QuestionQUESTION: I have a 96 Camry that is having an a/c problem. Last summer it wasn’t blowing as cold air as it had been so I took it to an independent Toyota garage. After $1000 and a new evaporator and expansion valve, it still didn’t blow as cold of air as it used to. I took it back several times and each time it tested ok while they ran it in the parking lot.
This summer it is still not working correctly. It blows cold for awhile but after about half an hour of driving it has reduced air flow and cooling. A friend put gauges on it and the low pressure was at about 15 psi and the high pressure was at 200 to 210 psi at idle. We noticed the a/c compressor never cycled off. I drove it for half an hour and we pulled the covers and looked at the evaporator and there was frost on it. My friend thinks the expansion valve might be stuck open but we don’t know where it is. I’ve looked online for a/c info but have not had any luck. We could probably fix it if we had access to an a/c diagram (we both have auto mechanical experience).
Does this sound like a bad expansion valve? Do you have any other ideas about what the problem could be?
Thanks.
ANSWER: The low pressure is too low and the high pressure is to high, I don't think it's the expansion valve, the receiver drier unit may be restricted, try replacing the receiver drier it's located in the high pressure side on the condensor and has the sight glass on it.
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QUESTION: Should I see anything in the sight glass?
AnswerNo, not really, the sight glass is mainly to check for air bubbles in the system, the receiver drier is relatively inexpensive and easy to replace, I would give it a try and then recheck the pressures. If you can give me an email address I can send some information from the repair manual to you.
