[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by hserus

If the AC cooling is satisfactory don't touch it.

Do not try and fix something which is not broken. So by the same rule just ignore the Car. If you have a sight glass then you can check the state of the fill. The glass should go clear on a full charge. If there is a bit of foam it is still Ok.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by arindambasu13

The AC on my Honda Brio has stopped working. That is, while the air flow remains constant, there is no cooling taking place. The car is due for its annual service and I plan to give it for service in the next few days. Typically, what could be the issue? Mechanical failure of the condenser etc, or is it more likely that the AC gas needs a top up?

You can start with topping up with the a/c gas and then check for leaks. If there aren't any leaks, that should solve your problem. If there is a leak, you're looking at parts replacement.

Ask the mechanic to check coolant level (should be coolant, not water) and the radiator fins as well. I got the radiator fins cleaned and the radiator serviced at a radiator-specialist on my City last year. Years of muck, rust and salt accumulation (hard water used by mechanics) was removed.

[arindambasu13]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

You can start with topping up with the a/c gas and then check for leaks. If there aren't any leaks, that should solve your problem. If there is a leak, you're looking at parts replacement.

Thanks. Gave the car for service today, and turns out that there is a leak most likely because the chassis had hit a stone/rock/bump somewhere due to which the AC unit had got damaged. Parts replacement cost is around INR 7.5-8k from the quote given to me. Of course this was at an FNG, Honda quoted close to 20K plus for the same components replacement. Have given them the go ahead to do the necessary replacements.

Truth be told, this is the first major expense on the Brio in its 7 years with us, other than normal wear and tear issues such as battery and tire replacement.

[pcpranav]

related to good health of your car air-con, I have made two videos, hope they are helpful :

3M Car AC Evaporator Cleaning & Vent Cleaning Service:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beRUeB5xEvg

DIY - Cabin AC Filter Cleaning (on a Fortuner, but similar for other cars):

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-d...ml#post4632412 (Exhaustive DIY: Cabin AC Filter cleaning of the Ford Figo)

(I just posted the video link in appropriate thread)


regards,
Pranav

[hserus]

Originally Posted by pcpranav

related to good health of your car air-con, I have made two videos, hope they are helpful :
DIY - Cabin AC Filter Cleaning (on a Fortuner, but similar for other cars):

regards,
Pranav

Please don’t clean the filter if it gets dirty, it’s a few hundred rupees bit of paper. Throw it away and replace it with a fresh one.

[mxh]

Originally Posted by pcpranav

related to good health of your car air-con, I have made two videos, hope they are helpful :

3M Car AC Evaporator Cleaning & Vent Cleaning Service:

https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=beRUeB5xEvg

DIY - Cabin AC Filter Cleaning (on a Fortuner, but similar for other cars):

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-d...ml#post4632412 (Exhaustive DIY: Cabin AC Filter cleaning of the Ford Figo)

(I just posted the video link in appropriate thread)


regards,
Pranav

Nice video! Can you share the invoice please?

[pcpranav]

Originally Posted by hserus

Please don’t clean the filter if it gets dirty, it’s a few hundred rupees bit of paper. Throw it away and replace it with a fresh one.

Na, not in this case!
Specific to this vehicle Toyota Fortuner, the cabin filter is made of foam (not paper). As per service manual, the replacement is mentioned every 30K KMs, however in each service its specified to be cleaned. Toyota has designed such products for long life and durability. However, since its a few minutes job, I do it ever few weeks.
Btw, the OEM Cabin Filter by Toyota costs about 1900.

In my previous car Xylo, such cabin filter was made of fiber net bonded by a plastic frame around. It was also quite easy (in Fortuner is very easy) to give a clean - refer the above mentioned thread, wherein IndigoXLGrandDi has explained in detail on pg-2 (Exhaustive DIY: Cabin AC Filter cleaning of the Ford Figo).

Originally Posted by mxh

Nice video! Can you share the invoice please?

The 3M AC Evaporator (front side) Cleaning costed about 2800, it doesnt matter the size of car. In many cars/SUV there is a second evaporator on the rear side for the rear air-con, which is generally not very dirty. Dont remember exact price, but 3M says it would cost extra, maybe another 2-3K.

The front AC vent cleanup was charged about 1500, whereas the rear ones (I have 3 row AC vents) another 1200, the technician had used few spray bottles. Its important that the air-con condensation drain hole (front & rear side) are clear (see water dripping down when using aircon), and this foam would slowly come out of that drain, in the process cleaning the vent path. The MRP of this 3M AC Cleaner Foam is about 500, which you could buy online for a DIY, for a typical car get 2 bottles.


regards,

[ashis89]

I drive a WagonR k10, done 81k kms. I observed a strange and inconsistent issue with the AC of the car.

Yesterday I came on a 700 km long trip. I started very early in the morning and AC was ON throughout the trip. After few hours when the day temperatures rose, I realized the AC wasn't effective. I increased the blower and found there was hardly any airflow expect a little at speed 4. I moved the temperature control to 100% and found the air was barely cool. I tried resetting everything multiple times but same result. Few hours later, I reached Chennai city and crawled through the traffic. That's when I realized the AC performance was back to its full potential. The blower and cooling were back to normal even though I didn't change anything or even stop driving at any point in time. The good performance continue for an hour till I reached my destination and retired for the day. Today, when I drove the car in the city, the AC was chilling as usual. I am confused what could have happened yesterday?

