No AC air conditioning Bad Sun Sensor

svx_commuter · #1 04-12-2008, 06:31 AM

The ac is not working. The compressor will not come on and the radiator fans do not come on. The fuses and relays are all okay. So I ran the climate control self check and the sun sensor has an open circuit or short. Does anybody know if this bad sun sensor prevents the ac from working?

Take care of that SVX,

John

kwren · #2 04-12-2008, 12:50 PM

the system is properly charged with refrigerant. (You may already have)
Would not suspect the sun sensor, but everything is possible.
Could be a several things. Bad clutch on the compressor? Probably unlikely.
I would go for the low refrigerant level first. again, you may already have done the test on that.
Good luck,
Keith

Crazy_pilot · #3 04-12-2008, 05:32 PM

Do you have something sitting on top of the sensor, like a parking pass?

Hondasucks · #4 04-13-2008, 11:50 PM

Not sure if this applies to the SVX, but Toyotas will set a code for the sun sensor when they are in the shop, due to the fluorescent lighting, so if you're inside, that may be what's doing it, although I don't think that a bad sun load sensor would keep the AC from working at all.

Trevor · #5 04-14-2008, 12:59 AM

I have just checked my JDM SVX. When defrost is selected and operates, hot air is not discharged unless the temperature control is set to a figure above ambient. If the setting is below ambient, only cold air is discharged.

I can only presume that this is the normal arrangement, even though it does nor appear logical. This could well be causing confusion in respect of what has been considered as a fault.

svx_commuter · #6 04-14-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor

I have just checked my JDM SVX. When defrost is selected and operates, hot air is not discharged unless the temperature control is set to a figure above ambient. If the setting is below ambient, only cold air is discharged.

I can only presume that this is the normal arrangement, even though it does nor appear logical. This could well be causing confusion in respect of what has been considered as a fault.

Yours is working just fine. That is what it supposed to!!! Have you ever checked the climite control computer with the self check? I like the way it does it.

svx_commuter · #7 04-14-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

Do you have something sitting on top of the sensor, like a parking pass?

Nope. It's all clear up there.

svx_commuter · #8 04-14-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwren

the system is properly charged with refrigerant. (You may already have)
Would not suspect the sun sensor, but everything is possible.
Could be a several things. Bad clutch on the compressor? Probably unlikely.
I would go for the low refrigerant level first. again, you may already have done the test on that.
Good luck,
Keith

I am not sure how to check the pressure. The instruction I have say to run the compressor for 5 min's and then check the low pressure side. Well my compressor isn't running so..... any idea what I do about that?

Does the compressor not work if the pressure is low? A low pressure cut off switch?

Is there a way to kick the compressor on?

svxistentialist · #9 04-14-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svx_commuter

The ac is not working. The compressor will not come on and the radiator fans do not come on. The fuses and relays are all okay. So I ran the climate control self check and the sun sensor has an open circuit or short. Does anybody know if this bad sun sensor prevents the ac from working?

Take care of that SVX,

John

John

The most likely cause would be low on refrigerant, low pressure. Are you aware there is a full and complete AC troubleshooting section in the How-To above? That will inform you what to look for.

Regards the sunload sensor, you will get this code every time you run the diagnostic and you don't have strong sunlight shining on the sensor [but a strong 100w bulb [high heat energy] shining near it will do the equivalent]

Running that test in low light will nearly always throw that code.

Joe

svx_commuter · #10 04-14-2008, 01:58 PM

The "how to" I printed out does not say how to check the refrigerant level at all.........as far as I can tell.

kwren · #11 04-14-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svx_commuter

The "how to" I printed out does not say how to check the refrigerant level at all.........as far as I can tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwren

make sure the system is properly charged with refrigerant. (You may already have)
Would not suspect the sun sensor, but everything is possible.
Could be a several things. Bad clutch on the compressor? Probably unlikely.
I would go for the low refrigerant level first. again, you may already have done the test on that.
Good luck,
Keith

You need to get some gages and fasten the hose on the lo side to see if any refrigerabt is in the systm. then get back to us with the information.

We can help you from there.

Keith

svxistentialist · #12 04-14-2008, 02:43 PM

Yeah John, Keith is right.

If you look at page 8 of the AC how-to, you will see what it suggests may be wrong if the compressor clutch does not engage, which is the symptom you have.

It suggests checking fuse 15 is OK, so I expect you will have seen to this.

Without saying how to do it, it says refrigerant level may be low and should be checked. The only way to check this is to put gauges on to the high and low connectors, and see what pressures you have.

Back at the top of the document it shows the range the pressures need to be at.

In order for the correct pressures to be there, it requires that the correct amount of refrigerant is in the system. They give this amount in fluid ozs I think.

AC engineers will know from how low your pressure is showing what percentage [or ozs if you like] of refrigerant needs to be added.

I'm not that expert, so I can't help you there, but that's how it is done. Usually, though, they add some gas with dye first, and watch for system leaks. No point filling it up if you need to fix a leak first.

Joe

svx_commuter · #13 04-15-2008, 10:42 AM

Okay the the climate control computer checks out okay. No sun load sensor error now that the sun is shines on the dashboard!!!! I know I have read about this in the past post so I am not the only one to test this computer in the DARK.

My A/C was leaking when I got the SVX back in 2000. At that time I had the "Leak dye" added. It has been cold ever since then.

Last year I thought it was having trouble keeping up but the pressure checked okay.

The gauge I have borrowed looks like a tire gauge with the stem that pops out to read pressure. It is set up just for the low pressure side. They say to use the gauge only after running the compressor for five minutes.

What I do not know is if the low pressure changes when the compressor is running.

Well any way I was busy last night I had to change a coil that went bad yesterday. The one in the back on the left side. Went well only 1-1/2 hrs to find the used one and put it in.

Take care of that SVX,

John