j.barleycorn Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Hi everyone- I'm a relatively new owner (November 9) of a 1992 LS400 with 93,300 miles. It drives and looks great. This forum was a tremendous help prior to and after the purchase, as I avoided numerous issues and fixed others with the great tutorials and threads. Many thanks to everyone! I’m wondering if I could get some suggestions on troubleshooting my A/C. I bought the car with the knowledge that it was not working. Seller said it probably just needs recharge, but he had bought it at an auction so is not necessarily familiar with the Lexus or A/C, so I am assuming this opinion is meaningless. I’ve searched the Club for a similar request, and while I have learned bits and pieces, I am looking for a step-by-step process designed to eliminate what it is NOT, so I can try the cheapest and most-likely fixes first. I am a fair DIY mechanic, although I have zero experience with A/C systems. Some background on the A/C: • Was told by seller the A/C does not blow cold. Since I live in New York and bought it in November (in Massachusetts), I have not been able to experience how “uncold” it blows. • The car’s mileage/use history is kind of odd. Per CarFax, first 3+ years averaged ~18,000 miles/year. Next 4 years averaged 2,500 miles. All service documented at one Lexus dealership, including timing belt change at 60,000. Sold, and next 6+ years averaged 4,800 miles. The car has always lived in Massachusetts (around Wlimington and Melrose, in case there are any locals reading this thread!). • I don’t know how long this has been an issue with the car. I have read here that refrigerant can evaporate from non-use (which is why I bored you all with the mileage history above) and also read if the A/C is not run often, the seals will be ruined (?) • The climate control is blacked out (will replace via JW soon), so I can’t see diagnostics results. • If I turn on the A/C, the motor runs, and no lights blink on the dash. I have read here that if the A/C light is blinking I have system issues. I have also read running the A/C without refrigerant will kill the compressor, so I have only done this once. • I’ve learned here I can buy Freon on EBay after signing the appropriate forms, etc. If I can fix the system without much agony, I don’t plan to upgrade it from Freon. So… Should I start with buying Freon, charging, and seeing if that works? If not, what do you folks recommend? If so, and it does not work, what should I do first? Thank you for any light you can shed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akewlguy Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 How much did you pay? Curious. Sounds like a great LS. Personally one could attempt to charge the system. If freon (pressure) is low compressor will not work. For the money I would just pay a good mechanic $50 bucks to look it over then $50 bucks to charge. I would also wait till spring when you would use it. I say this since you may get it charged and never use it to find out your leak happened sometime over the winter. Reguardless good luck and I am sure others will comment. I am sure you know go to a trusting mechanic to save money over dealership. This is not to say dealers dont do a great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFeldes Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Sounds like you are on the right track. I assume by "motor" you mean compressor and that is a good sign as it will not "engage" the clutch if there is no freon due to a Pressure switch. Put a light to the compressor and have someone turn on the ac with the engine at idle. You should both see and hear it engage. If it does add freon with a pressure gauge available at Autozone until it registers in the green. You may need to convert the R12 connector at the fill next to the firewall on the passenger side. It is a simple matter of !Removed! the conversion on top of the old one. Congratulations!! on your LS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.barleycorn Posted December 10, 2005 Author Share Posted December 10, 2005 Thanks for the thoughts and the welcome... Kewl- Bought it on Ebay for $5700 after several months of evaluations and research (including this Forum). Black exterior, gray interior, TRAC, heated seats with memory. I commute 92 miles round trip to work, so I was looking for an exciting, comfortable ride from a car that is reliable and relatively economical. Add it all together and the LS400 is the obvious choice! I may have paid too much, but older LS400s are few and far between where I live, and after comparing the relative costs of flights to warmer climates, time off from work, and return drives, I figured I'd cut my Lexus teeth on a first generation Northeast driver like this one. The drive train and suspension are quiet and tight. I have the detailed maintenance records until it changed hands to the second owner. The timing belt had been changed at 60,000 miles, as well as the alternator just before I bought it, and these facts helped me with the decision. The power steering system seems to be free of leaks, although I need to research where to