Hi

Do any members know of a company who service and repair Alphard Air Conditioning systems?

AC light flashing and not getting cold.

please let me know

thanks

1 hour ago, Walshie said:

Hi

Do any members know of a company who service and repair Alphard Air Conditioning systems?

AC light flashing and not getting cold.

please let me know

thanks

 

Kwik Fit will test your Alphie

Tested my ford for leaks before regassing it.

No leaks, you pay for the refrigerant; otherwise they give you a verbal report for to decide what to do, and where to go !

Yes Kwik Fit dont charge if they cant re gas. Now I need an experienced AC mechanic to advise as discovered the condenser has been removed! Any suggestions welcome. 2006 2.4. Thanks

You might try a chap called Kaspar Kummins at Aikotech in Wigan, they appear to have had a good write up on other forums and specialise in Alphard 2.4s hybrid and petrol. Might be worth a try, they are on Facebook and www.Aikotech.co.uk

You might also try Nippon at Derby, they import Japanese spares but I believe also do servicing and repairs on JDM Japanese Car Parts UK | Nippon Auto Spares & Breakers

If you do try any of these or any other can you let me know as my aircon is faulty also, not had time to get it fixed.

For the record, a condenser replacement isn't a big job. I don't know anything about the 10 series condenser specifically but it'll be attached to the front of the radiator pack behind the bumper. Basically you take off the bumper, get access to the rad pack, install the new condenser, connect up the hoses and gas up the system.

I've done this as a DIY job on a Prius. One thing, if the system has been open for any length of time, I'd recommend is blowing through aircon flush solvent through whatever pipework you can access to flush out any dirt that has collected. Then connect everything up and run a vacuum pump for a while - this will pull out any solvent or water that may be lurking. Disconnect the vacuum and check it will hold vacuum for half an hour. If it does it's ready for gassing up. I gassed mine with a can of R134a from Halfords, but it's better to use a proper machine.

This is all standard aircon repair stuff. Any garage that does aircon repairs (not just Kwik Fit style gassing up) should be able to handle it. If it was the hybrid you'd need a garage with a dedicated machine for hybrids as they use a different oil and oil contamination can kill the compressor (for those I can recommend Bee Cool Aircon of Kettering, a bit out of your area...)

When buying the condenser, you either want one which comes with a new receiver/dryer or to buy one. It looks like it's included with the Toyota condenser which is part number 88461-58050 (but you should check based on your frame number) at about £500-600 on Amayama including tax and delivery from Japan. Google is not finding an aftermarket one on that part number but I've not looked very hard. You may need to hold the garage's hand and/or get the parts for them as 'it's not on the computer' - if you can find an old school garage who are prepared to think a little out of the box then they likely have the skills to do it.

I'd not buy a used condenser: they're lots of thin aluminum fins exposed to the full force of the weather and debris at the front of the car. They get bent and sooner or later the aluminum corrodes and develops leaks. If you aren't able to get the original or replica part it is possibly worth seeing if there's a part from another vehicle that will fit: they are just a long bit of metal piping at the end of the day, so improvisation might be possible.

Edited June 6Jun 6 by Ptarmigan
Clarify

If the AC light is flashing on a 10 series Alphard and it is not going cold, that usually means the AC ECU has seen a fault and has disabled the compressor.

Low gas can trigger it, but so can pressure sensor issues, compressor clutch problems, or the system being open to air.

On the 2006 2.4, if you have discovered the condenser has been removed, I would not bother with a simple regas place until the hardware is put back and the system is checked properly.

Any proper air con specialist should be able to do this, but you want someone who will do a vacuum hold test and leak test, not just try to fill it and see what happens.

Best bet would be:Get a condenser fitted, ideally a new one.

If the system has been open for a while, also replace the receiver dryer if it is separate, as the desiccant will have absorbed moisture. That can cause poor performance and internal corrosion later on.

Have the system vacuumed down for a good while, then check it holds vacuum for 20 to 30 minutes.

If it will not hold vacuum, it is pointless adding refrigerant yet.

Only then should it be regassed by weight, using the correct amount of R134a and the correct oil amount.

On who to use, the suggestions already posted are decent for Alphard-aware places.

Aikotech in Wigan, Kaspar, tends to understand imports and the “not on the computer” problem.

Nippon Auto Spares Derby may be able to help with parts and possibly fitting.

Any competent local air con specialist should also be able to do the work, but I would avoid somewhere that only does fast-fit top-ups.

You may also need to supply the condenser yourself if their parts system cannot find it

It is worth noting that condensers are fragile and do corrode, so I would avoid used unless you are really stuck.

If you can, post back whether it is definitely a 10 series and whether it has front-only AC or front and rear AC, as that can change the plumbing and the number of places it can leak.

Dave