Hissing sound from aircon

[Zyrofillica]

My aircon has been doing the darth vader ever since i replaced the aircon clutch and topped up the gas and aircon oil. it was quiet before the change but now there is a very audible hissing sound every 1 minute.... does this mean there is not enough gas? is it causing much strain on my compressor? should i go get it topped up immediately?

[So_nice]

maybe ur air con valve dirty?

[Zyrofillica]

valve? didnt touch any aircon component till now when i had to replace the clutch. then now not as cold but aircon still works. hissing sound is damn irritating though and i worry low gas might damage the compressor in the long run. Any aircon experts here?

[So_nice]

think u might wanna visit markcool at woodlands industrial park e1. most of the time if not cold must be gas leaking liao. check ur pipings to see if got oily stains.

[Yeobh]

The expansion valve located at the evaporator is faulty, allowing gas to bypass the evaporator at much high temp then the preset.There maybe a slight leak and that may cause the cooling effect to be less effective.

[Zyrofillica]

The expansion valve located at the evaporator is faulty, allowing gas to bypass the evaporator at much high temp then the preset.There maybe a slight leak and that may cause the cooling effect to be less effective.

 

does the expansion valve have anything to do with the clutch or toppping up gas/oil? For 5 bloody years never touch the aircon, works perfectly now replace clutch then everything starts to go haywire? looks like once its virginity is lost, everything starts to break down.

Edited April 29, 2010 by Zyrofillica

[Yeobh]

Looks like it wear and tear due to age.

[So_nice]

air con very troublsome. my previous car also the same. compressor, cooling coil, piping, valves..changed A, B breaks down..followed by C..zzz

[Yeobh]

If you have use knowledgeable mechs, do preventive maintenance and carried out repairs on total approach basis rather than piece meal basis, you should have reduce yr downtime and headache.

[Toledo]

i had the same prob... hissing sound every 1 min or so and aircon not so cold, esp evident on hot days.

 

when i first started the aircon, the air blowing out will smell of sweat (chao sng smell). after a short while, it will disappear.

 

it turned out my condenser leaked & had it replaced.

 

 

[Brock]

How much to fix up leaking condenser? Any visible signs of leaking condenser?

[Fcw75]

I changed a new condenser and recon cooling coil, top up aircon gas and oil for $370 at Tomika Ubi.

[Toledo]

How much to fix up leaking condenser? Any visible signs of leaking condenser?

 

price depends on yr car but locally i reckon could cost u from $600+. best to change to a new one. no point to re-cond it.

 

can see the oil stains on the condenser if it is leaking. go to markcool (woodlands area) for assessment. well recommended by a no. of forumers.

 

[Brock]

price depends on yr car but locally i reckon could cost u from $600+. best to change to a new one. no point to re-cond it.

 

can see the oil stains on the condenser if it is leaking. go to markcool (woodlands area) for assessment. well recommended by a no. of forumers.

 

Thanks for the info. Heard a lot about Markcool for many years. My ride 5+ years. Previously condenser had some greenish oil stain around it. Ordinary mech just change the nut/washer/rescrewed it and top up gas. Sound came back after 2 months... A/C still cold during day/night time and even idle. Think last time front ended my ride and condenser was fixed. Start of problems.

[Sunnymau]

If you have use knowledgeable mechs, do preventive maintenance and carried out repairs on total approach basis rather than piece meal basis, you should have reduce yr downtime and headache.

 

what shall we do regularly to prevent a/c from breaking down?

[Picanto]

what shall we do regularly to prevent a/c from breaking down?

 

there is nothing much you can do except washing the coil. still, this does not gurantee the air con will remain trouble free.

[Yeobh]

Vacuuming the system to remove water vapour and impurities from the gas before charging new gas.

Replace the system filter/drier unit ( when the need arise)

Make sure the system have the right amount of lub oil.

Reqular cleaning of the evporator coil and condensor unit.

Edited April 30, 2010 by Yeobh

[Ngyengseng]

My experience with Tomika was not very pleasant. I went down to change air con cooling coil and it cost $950 + 7% GST=$1016.5. After few days of driving, there are sound coming out from the aircon unit which is very irritating, so went back to Tomika and was told that sound is coming from Air con blower motor which another cost about $600 plus to repair.

 

I am not expert in Car aircon system, but what are the chance of other parts failure right after repair by Tomika?

 

I was damn pissed when Tomika mechanics can tell me if i dont want to spend $600 plus to repair, i can just increase my sound system volume.

 

This is my experience for your own risk assessment before visiting above mentioned workshop, i would never what do go though them again.