VE airconditioning

[Fosters]

Hey guys , and gals
anyone having probs with aircondioning in your VE's.?
brought my ball and chain one of a 60th sedans last year, now for a 2nd time the aircon has shat itself, before we take it back to dealer, I wanted to know if others have had probs?
they said they replaced the circuit board last time as there is a factory fault?
would appreciate any response.

[ryno]

From memory there were some problems with the earlier models (ie 2006) and there was a service bulletin out for it.

My 2007 SSV had a few issues, it would work fine then after a while would pump out hot air despite the climate being set to 17 degrees.

In my case the system was way over charged with gas and would cause the compressor to cut out after a while. A simple regas and it was back in business. I had that fixed about 6 months ago and it has worked a treat all summer..

Hopefully yours is something similar.

[Fosters]

thanks Ryno

[Phate]

I have a VE SV6, not long after I first got it I switched from heat to cool and the air-con went off, after about 30 seconds it came back on and I have never had problems again. (Not to say i wont in the future tho the VE seems very tempramental)

[vessute08]

I seem to be having dramas with mine. Its an 08 ss ute. When it first gets turned on the fan is erratic, the speed goes to max then drops then peaks, but after about 30 secs it goes back to normal. It will be going back for warranty regardless

[BOOGER]

The other week in my SSV I put the boot into it while joining the motorway. I had it in sport shift (not manual mode, it's an auto) when I noticed no air was blowing. All the aircon controls had stopped working. No fan, no outside temp, nothing, the only thing I could control was the radio. It reset itself though after turning the engine off and restarting. Another thing it did was once I got up to speed on the motorway and backed off it didn't change up a gear it just revved it's tits off. I actually had to brake a bit to drop my speed before it changed.

[monaro327]

i haven't had any aircon issues with my ve sv6 it's april 08 built. also apparently the fan coming on full ball for the first 30 seconds is normal? it hasn't happened to me but i read some where on here it's a feature?

[vicarious]

I seem to be having dramas with mine. Its an 08 ss ute. When it first gets turned on the fan is erratic, the speed goes to max then drops then peaks, but after about 30 secs it goes back to normal. It will be going back for warranty regardless


mine did that, but after a software update its now all good, it was a techline repair TL157A-0804

[vessute08]

mine did that, but after a software update its now all good, it was a techline repair TL157A-0804

Sweet. Thanks for the info

[darb]

my aircon / fan will always spin up and down up and down. .. when the car has just been started, then settles down and behaves.

QUite often also the AC wont switch on when you press the AC button, or the reverse, the AC is on when the AC light is not lit ... seems to get confused.

Cheap nasty shithouse engineering (as is much of the VE). Could try getting warratny to sort it out for you, if its bleedingly obvious / failing ... but dont expect a dealer to do much about a veiled or intermittent issue ... they have enough trouble changing oil, let alone admitting or dealing with admission of horrible engineering mate ...


mine did that, but after a software update its now all good, it was a techline repair TL157A-0804


what is TL157A-0804 , something i could quote to holden and ask them to fix / update?

[FLANGE-SSV]

Anyone have a noisy compressor?
I thought I had tappet/engine rattle - turns out it is my compressor.

[ve/ss]

[QUOTE=darb;1453736]my aircon / fan will always spin up and down up and down. .. when the car has just been started, then settles down and behaves.

QUite often also the AC wont switch on when you press the AC button, or the reverse, the AC is on when the AC light is not lit ... seems to get confused.

Cheap nasty shithouse engineering (as is much of the VE). Could try getting warratny to sort it out for you, if its bleedingly obvious / failing ... but dont expect a dealer to do much about a veiled or intermittent issue ... they have enough trouble changing oil, let alone admitting or dealing with admission of horrible engineering mate ...

Mate you are right, mine fails intermittentley and i have given up leaving it at the dealer/zoo for the day, its easier to accept the fault than have the head fark of dealing with the incompetent and getting the car back with other damage.

