Climate Control Nightmares Topic is solved

[songzunhuang]

Thanks for the pictures. I've been fighting a similar issue for years. Yes, you read that right. Years. I replaced my Evap core years ago and took apart the dash just like you. The thought of doing that again is daunting. I recall it took me a whole long weekend. So I've been living with a faulty climate control system for a long time. Luckily I live in a mild climate so on most days, it's not a big deal.

However, last weekend I took a long trip in the car and there were hours where we drove in 104 degree weather. Although the A/C was cold, the output from the vents was just a slight breeze. Not enough to adequately cool the car in over 100 degree weather. It was a little miserable in the car. So now, this has bubbled up in priority.

After your experience, do you think there is anyway to fix the cracked plastic flap ends without taking out the A/C box, which leads to a complete evac / recharge job? Thanks for any input.

[V50M66]

Thanks for the pictures. I've been fighting a similar issue for years. Yes, you read that right. Years. I replaced my Evap core years ago and took apart the dash just like you. The thought of doing that again is daunting. I recall it took me a whole long weekend. So I've been living with a faulty climate control system for a long time. Luckily I live in a mild climate so on most days, it's not a big deal.

However, last weekend I took a long trip in the car and there were hours where we drove in 104 degree weather. Although the A/C was cold, the output from the vents was just a slight breeze. Not enough to adequately cool the car in over 100 degree weather. It was a little miserable in the car. So now, this has bubbled up in priority.

After your experience, do you think there is anyway to fix the cracked plastic flap ends without taking out the A/C box, which leads to a complete evac / recharge job? Thanks for any input.

Glad I could be of some assistance, and I feel your pain. What a nightmare the climate system can be.

Yeah, it’s not a fun job. Took me 3 days, but now that I’ve done it I could probably do it in a day or two. Unfortunately, the way the box is held together you need to pull it out of the car to replace the doors. I was able to pull the door out of the parts car without pulling the box from the car by prying the casing apart, but it’s a somewhat destructive process and not something I’d recommend if you need to reuse the box. This makes harvesting the flap you need at the junkyard easier though

[V50M66]

This car takes PAG 46, correct? How much should I add for evaporator and drier replacement? Seeing conflicting info online

[abscate]

Pag46

See why people get confused, here…

viewtopic.php?p=540983&hilit=Pag+46+oil#p540983

Amounts covered here

viewtopic.php?t=81113&hilit=Table+pag+oil

[V50M66]

And just like that, this car has icy AC!

Threw in the towel on the drier replacement, since it seems like a nightmare to replace, it was over 90 and humid today, and my patience for fiddly jobs is currently at an all-time low. I have the part in case I need it, but it’s not going in this summer at least. This car will be getting an engine out service at some point in the next year or so, so it'll likely happen then.

Charged it up with just over a lb of refrigerant (the el cheapo cans with no additives or sealers). Compressor was very much not happy about engaging properly without the zip tie shim trick, but after that, it clicked on pretty well. It blows nice and cold now and I’m quite happy with it. Time will tell if it holds, but I’m cautiously optimistic

[abscate]

If you had half charge or so you don’t need to replace the drier, you won’t have moisture in the system. Even better if you pump it down fir a couple of hours before charging. Full charge 750g , so one pound is short.

[V50M66]

If you had half charge or so you don’t need to replace the drier, you won’t have moisture in the system. Even better if you pump it down fir a couple of hours before charging. Full charge 750g , so one pound is short.

It was completely empty since I replaced the evaporator, and I have no idea how long it was empty before that since I got the car with non-functional AC. Probably need to do it but it’s not happening for now - I’ll take care of it when I pull the drivetrain out.

As for charge, it blows cold and reads properly on the gauge, so good enough for now

[V50M66]

Yeah, it was low - just wasn’t as hot yesterday. Filled it up to just under 700 and it’s much better

[surfbug1]

There is a chassis break on 99 dampers you have to be aware of, there was a change mid year to a single cam combined damper and blend door on the driver side. Make sure your parts swaps are compatible!

Good to know, thanks! I'm assuming this break came with a part number change? The ones I put in out of my parts '99 have the same part number.

Its good at least have safety device working

Next update will have some extra items to read from ECC but i need example read out from ECT sensor from ECM live item roughly at the same time from ECC to be exact of values and if there is two instances of this with different temps, better result then.

It will have all switch knobs reading as well but i don't know what they refer per knob so only raw output value. If can slowly turn while logging on both from cold to hot i can then proceed from there convert to knob values. Some might include ERROR state too if goes wrong but App wont report it yet.



Please send then too new datalog as i thinking is there now two readings from motors like "wish to be here" and "i am here" which i included there as check for me.


For fine tuning ECC of its configurations i included too so then there shouldn't be left much any rock unturned then for ECC module as diagnostic purposes.

It is nice for sure. Got the new ABS unit in today and it works great. No more lights, and functional ABS. So at least an improvement has been made, if not regarding the climate.

Sounds good - I will send over that data when I get a chance to fully test it

hi

on the last item

was the abs module easy to install

got the same two issues

abs light

no heat directed to the floor ...blend door issues

al

[V50M66]

There is a chassis break on 99 dampers you have to be aware of, there was a change mid year to a single cam combined damper and blend door on the driver side. Make sure your parts swaps are compatible!

Good to know, thanks! I'm assuming this break came with a part number change? The ones I put in out of my parts '99 have the same part number.

Its good at least have safety device working

Next update will have some extra items to read from ECC but i need example read out from ECT sensor from ECM live item roughly at the same time from ECC to be exact of values and if there is two instances of this with different temps, better result then.

It will have all switch knobs reading as well but i don't know what they refer per knob so only raw output value. If can slowly turn while logging on both from cold to hot i can then proceed from there convert to knob values. Some might include ERROR state too if goes wrong but App wont report it yet.



Please send then too new datalog as i thinking is there now two readings from motors like "wish to be here" and "i am here" which i included there as check for me.


For fine tuning ECC of its configurations i included too so then there shouldn't be left much any rock unturned then for ECC module as diagnostic purposes.

It is nice for sure. Got the new ABS unit in today and it works great. No more lights, and functional ABS. So at least an improvement has been made, if not regarding the climate.

Sounds good - I will send over that data when I get a chance to fully test it

hi

on the last item

was the abs module easy to install

got the same two issues

abs light

no heat directed to the floor ...blend door issues

al

ABS module is not horrible, but requires you to pull the intake box and tube (on turbo cars) and you need patience. Get one from Midwest ABS.

Start with replacing the blend door motor. Get one out of the same year car to make sure it works properly. Despite the same part number, there are functional differences between years.