[stewfen]

Can't seem to find any topics on this so I will ask

Hi all, really need my air-con to work so I have pulled the bullbar and front off my 96 SV620 and replaced the condenser last week now I have been told the TX valve is stuffed, so trying to save a few dollars I have been told by my local Auto-Electrician to pull aprt and bring the housing in to them so they can see what type is needed and after I get it apart bring it back to be re-gassed and tested, had a bit of a look this morning under the dash behind the glovebox and can't seem to see where to start !
Advice needed or better still a walk through so I don't rip everything apart and be without the car for days as I need to use it as it's a daily driver.

thanks in advance
Steve

[31zook]

The Auto elec shop should be able to pull the TX model needed up on their computers or at least ring someone to find out. Even you could find out what sort it is buy it and install it.

What is it actually doing to stop the air con from working?

[losfer]

the tx valve is usually incorporated in the a/c evaporator box itself so its a massive job to remove and replace , you have to pull the entire dash itself out , so if you are not comfortable doing that then its best left to an expert. thats one thing they got right about the jimny is the tx valve is on the outside and not the inside of the evap and can be removed in the engine bay.

also i would possibly seek a second opinion , sure i have seen tx valves fail and cause a/c issues but it wouldnt hurt to seek a second opinion , for example , my mother owns a sv21 camry , she took it to her local a/c expert and they quoted her $1400 to repair it (new compressor and hoses replaced regass etc etc), ffs you can buy 5 sv21's and 10 vr commodores for 1400 . so anyway i told her to go see my a/c guy and he said it was an electrical problem , so i spent 2 hours with my multimeter 2 weekends ago going through the entire electrical circuit for the a/c and found it was just a dodgy relay

[MadMuz]

Having worked in the auto air industry, and seeing the mess people often end up creating trying to fix stuff to do with auto air on the cheap, my advice would be to save up and get a reputable A/c shop do the whole job (with warranty) I have seen people use old/incorrect O rings, forget to tighten fittings (overtighten/ crack alloy tubes/snap fittings off) then just bring it in for "a regass" and wonder why the next day it isnt working? If you get the shop to do it, they will add oil, use the right o rings, put dye in it to see if it does leak in future. I know for a fact that when we had someone come in and ask 'just for a regas' we just did the regas... didnt even look at anything else..... If they asked for a service, they got the system inspected, o rings replaced, receiver/dryer replaced, oil and dye.....

I am not saying you dont know how to do it, or that you are incompetent or anything, I just know that alot of the time when it comes to air conditioning, which is a bit of a 'black art', even I myself would rather save up and get a shop to do it, so if there is any problems, I can take it back. It is very easy to pay $120 for a regas, find it leaks, fix what you think it is, take it back for another $120 re- regas, find the tx valve or oriface tube is no good, fix that then go get another $120 re-gas...... find it is still not working for some reason and have to take it to a shop after spending all that money, only to get a specialist to re-do it all and cost you another $500 on top

This is just my opinion, I have seen it many times..... just find a reputable shop, talk to the owner, tell him what you have done so far and see if he can do a decent price for you.