[vicarious]

what is TL157A-0804 , something i could quote to holden and ask them to fix / update?


its a repair to the aircon system by the way of a software update(i think), couldn't hurt to mention it.

[ryno]

Anyone have a noisy compressor?
I thought I had tappet/engine rattle - turns out it is my compressor.


Yep, I have a noisy compressor too. It will be getting fixed at next service..

I mentioned the rattle last service but I didn't know where it was coming from. I have since been told to check the compressor, something to do with it being under low load causing a vibration. If you turn it of or to full your rattle will magically dissapear....

[wog13]

After just 10,000 k's my VE SS air cond packed it up. Turns out it was some kind of module which the dealer replaced just to have it happen again 2 mths later.

[KPWISHN]

My little sister has a VE SS and it's been in and out of Mandurah Holden since new with A/C problems. It's an 07 model and the A/C has only worked intermittently since new. Pretty second rate IMO. The dealership have had the car several times in the last month and have not been able to fix it. More success stories required so I can tell her what to tell them.

[scottsvess]

yep myne 06 just cut out today nothing for a coulple mins then just came on again anyone know what the go is there:confused:

[Northy]

yep myne 06 just cut out today nothing for a coulple mins then just came on again anyone know what the go is there:confused:

Mine does the same thing (06 SSV M6) it will just start to blow non cooled air, Once I turn the car off and back on again it normally sorts itself out.

[scottsvess]

Mine does the same thing (06 SSV M6) it will just start to blow non cooled air, Once I turn the car off and back on again it normally sorts itself out.yer it was strange one min working fine next nothing couldnt get windows down fast enough lol then working again windows up prick ov a thing i had no fan or nothing

[Lorne Mauer]

We have a Feb 08 build SS ute. It has always had the funky fan issue when the aircon first turned on but I read in the book that this was sort of normal. Recently had an issue with the complete centre dash section inoperative on start up one cool morning. We had turned the car off the day before with the air and fan still on but next morning the centre dash display was unlit and the stereo air con and anything controlled from the centre dash fascia was not working. the Fan was still on but couldn't be adjusted or turned off. Since we were 500kms away from our dealer and on a camping trip we just went on with our day, put the boat in and went fishing, came back at lunch time and started her up, all working now!! (we had tried turning off and restarting earlier for no result) only thing funny was the clock was 54mins slow!. Not had the same problem since but spoke to our dealer about it and they suggested they have a look at it. They checked her out on monday and have ordered a new fascia module, they have seen it before so hopefully all will be fixed for good once new bits arrive. I'll add that the service we have received from Von Bibra-Tweed has so far been excellent.

Cheers LM.

[LTH-00L]

Hi guys,
I know that early VE's had A/C issues where the A/C would shut it self down on hot days to (get this) "avoid over heating"!!

The fix was a replacement HVAC. The Revised HVAC was programmed to do what some of you are seeing as a fault. It is programmed to start with the fan at full speed on hot days rather than shut down the system. once it has cooled the system, the fan returns to the speed you have set it to on the HVAC.

Anyone with an A/C system shutdown in hot weather should ask to have the HVAC replaced. If its only happened once, i'd imagine you bought your car at the end of summer and we've just come out of winter when their aren't too many hot days. Going into summer again, i'm guessing the issue will start re-occurring

I'm however disappointed to hear that MY08 cars are still having A/C systems which shut down. IMO that is unacceptable 2 years after you've rectified the issue.

I hope this helps

[scottsvess]

Hi guys,
I know that early VE's had A/C issues where the A/C would shut it self down on hot days to (get this) "avoid over heating"!!

The fix was a replacement HVAC. The Revised HVAC was programmed to do what some of you are seeing as a fault. It is programmed to start with the fan at full speed on hot days rather than shut down the system. once it has cooled the system, the fan returns to the speed you have set it to on the HVAC.

