A/C Advice

Mitsubishi Delica L400 production commenced in 1994 -- After much anticipation, the L400 arrived on Canadian Soil in 2009!
islander20
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A/C Advice

Post by islander20 »

Need a bit of guidance on what to do with my AC system. It hasn't worked since I got my L400, with the heat I am really craving it. The dogs as well!

Initially I tried recharging it with red-tek. Worked great for a couple hours then all the refrigerant leaked out. Today I got it pressure tested and could hear the nitrogen coming out of the rear condensor. Looks pretty simple to replace and its not terribly expensive.

Should I go ahead an replace the condensor? Im worried there will be another leak and I will just be throwing money away...just for the condensor and a test/recharge it will be about 300$. But if more components need replacing the cost will skyrocket. My van has nearly 200,000km, should I keep working at fixing the a/c?

Thanks
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Big-Bird
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by Big-Bird »

I did the Red-Tek additive this weekend and it brought life back into my struggling ac system. the family now enjoys a temp controlled van that stays cool when its supposed to.

Take a look under the van at the rest of the exposed AC lines, Aluminum is soft and prone to corrosion. if you don't any pitting on the exposed line then take the chance and swap out the condensor. A working AC is important and does help with future resale.
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Krazyistkarl
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by Krazyistkarl »

Sorry to thread jack a bit, but does anyone know if the front AC condenser fans are supposed to come on at the same time, or if they are two stage?
What I do know is I replaced a burned out fuse, the right fan spins, if I drive around for a few hours the fuse will blown again. I disconnected the left fan at the connector via left hand head light removed and reaching in, tested for voltage and nothing. I left it disconnected and it hasn't blown the fuse since. That's as far as I'm really wanting to diagnose the issue as it's a real pain to get at the condenser fans (chamonix bars off, bumper off) and I'm sure one is good enough for Canadian summers.
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by Big-Bird »

When the system is working properly the fans come on independently depending on the amount of heatload in the AC system.

One of your condensor fans is likely seized and is blowing the fuse when the temp sensors trigger the second fan to engage. The job isn't that bad to get at it but finding a replacement fan motor will be a challenge.

FYI: The motor casing is sealed and rivetted...100% non servicable.

I have one as a spare, got lucky and found a wrecked L400 in a local wrecker yard and could pull a number for you. The plastic frame was ruined but the 2 motors and fans were intact. The system can run one condensor fan but it does push the system to its limit to keep up on those really 'hot days'.

The UK wreckers can get you a used unit in short order. Take a look at the UK ebay pages. Thats where I get lots of my used parts when the local guys are empty handed.
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islander20
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by islander20 »

Thanks for the advice, im going to replace the rear condenser. Hopefully that was the only leak. The guy who pressure tested my AC told me that I shouldnt recharge with red tek if its empty, only if it needs a top up. He said I should get it vacuum pumped first then charged with refrigerant. Is it really neccesary to vacuum pump the system if it has been drained completely by the leak?
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by Feds »

Where did you find a rear condenser? Mine is also leaking and needs to be fixed.
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by Big-Bird »

Your AC tech is correct. You need to produce a vacuum to (a) clear the system (b) remove moisture -which is fatal to AC! (c) input the correct volume and weight of refrigerant. He would also inject other liquids at that time that are beneficial to the system's performance.

Lets not forget the LP connection is ignorant to get at!
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islander20
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by islander20 »

Yea that low pressure side was a major pain to find, much easier with a single battery. I was going to do it all myself but when I priced everything out it just made more sense to get the pro's to do it. I am getting a used rear condenser from CCautos. Great guys to deal with, praying that the condensor is the only source of my leak.
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by Big-Bird »

I have dual batteries and that upper rad hose/AC Return line made it nearly impossible to clip the Red-Line filler system to the LP.

I uttered many a brief profanity...insert the relative 4 letter word(s).

I had to use a bar just to get the clip aligned so that my free hand could lift the lcoking collar. In hind-sight I should have pulled the batteries but thats a bigger PITA.

When I clipped on the LP side the pressure gauge was reading over 80psi! Bled the excess pressure to ZERO and then drained one can of red-tek 12a into the system. Huge improvement in AC performance, might need a 2nd can later.

