs were just weak after a while and needed a recharge, instead they were driving around with defective expansion valves!
Have a look at your sight glass, located on the receiver/drier, to see how the refrigerant charge is holding up, as in
AC Refrigerent (freon) lasts 1,000's of yeras. Barney rubble still has his original freon, because his AC doesn't leak YOU have a leak.
Thanks for the suggestion. How long can refrigerant last at regular use? I didn't have to refill until last year.
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