Anyone with an A/C system shutdown in hot weather should ask to have the HVAC replaced. If its only happened once, i'd imagine you bought your car at the end of summer and we've just come out of winter when their aren't too many hot days. Going into summer again, i'm guessing the issue will start re-occurring

I'm however disappointed to hear that MY08 cars are still having A/C systems which shut down. IMO that is unacceptable 2 years after you've rectified the issue.

I hope this helpsthanks for that it was one day out of new car warrenty but they said they would still cover it perks ov knowing one ov the mechanics in service funny thing was happend day after it was there getting other stuff fixed up including the radio lol

[Statesman6L]

Well it seems that my Statesman will have to also go in for a check. I had the air-con running just fine since i got it (several months back) then all of the sudden whilst driving today the cold air just stopped flowing through and was spitting out hot air. I had temp set to C and the A/C logo was visible.

Might need a re-gas but I'll post what the problem is once I take it in next week. It's an 07 WM

---------- Post added at 06:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:42 PM ----------


Well it seems that my Statesman will have to also go in for a check. I had the air-con running just fine since i got it (several months back) then all of the sudden whilst driving today the cold air just stopped flowing through and was spitting out hot air. I had temp set to C and the A/C logo was visible.

Might need a re-gas but I'll post what the problem is once I take it in next week. It's an 07 WM

Just tried the aircon now and its working again so it seems that it "overheated" and is all good now. I'm going to leave it for now and if it happens again, i'm going straight to the dealer.....lucky i still got warranty

[planetdavo]

Some late VE issues have an issue, the incorrect oil used. There has been a recall just announced for replacement of the TX valve o-rings.

[chillicatqld]

Just got the notice for this fix on my SPortwagon.
Booked in to get fixed,apparently a four hour job!
Anyone fill me in on whether this repair is underbonnet or behind dash work? (or both)?

[chillicatqld]

anyone......?

[mmciau]

My VE Omega International Air Conditioner (VIN: 6G1EK55739L329205) ceased to work properly this afternoon (6 December) coming back to adelaide from Victor Harbor.

The Air-con was on approx 3/4 full speed, and on open circuit when it began to cease to work properly. Then I shifted it to full speed and re-circulate and it just was not emitting any cool/cold air from the dash vents.

Ended up getting relief from the oppressive cabin by opening the windows.

Any thoughts on why it has ceased to operate correctly?



Mike

[chillicatqld]

Read my post above and then contact your dealer - that is what happens apparently from the recall fault. It will just die!

[BlackNinja]

Have only had my SSV A6 Jan 09 build for 2 months and no problems so far (fingers crossed)

[afmss]

mine packed it in 6 months old,15oooklm,after it stopped working 30 minutes into the drive to bris,i noticed after i parked it a lot of aircon water leaked out from under the car,was fixed under warranty,a leaky valve caused somethin underneath to freeze up,which explained the excessive water on the ground,anyway all good now.

[mmciau]

Took car to my Dealer today - told them of the circumstances that the car started its journey after sitting in the sun, no cooling at all from any fan setting, any vent setting and whether recirculate or fresh air for the drive Victor Harbor to Adelaide.

They rang me to advise they could not find any loss of refrigerant, fault codes, any malfunction because it was emitting cold air as expected.

They did indeed check and clean all terminals as it applied to the Air Con Compressor because they can only summise that the compressor was not doing its job for whatever reason not clear to them

Advised me to report any future malfunction..

Mike

[Wonky]

Mine is March 09 built and haven't received any notification of a problem yet. Hopefully that means I'm in the clear as don't really want the dealer pulling things apart for hours...........

[chillicatqld]

Had mine fixed on Monday.... even though I have had no problems with it.
The service fix said that mineral oil had been used from manufacture and could/would rot the seals in the A/C.
All I received was the recall notice.... mine is a June 09 build.

[highlander_69r]

mine keeps throwing the belt, pos. Got a new pulley setup in the new year cso maybe then i might be able to rev it close to the redline and still have ac after a few spirited drives.

