AirCon stopped working - Where is the sight glass ?

Re: AirCon stopped working - Where is the sight glass ? (TwoDogs)

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:03:52 GMT

Thanks Ian, found the sight glass under a blue lid where the gas is filled. Ran the car, turned on the A/C and the revs kicked up to about 1500 rpm, after a min or so I looked in the sight glass, no bubbles - or no fluid, hard to tell. Does the fluid have a colour, cause this is clear, or missing. It seems I'll get the mobile service who reco'd it for me to do another leak test.
Thanks.

Re: AirCon stopped working - Where is the sight glass ? (Reddtarga)

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:49:41 GMT

On SW20's I have seen, the sight glass is the front trunk at the point where the gas would be added.

Most likely you have lost the gas, in which case the compressor won't engage.
If system is working properly, when the compressor engages when the motor is idling you'll see the tacho revs pick up a couple of hundred revs or so. So it's easy to tell.

AirCon stopped working - Where is the sight glass ? (TwoDogs)

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:24:45 GMT

G'day all,
had the A/c serviced a couple of years ago and it was working beautifully last summer. The other day I turned it on and just ambient temp. I have had the A/c dismounted and twisted to push out of the way while working on something else, so not sure if I've created a leak, or broken the 12v wire to the compressor clutch.
Mine is JDM import and my manual (US) shows a sight glass as step 1 for checking gas. I can't find it.
Is there a way to tell if the compressor is spinning ? ie 12v has engaged the clutch. Perhaps resting your hand on the outside when someone turns it on, a difference can be felt ? I presume the compressor heats up normally, but that may be hard to attribute since the turbo / downpipe is nearby.
I also have seen some hits where people have said only works on Max fan or only on Recirc, I have not checked my settings, but other cars don't seem to require that.
Any tips ? thanks