As for the condensor fans. You can buy the entire fan pack assembly which will run $300.00 CDN. Or you can get the motor alone which is about $40-$60 depening on make/where it comes from.
THF410-EBAY1.jpg
THF410-EBAY1.jpg (108.66 KiB) Viewed 6237 times
Ever wondered how it looks behind all that bumper stuff?? This is a Gen II L400 and the owner(not me) installed an aftermarket fan on the tranny cooler....yeah the L400 has a main tranny cooler below the left headlight. Good idea if you got a trailer. But I think this afternmarket fan could also be adapted to replace a stock condensor fan provided it low profile enough.
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The motors are very thin. This is NOT a Delica motor but it demonstrates the dimensions we are working with.
fan.jpg
fan.jpg (215.22 KiB) Viewed 6237 times
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Krazyistkarl
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by Krazyistkarl »

Big-Bird wrote:When the system is working properly the fans come on independently depending on the amount of heatload in the AC system.

One of your condensor fans is likely seized and is blowing the fuse when the temp sensors trigger the second fan to engage. The job isn't that bad to get at it but finding a replacement fan motor will be a challenge.

FYI: The motor casing is sealed and rivetted...100% non servicable.

I have one as a spare, got lucky and found a wrecked L400 in a local wrecker yard and could pull a number for you. The plastic frame was ruined but the 2 motors and fans were intact. The system can run one condensor fan but it does push the system to its limit to keep up on those really 'hot days'.

The UK wreckers can get you a used unit in short order. Take a look at the UK ebay pages. Thats where I get lots of my used parts when the local guys are empty handed.
That's what I'd figured, one fan to begin with and the second comes on depending on heat. I could only reach with the headlight out to disconnect the connector, I wasn't able to connect it to 12v to test if it runs. The fan does spin freely so its not seized. Had I of known, I had my front bumper off previously to try and get some measurements for a front winch mount, It was winter time and I hadn't tested my AC.

rivets can always be drilled out ;) I'll give it a shot opening it up and spraying it down with contact cleaner and some Glyptol.

What I still need is the rear HVAC unit that I melted when I disconnected my muffler, but that's a little on the large side to ship over seas :/ luckily the mixing valve is stuck to cold so the rear AC works, but I'm going to have to address the issue before winter rolls around. I was also blowing my rear condenser fan fuse, had to drop the whole unit and hose out all the mud, dirt, hay and coal from it, but man does that fan blow some air now.
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by DeliTan »

Where should I go for AC troubleshooting and repair in the Vancouver area? It hasn't worked in a few years, but I'm usually motorcycling in the summer.

Must it be a Deli place?
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Big-Bird
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by Big-Bird »

Serach your Yellow Pages for shops that specialize in AC systems. And when you call you best be familiar with some of the specs around the Delica's.

You say JDM DELICA and the shop might just say no-thanks without giving you the chance to speak.

But if it were me I would take it to a JDM shop in the Delta area.....hell why not go to them, they won't get that nervous eye-twitch when you say Delica and AC in the same sentence!

The 3 shops in the GVA that know the Delica are: (call them first)
CVI
Rising Sun Imports
Amazing Auto
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islander20
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by islander20 »

Its fixed! Having that AC on the ride home yesterday was ice cold, turned the van into a fridge. Got a used rear condesor put in by CCautos, a bit less than 200$ total. Very pleased with that.

Got it pressure tested and it was hissing like crazy. Was pretty bummed out, figured I had just thrown away 200$. Turned out it was just the pressure relief valve on the compressor. Swapped it out with a used one from a wrecked L400. Hopefully that lasts. Got it all drained with a vacuum pump and recharged, back in business! All told it cost me about 500$ counting the red tek and getting pressure tested twice. If I hadn't have spent the money on red tek it only wound have been about 350$. Live and learn.
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by izack98 »

Islander20, I saw your question re vacuuming the A/C system before charging.
I remember this from way back in A/C school. I found this explanation as to why vacuuming is necessary to remove the moisture. The low pressure created causes the water in the system to boil and be carried away. You want to remove all the moisture out of the system. Big-Bird is correct, moisture is fatal to an A/C system.

At sea level, water begins to boil and change into a vapor state at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. If we increases the pressure we can raise the boiling point of water. An example of this would be the typical automotive cooling system which uses a 15 lb. radiator cap to maintain a design pressure. In that system, the idea is to raise the pressure and therefore raise the temperature at which the cooling liquid will boil. If we wish to lower the boiling point of liquid, we simply remove the pressure that's on top of that liquid. That's how we boil water out of an air conditioning system. We use a vacuum pump to bring the system to a level of near perfect vacuum so the water will boil off and be carried away as a vapor.
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Re: A/C Advice

Post by thelazygreenfox »

Big Bird
Great pic of the DIY condenser fan. That is on my list of "to do's" for this summer. Often wondered what it would look like.
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