[mmciau]

My VE Omega International Air Conditioner (VIN: 6G1EK55739L329205) ceased to work properly this afternoon (6 December) coming back to Adelaide from Victor Harbor.

The Air-con was on approx 3/4 full speed, and on open circuit when it began to cease to work properly. Then I shifted it to full speed and re-circulate and it just was not emitting any cool/cold air from the dash vents.

Ended up getting relief from the oppressive cabin by opening the windows.

Any thoughts on why it has ceased to operate correctly?



Mike

Today (25 March 2010) a similar shutdown!!

Adelaide was warm today (about 35). I left home at 1500 Hrs to go to the airport to pick up my brother and his wife. The Air-con was functioning properly.

I stopped in the dead-end of Trennery Street, Netley to watch the planes taking off and landing. I was stationary for about 20-25 minutes with the car sitting in full sun. The engine was off, the radio working, the driver's door open.

The plane I was waiting for arrived at the terminal so i got into the car and started it.

No Fan, No Air Conditioning control light, no recirculate lights - Nothing. Tried the fan switch numerous times, rolling from minimum to maximum - Nothing.

I drove into the airport, picked up my passengers and drove them to Brighton - 20-25 minutes no fans, no air Nothing.

Stopped the car at their place for no more than 10 minutes, had a drink of water, got back into the Car to take it to Hamilton Holden to book it in.

The Fan worked, the Air-con worked, the Recirculate lights are all working.

The Hamilton Holden representative has booked the car in for Tuesday and has requested I bring both sets of keys in case he has to do a full reset of the Management System

Any thoughts why this system has failed twice so far?



Mike

[johnfalzon]

My 08 got a softwear up date runs fine now and it is on most of the time

[mmciau]

My 08 got a softwear up date runs fine now and it is on most of the time

I suppose that if the Fan switch is faulty, it follows that it would not allow the A/C Circuit to operate.

Does the Software for the Omega A/C have any sensor that detects outside or internal ambient temperatures that affect its capability to allow the A/C to start?

if there is a sensor, where is it located?


mike

[ssv1]

Mine (MY09 SSV) has randomly switched itself off twice now (in 15 months) but has come back on about one minute later both times.
Just the other day however I lost the complete climate read out on the screen although the aircon was still on. (This fixed itself after I turned off and restarted the ignition twice).

My fan also goes beserk on startup but I had always thought it was supposed to ... to get itself up (down) to temperature.

Apart from that, no probs at all with it ... in fact it's icy cold.

[mmciau]

...

Apart from that, no probs at all with it ... in fact it's icy cold.


That I can say is not mine - it does not get 'icy cold' - i wish it would but it does not



Mike

[mmciau]

Hamilton Holden told me they changed the HVAC Controller and 'flashed' the Computer - both keys were needed.

As a luddite, that is all I can report. More informed persons may be able to add to what that all means.



Mike

[rodp]

I find that when mine's turned off, it blows air into the footwell. When it's on C, the air is icy cold though.

[Mungus]

Mine packed it in last week. Everything works but just not cold. Thought it was inefficient from the start, so had dealer check at 3000k inspection and was told allsgood. Put it down to 'cut off' above 75% throttle position (or somewhere around there) that salesman told me. Anyway booked in tomorrow, so can anyone tell me more details of the recall mentioned in this post. Would it apply to a Jan 2010 build?

[eusman]

I have a 08 SS, I get in the car and start it to find that the air con is not working. No lights on switches and no fan speed. Drive the car for 5 minutes to get home. Turned off the car and locked. Open car and start again, problem gone. This is happening more and more. When I lock and start the car the air problem is always fixed. Has happened 3 times in the last two weeks. I have the same problem with the stereo from time to time.

