Technical Air Con Matrix/Evaporator

[Happybubbas]

Hi,

Can anyone help?

My air con has never worked since I've had the car (2 years and now out if warranty) It's been serviced and re gassed, had a new pressure switch and compressor fitted, but it's still not working. The next thing to try is the air con matrix/evaporator. I would like to get a used one off eBay. Does anyone know if one removed from a 1.2 engine would fit a 0.9 engine? There are none listed on eBay for a 0.9.

Thank you for any help [emoji848]

 

[John202020]

Don't bother with secondhand try" adrad. Co.uk" about £60 but ring and check

 

[Happybubbas]

Don't bother with secondhand try" adrad. Co.uk" about £60 but ring and check

Thanks John. Just called them, but they haven't any.

 

[John202020]

I think they might be the same for all have found this that seems to cover all specs
http://automotivecondenser.co.uk/ep...?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop1175970/Products/7172

 

[typecastboy]

With the danger of repeating myself. Send a message to club500italia on eBay. They break 500s for a living. Are very helpful and knowledgeable.

 

[Happybubbas]

With the danger of repeating myself. Send a message to club500italia on eBay. They break 500s for a living. Are very helpful and knowledgeable.

Yes, I have done. I've used them before and they're really good. He even phoned my mechanic to find out what the problem was and it turns out it's the heater box. But as my car has climate control there are 2 different ones available and his son is on honeymoon at the moment and he's the one who would be able to find out wich one I need. Brand new I'm looking at £800-£900 and used about £225 from them. I've got to wait 2 weeks for his son to come back now, but like I said to him, I've been without it for 2 years, so another 2 weeks won't hurt!

 

[John202020]

The fitting of the unit under the dash could be seriously involved check before purchasing I'll have a look when I finish work.

 

[Happybubbas]

The fitting of the unit under the dash could be seriously involved check before purchasing I'll have a look when I finish work.

Thanks

 

[jrkitching]

The fitting of the unit under the dash could be seriously involved check before purchasing I'll have a look when I finish work.

That's actually an understatement, if the attached printout of the relevant section from eLearn is anything to go by.

It would seem you've got to disable the airbag system, remove both front doors & most of the interior forward of the seats before the dog can even see the rabbit .

typecastboy - if you're reading this post - you've dismantled most of this stuff; just how much work is involved?

 

[John202020]

Give up,,, it seems reading the Haynes manual you need to remove the whole dash board plus many other bits to get to the evaporator unit buried in the dash, I could be mistaken perhaps others can advise ?
Maybe you can have the system checked to verify that the leak is the evaporator unit first?

 

[varesecrazy]

Give up,,, it seems reading the Haynes manual you need to remove the whole dash board plus many other bits to get to the evaporator unit buried in the dash, I could be mistaken perhaps others can advise ?
Maybe you can have the system checked to verify that the leak is the evaporator unit first?

access is usually quoted @13 hours.
that's from the Climate equipped panda.

 

[jrkitching]

access is usually quoted @13 hours.
that's from the Climate equipped panda.

Is that just to take it apart, or does it include putting it back together again?

I'm wondering how many extra squeaks and rattles you'll get afterwards .

 

[varesecrazy]

Is that just to take it apart, or does it include putting it back together again?

I'm wondering how many extra squeaks and rattles you'll get afterwards .

the forums East Anglian Panda expert did the pulling apart to access the well know geared flap repair,
so accessing the innards of the aircon blower flap assembly.

I asked about details when I needed to change the Matrix on mine ( thankfully ACTIVE - base spec)


fully agree with the rattles

begs the question - why wasn't this fixed under warranty..??
Charlie

 

[Happybubbas]

the forums East Anglian Panda expert did the pulling apart to access the well know geared flap repair,
so accessing the innards of the aircon blower flap assembly.

I asked about details when I needed to change the Matrix on mine ( thankfully ACTIVE - base spec)


fully agree with the rattles

begs the question - why wasn't this fixed under warranty..??
Charlie

It wasn't fixed under warranty because I bought the car at the end of August 2014 and didn't use the air con until the next summer, by which time the warranty had expired!

 

[Happybubbas]

Give up,,, it seems reading the Haynes manual you need to remove the whole dash board plus many other bits to get to the evaporator unit buried in the dash, I could be mistaken perhaps others can advise ?
Maybe you can have the system checked to verify that the leak is the evaporator unit first?

Yes, I thought the dash would need removing, amongst other things, but OMG 13 hours labour!

I'm picking the car up tomorrow and will speak to the mechanic regarding the diagnosis and then maybe speak to Fiat to see if there is a way of guaranteeing if it is the heater box or not. I'd hate to have the work done and it still not work.

 

[John202020]

The simplest way of checking is to cap one pipe as close to where it goes through the bulkhead then pressurise the other pipe, then wait to see if the pressure slowly falls off, the other way is to add a uv dye pump it through the system maybe just the evaporator part and see if dye comes out of the drain tube from the evaporator unit under the car, I lost all my refrigerant on my Accord once due to a failed dryer/receiver unit.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Has the unit ever worked? I.e when you've had it regasssed have you had a day or two of working aircon the it stops again?

Unless it has worked at some stage then it is very unlikely to need a new evaporator.

It would be worth calling in an automotive aircon specialist rather than take it to a garage, all garages know is how to gas the system and replace bits, you could have something very silly going on like a stuck relay or faulty wire somewhere that is much cheaper and easier than a whole dash out

 

[John202020]

I agree with above why did you/they replace the compressor as it virtually never fails only in exceptional circumstances (to my cost) it usually is the condenser due to damage or age though if you never turn off the ac it can last 15+years more often its a control issue faulty temp sensor or relay etc rather than replace more bits as above states get a proper car ac company to look at it when they re gassed it last did they pressure test the system with co2 or nitrogen ? then vacuum it? or just bung more gassed in?

 

[Happybubbas]

I agree with above why did you/they replace the compressor as it virtually never fails only in exceptional circumstances (to my cost) it usually is the condenser due to damage or age though if you never turn off the ac it can last 15+years more often its a control issue faulty temp sensor or relay etc rather than replace more bits as above states get a proper car ac company to look at it when they re gassed it last did they pressure test the system with co2 or nitrogen ? then vacuum it? or just bung more gassed in?

The re gas was one where they empty the system etc and recharge it with r134 gas. I think the mechanic was just rouble shooting and replacing the obvious parts first, I think. The system is holding pressure.

My husband picked it up this morning. The mechanic has replaced the compressor, but not the pressure switch. My head is telling me not to go back there for any further work. Luckily it has only cost me the price of a used compressor (£20) so far, as he didn't take any money.

I will speak to Fiat to see what they suggest and also an air con specialist, just incase it is an easy fix like a relay or something else, but if it is the heater box then I don't think I'd get done if the labour is going to be too much.

 

[Happybubbas]

Has the unit ever worked? I.e when you've had it regasssed have you had a day or two of working aircon the it stops again?

Unless it has worked at some stage then it is very unlikely to need a new evaporator.

It would be worth calling in an automotive aircon specialist rather than take it to a garage, all garages know is how to gas the system and replace bits, you could have something very silly going on like a stuck relay or faulty wire somewhere that is much cheaper and easier than a whole dash out

I don't know if it has ever worked. I bought the car used in August 2014 and didn't use the air con until the next summer, when I realised it didn't work. By that time it was 2 to 3 months out of warranty. [emoji17]