During the highway trip, I took couple of 10 min breaks and the AC was still lifeless when I resumed. There was no change in performance of the car and I maintained good speeds throughout the trip. There was no temperature warnings on the console at any point in time.

A little background, The AC was perfectly fine till a month ago when I was using it regularly. the car was lying idle for full 3 weeks (from July week 1 to 3) as I was travelling. When I returned, I used the car for another 2 weeks. But since it was raining and weather was cool in general, I didn't feel the need to use the full potential of the AC. I kept the blower at 1 and the temperature at ~40% cold and never felt anything was amiss. The AC was last serviced in October 2018.

[Sutripta]

^^^
In all probability evaporator icing up. Normally the result of being low on gas.

Regards
Sutripta

[boniver]

Originally Posted by ashis89

I drive a WagonR k10, done 81k kms. I observed a strange and inconsistent issue with the AC of the car.

Uncanny resemblance.

My car is used to city runs only, which means an usual drive doesn't last more than a couple of hours at most. My AC runs fine now, and chills really well too. I keep the cooling at 100% and blower at the 2nd position permanently.

Last week, I drove the car for ~5 hours through early morning city traffic. Basically just ambling around with friends and chatting. Around 4 hours into the drive, on my way back home after dropping everyone off, I noticed the AC wasn't throwing out cool air. It was just normal air which made the interiors stuffy. Turned off the AC and rolled down the windows. 20 minutes later, I decided to turn the AC on again, and it was back to it's usual self! Kept on cooling till I reached home 30 mins later.

Car was parked for an hour after that, post which I again drove it for close to 60kms in Howrah suburban traffic (if you know what I mean). No issues with the AC at all, and the return journey at midnight didn't throw up any unwanted surprises either. Been a week and a half since then and the issue hasn't cropped up again.

I'll take the car to the garage if the AC stops cooling again, but it's extremely difficult to reproduce the issue in front of the mechanic. Maybe other members who have faced a similar problem can throw some light on what's wrong.

Originally Posted by Sutripta

^^^
In all probability evaporator icing up. Normally the result of being low on gas.

Regards
Sutripta

The AC gas was topped up in April, and then due to another issue in June the entire gas was taken out and new gas was filled. No change in pressure so I don't think any gas has escaped in these two months.

Thanks

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

^^^
In all probability evaporator icing up. Normally the result of being low on gas.

Regards
Sutripta

Thanks sir. I will get it checked soon and will start with the gas first. However I have a few doubts.

- Can the blower speed be affected due to low gas? My blower was running at <50% its normal speed across speed setting 1-4.

- Can the AC cooling come back to normal abruptly while the car(& AC) is running?

I was thinking more in lines of an electrical issue maybe, which occurs while driving at high RPMs? The other thing I was wondering was some kind of blockage which eventually got cleared.

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by ashis89

Thanks sir. I will get it checked soon and will start with the gas first. However I have a few doubts.

- Can the blower speed be affected due to low gas? My blower was running at <50% its normal speed across speed setting 1-4.

- Can the AC cooling come back to normal abruptly while the car(& AC) is running?

I was thinking more in lines of an electrical issue maybe, which occurs while driving at high RPMs? The other thing I was wondering was some kind of blockage which eventually got cleared.

Icing blocks of the airway. Significantly reducing airflow. AC shut off/ compressor running at slow speeds - the ice melts - airway restriction removed - normal airflow resumes.

Given symptoms, icing most likely but not only cause.
Low on refrigerant most likely but not only cause of icing.

Regards
Sutripta

[vigsom]

Icing on the evaporator coil is the only reason you see low air flow and no chilling at times while you'll see normal air flow and good chilling after you have shut the unit off for a long time .

Icing can also occur if your compressor doesn't cut off. That happens if the temperature element in the evaporator section doesn't sense the right temperature.

I've faced this issue in my home AC twice, and in a friend's car's AC once.

[theexperthand]

My friend needs some help with a peculiar problem in his Polo.

Model: VW Polo -1.2 TDI (2013 Model)

When he starts the car the blower works fine (He is able to feel the cold air as well as hot air blown from the blower). But when he drives for a couple of hours, on a long drive or sometimes in the city as well, the blower will randomly fail – there will be no hot or cold air coming from AC, but the AC compressor pulley will be engaged and running as expected. Even the condenser fan will be running.

If he stops the engine and restarts the car, then the blower fan will work fine for some more time (this time it will run for 15-20 mins), and it will stop completely once again.

He has been to VW workshop at Hesaraghatta multiple times and they don’t have a clue why this is happening. They have cleaned the AC multiple times, have checked the gas and have checked the relay and electricals and as per them, everything looks fine.

At this point, he is completely baffled about what to do next – any pointers will be really appreciated.

PS: He usually uses the AC in fresh air mode and does not use 'auto' mode.

--Anoop

[vigsom]

^^ The fact that the compressor and the condenser fan are on while the inside air flow is reportedly off means the coil is icing up and thus blocking air flow.

The blower is on but there is no flow through the evaporator core(cooling coil).

However, if you are sure that the blower is actually shutting off, then the blower assembly would need replacement. In most cars, this comes as one unit(motor and impeller).

Also, kindly tell your friend to STOP using the fresh air mode continuously.

Best way to run the AC is to keep temperature at just the required comfort level and keep blower at its lowest speed.