[mmciau]

Again a repeat of what I wrote in December 2009

Re: VE airconditioning
My VE Omega International Air Conditioner (VIN: 6G1EK55739L329205) ceased to work properly this afternoon (6 December) coming back to adelaide from Victor Harbor.

The Air-con was on approx 3/4 full speed, and on open circuit when it began to cease to work properly. Then I shifted it to full speed and re-circulate and it just was not emitting any cool/cold air from the dash vents.

Ended up getting relief from the oppressive cabin by opening the windows.

Any thoughts on why it has ceased to operate correctly?



Mike

Mike McInerney


Car was sitting in hot sun for two hours. Got in, started car and drove off. Aircon would not pump cold air on open circuit and full fan. Used reciruclation button - same result. Drove home with windows down.

Later it worked perfectly.

This morning, it started out behaving prpperly - cold air 50% fan and closed cirucit. About half way through 90 minute drive, it ceased puming cold air. Reduced fan to nil and turned off aircon and recirculate button.

Waited 10 minutes - 75% fan turn aircon on and close the circuit of air - it works>>>


Any thoughts anyone about just what may be going on?


Mike

[Micks]

Gee can't believe the trouble ya having with the air in that VE! Had our My10 Cal V full climate for over two years now no problem & works bloody great even in the 45 degree + (Melb weather Syd XP last Friday!!!)
As a matter of fact every GM Ive had in the last 15 years & reckon it would a count of 8 all of which had beautiful A/C! Some of the cars were very ordinary though!

[Quark]

When it plays up have you tried turning the engine off and restarting? My 06 VE played up a few times and a restart fixed it every time. The permanent fix was having some gas drained - it was overfilled when built.

[Red-Devil]

Mate I had a similar problem in an 09 VE SS.. Next time it happens pull over and pop your bonnet.. Mine was the aircon line freezing over..
Holden couldn't fix it.. Well their fix was to recommend that I don't run my aircon on full cold..

Should add the reason it works after stopping the car is that the heat under the bonnet melts the ice off the line.

[Micks]

Mate I had a similar problem in an 09 VE SS.. Next time it happens pull over and pop your bonnet.. Mine was the aircon line freezing over..
Holden couldn't fix it.. Well their fix was to recommend that I don't run my aircon on full cold..

Should add the reason it works after stopping the car is that the heat under the bonnet melts the ice off the line.

That's not good!! If the suction line is freezing up like that I'd imagine the compressor, being a vapor only pump will have it's internals smashed after a given time!!
Sounds very much to me like a metering/TX valve problem!

[Red-Devil]

Can I get that in laymans terms to explain to the stealership?

I spend alot of time on the road and if my aircon goes kaput.. I cook..

[VTClubSprtR8]

Ok Mike, two things could be happening here..

1. The A/C system is carrying out a CO2 purge. The A/c in the VE's carry out a CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) cabin purge by over-riding the preset settings and opening up the recirculation door to let fresh air into the cabin space every 40-45 mins when the system is left in recirculation mode or....

2. Like Micks has pointed out, the evaporator core is icing up.
Is there excessive amounts of condensate(water) under the car after the car is parked?


About half way through 90 minute drive, it ceased puming cold air. Reduced fan to nil and turned off aircon and recirculate button.

Waited 10 minutes - 75% fan turn aircon on and close the circuit of air - it works>>>


[/INDENT]

Now when you say this, did you reduce fan to nil and turn off a/c and recirc button or did the HVAC do this buy itself?
And how warm was the outside temp?

[Hos]

Another reason why fan speed can surge in vehicles with climate control is if in stop/start traffic and you have the AC system on Pollution Mode. Whenever vehicle speed is less than 25kph it automatically switches to re-circ mode. Once above the set point, it goes back to fresh air.

I need to take my MY10 SSV wagon in for a service and get the AC checked. It just doesn't seem to cool as well as it should. For instance, on a mid 30 degree day last week, had the car running for over 15 minutes with climate set to 18 degrees, and it was still uncomfortably warm inside. Less than ideal when you have a young child on board.