look for early signs. I don't want to have to replace the new alternator any time soon. And although it has spent its life in the Northeast, there are no signs of obvious rust anywhere. I'm sure it lurks in unseen places and will do my best to keep the car going for as long as practical. Known problems which I have not yet fixed include the A/C, the obligatory blacked-out climate/time LCD, and a broken remote side mirror switch. I’ll wait for the spring to take a shot at the A/C, and I plan on sending the LCD to JW as described in the LOC. The mirror switch is another story, as it is pushed in and perhaps not worth repairing, as I am going to be the principal driver. I found out after the sale that the antenna does not retract fully (only about 70%, which I see is also common). Was going to live with it, but I just purchased a replacement Hirschmann power antenna on EBay, for $30. It came with a 1-year warranty. For such a small amount of money, I can't see not replacing it. In fact, I just got it in the mail this afternoon and am about to throw it on. I love the car and already know from here on I will always own a Lexus. I look forward to living and learning with the help from the good folks here at LOC. I have also downloaded the repair manuals, tech bulletins, etc. for the ‘92 as suggested by Carl Pearson on his excellent web site, so as time goes on and I get my hands dirty, I will be able to throw my two cents in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93ls400walt Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Thanks for the thoughts and the welcome...Kewl- Bought it on Ebay for $5700 after several months of evaluations and research (including this Forum). Black exterior, gray interior, TRAC, heated seats with memory. I commute 92 miles round trip to work, so I was looking for an exciting, comfortable ride from a car that is reliable and relatively economical. Add it all together and the LS400 is the obvious choice! I may have paid too much, but older LS400s are few and far between where I live, and after comparing the relative costs of flights to warmer climates, time off from work, and return drives, I figured I'd cut my Lexus teeth on a first generation Northeast driver like this one. The drive train and suspension are quiet and tight. I have the detailed maintenance records until it changed hands to the second owner. The timing belt had been changed at 60,000 miles, as well as the alternator just before I bought it, and these facts helped me with the decision. The power steering system seems to be free of leaks, although I need to research where to look for early signs. I don't want to have to replace the new alternator any time soon. And although it has spent its life in the Northeast, there are no signs of obvious rust anywhere. I'm sure it lurks in unseen places and will do my best to keep the car going for as long as practical. Known problems which I have not yet fixed include the A/C, the obligatory blacked-out climate/time LCD, and a broken remote side mirror switch. I’ll wait for the spring to take a shot at the A/C, and I plan on sending the LCD to JW as described in the LOC. The mirror switch is another story, as it is pushed in and perhaps not worth repairing, as I am going to be the principal driver. I found out after the sale that the antenna does not retract fully (only about 70%, which I see is also common). Was going to live with it, but I just purchased a replacement Hirschmann power antenna on EBay, for $30. It came with a 1-year warranty. For such a small amount of money, I can't see not replacing it. In fact, I just got it in the mail this afternoon and am about to throw it on. I love the car and already know from here on I will always own a Lexus. I look forward to living and learning with the help from the good folks here at LOC. I have also downloaded the repair manuals, tech bulletins, etc. for the ‘92 as suggested by Carl Pearson on his excellent web site, so as time goes on and I get my hands dirty, I will be able to throw my two cents in! ← I have been downloading tech info from techinfo.toyota today. My printer ran out if ink before I finished. But there is a service issue about mixing different coolents. And spec. about them requiring different types of O-rings. I'll post info if I can get this downloaded before my 24 subscription expires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFeldes Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 OOPS!! I did not mean to imply converting to R134... "Just the Tap" in order for the gauges and supply line to fit. If you convert from R12 to R134 that is another story. The purists say don't, but I did on my 90 and had no problems. One note, the defrost/defog for the windshield still rely on the ac even in winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.barleycorn Posted December 11, 2005 Author Share Posted December 11, 2005 RF, I understood the "tap" not the full convert! I appreciate it. I really don't want to convert, and will hope for the best when I recharge in the Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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