Hey all, I have a 1985 Corolla SR5 (AE86) and the air conditioner doesn't cool very well. It has a new compressor, expansion valve, high-side line, and drier. The fan clutch is also new.
It has plenty of refrigerant (25-35 psi low, 250 psi high) and was converted to R134a.
Is there anything that could help the performance of the system?
Thanks!
Yes: The installation of a parallel-flow condenser.
(On the other hand, why are you doing this to an '85 Toyota? It must be ready to fall apart by now...)
It's my baby. Can't give up on it! Actually, its in pretty good condition and sound mechanically. I might have to try the condenser.
Is that the only way? I have never heard anything good about the additives seen at the auto parts store but would like a second (third/fourth/fifth) opinion on them. That Arctic chill stuff, Maxicool, etc. What is that stuff, even?
These convert to 134 fairly effectively IMO. If you live in Arizona you may not agree, but I feel they are pretty good up to about 90 degrees in moderate humidity. I don't know if the job was done correctly, but here are some pointers you can mull over.
Too much oil added during the combined repairs to this system would be a bad thing. "Plenty of freon" could mean too much freon. Did you clean out the evaporator fins completely during replacement of the expansion valve? Sometimes old Corollas will grow a crap toupe on the front side of the coil that embeds itself into the unit.
Toyota MDT in MO
Snake oil.
For good info on A/C systems, check here:
You may want to check for any technical service bulletins (TSBs) issued by Toyota about this subject.
I would seal the perimeter of the condenser, including any gaps between it and the radiator. If your fan clutch is the thermostatic type, I'd try substituting a solid spacer (if that causes too much noise, then consider an electric fan, but be sure its thermostatic switch is bypassed so the fan always runs while the A/C is on). But if that doesn't help and you're sure the system hasn't been overfilled with oil or overcharged with R-134a (normally only 75-80% as much as the R-12 charge) or has an expansion valve that's stuck open or is grossly wrong, then I'd look at installing a high-efficiency condenser, either the parallel flow type with flat tubes the serpentine type with a
6-section flat tube. When I converted my VW to R-134a several years ago, I bought a $75 version of the latter from J.C. Whitney and got very good cooling even during 115F summer, and I had no window tint. Also I retained the original R-12 expansion valve.
Not entirely 'snake oil'. Those hydrocarbon (propane/butane) blends can be more efficient refrigerants than r134a. The 2 main reasons I won't use them are:
- The potential for fire/explosion in a catastrophic leak situation (AFAIK, this has NOT been a major problem to date)
- The reality that most any competent AC shop wont touch a system which has anything but r12 or r134a installed (so plan on doing all your AC repairs yourself)
Regards, Al.
Yeah, I've got a car like that- turned over 440,000 miles yesterday :-) I personally couldn't develop that kind of affection for a Toyota (mines a Plymouth) but I can understand it.
The additives are worthless. An alternative to the parallel flow condensor is to add a good, powerful electric fan to push extra air over the current condensor. It's not quite as beneficial as the parallel flow condensor would be, but its a big improvement over not doing anything at all. And a lot cheaper and easier than the parallel flow condensor, too.
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