Aircon questions 1999 ute

[Kian Jorry]

Hi guys

Picked up a 1999 au tonner a week ago.

The aircon vents hardly caused a breeze with the fan on full blast.
Searched this forum and found a few people with the same issue.
I figured the evaporator is blocked with gunk so pushed a rubber hose down one of the air vents and emptied the a few air compressor tanks of air into it.
This increased the airflow from the vents but its still not as good as it should be. So I guess the evaporator has to much dirt lodged in the fins. So I will be planning on the good old dash removal to get at the aircon for a proper clean.
Has anyone came up with another method of cleaning the evaporator without dissasembly? Also how good are the au aircons should it freeze the cab when in proper working condition?

Thanks for any help

KJ

[MNM96]

I have this issue and have booked the car into shop for repair.
Couldn't fix myself.

[Kian Jorry]

I ve used the rubber tube on the air compressor twice to blow out the evaporator. Definitely cleared it somewhat but after an hours use it blocks slightly again. Still much better then it was.
I was searching the forum the other night and found a post where the guy claimed his auto electrician removed the fan resistor?or some part and got enough excess to the evaporator to clean it out.
Can anyone confirm this is possible to do instead of removing the dash?

Sorry don't remember where the post was on the forum.

Can anyone tell me where the drain hole is in relation to the evaporator?

Or post a pic showing the inside of the aircon box...

Thanks for any help

[Kian Jorry]

You can give the evaporator a fairly good clean without removing the dash.
Remove the glove box so you can see the aircon box behind.
Look below the box slightly to the left there is a slanting flat part.
Use a multi tool with a flat cutting blade on it to cut a rectanglar piece out of that part of the box. By using the multi tool you can cut it out very cleanly.Do not let the blade enter the box incase it hits the evaporator. I cut a rectangle about 70mm by 40mm. Now you have access to the evaporator. Spray it with some deterent with a pressure bottle. Use a small nylon brush to lightly clean the evaporator. Using a torch you can see when its clean. I kept repeating the process till all the hair and gunk was gone of the front of the evaporator. Obviously there could be some dirt stuck in the middle of the evaporator core as its quite thick. When your done cleaning it the piece that was cut out can be neatly fitted back in and run a soldering iron around the edge of the cut to seal back up again.
Took me about 2hrs maximum of messing around.

Hope this helps someone not to have to pull out the dash.

[Kian Jorry]

Hi guys

Im not good at reading wiring diagrams so could anyone tell me where you adjust the temperature of the evaporator? If its not adjustable which wire comes from the sensor?

[fairBA]

Up grade to a ba and let the au die

[Bourbon Ute]

Yes, the resistors sit directly in front of the evaporator.
Not sure if they come out easily though.
As you can see mine had some crap in it, not too bad though.
(Mine's a 2001 AU2 XR8 ute)

[MNM96]

Ok, an update.

I took my car to an Auto Electrician. It was a guy I knew through business before, but I woouldn't say a mate.

He had quoted about $1000 to pull the evap out and clean, if it was possible, but wanted to try cleaning thru the Fan Speed Resistor. It is accessed by removing the glove box.

He cleaned it using a weed spray bottle and I would guess it was 60 to 70% of when car was brand new.

Then comes the bill!


$65.00 for 1/2 hour!

Stoked!