[mmciau]

Ok Mike, two things could be happening here..

1. The A/C system is carrying out a CO2 purge. The A/c in the VE's carry out a CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) cabin purge by over-riding the preset settings and opening up the recirculation door to let fresh air into the cabin space every 40-45 mins when the system is left in recirculation mode or....

2. Like Micks has pointed out, the evaporator core is icing up.
Is there excessive amounts of condensate(water) under the car after the car is parked?


Now when you say this, did you reduce fan to nil and turn off a/c and recirc button or did the HVAC do this buy itself?
And how warm was the outside temp?

Didn't realise that the CO2 "dump" occurred on the VE Omega A/C.

No, on Sunday, the problem started from the start up after the car sat 2 hours in the sun. The ambient temp would have been 30+ but in the sun, the cabin would have been 40+ when we first started.

We tried full range fan operation as well as A/C on - off and Recirculation on-off. It made NIL difference on the Sunday.

Yesterday the car had been running in again 30+ degree day.

I'll try the car again today to see if occurs again and if it does, I'll try the stop start to see if it cures it. It is only 30 expected today in Adelaide


And thanks everyone who have made suggestions/comments - they are most helpful in gettinga handle on this annoying trait.

It is a frustrating aspect so far in this car.

mike

Mike

[Micks]

The other thing to remember if the Evap is icing up it don't matter what the fan is doing as you'll get bugger all air & very little effect!

[mmciau]

Couldn't get it to malfunction today - mind you it wasn't as hot as other days and the time the unit was running was shorter.

Mike

[VTClubSprtR8]

Couldn't get it to malfunction today - mind you it wasn't as hot as other days and the time the unit was running was shorter.

Mike

Need some clarification on this comment mmciau. "About half way through 90 minute drive, it ceased puming cold air."

What you mean "ceased pumping cold air" ??

Was ANY air coming out of the vents at all, warm or otherwise?? (Good point Micks)
or did the whole system just shut down electrically?

It could be interpreted two different ways is what I'm getting at thats all.

[Red-Devil]

I can describe mine as its similar..

You get a small amount of air out.. It's cool but not cold.. No matter how high you set the fan speed you don't get much additional flow.. The tiny trickle of cool air is no where near enough to keep the cabin cold..

[VTClubSprtR8]

Sounds like your evaporator is icing up Red-Devil. What month/year is your VE ? How long has it been like that?

[Red-Devil]

MY09.5 VE SS.. Not certain of month and its tucked up at the tuners so I can't check..
It's been like that as long as I've driven it.. But in fairness it's not something that happens all that often.. I've got a picture of what was icing up on my work computer.. I can throw it up tomorrow..

[Micks]

Reckon I picked it like a nose "crook TX valve" why can't GM diagnose this?? Bloody hell I did it hiding behind a keyboard!

[Red-Devil]

Yeah I can't get a picture.. How easy is it to replace a 'TX' valve?

[Micks]

Yeah I can't get a picture.. How easy is it to replace a 'TX' valve?

Don't do car airs specially so on VE's though maybe a dash out job! Not sure? Older models were a p.o.p as they sat just OS the firewall.

[macca_779]

Yeah I can't get a picture.. How easy is it to replace a 'TX' valve?

Piece of piss to change

Evac the system
Change the TX valve
Vac the system
Charge the system

It is illegal to vent R34a to atmosphere though.
You need a vac pump and a set of manifold gauges minimum to do the job hence few people do their own A/C work.

You can buy those tools very easily off eBay for ~$200. Getting R134a is the difficult part unless you want to go down the alternative refrigerant route and use LPG also illegal but works really well

[macca_779]

Yeah I can't get a picture.. How easy is it to replace a 'TX' valve?

Piece of piss to change

Evac the system
Change the TX valve
Vac the system
Charge the system

It is illegal to vent R134a to atmosphere though.
You need a vac pump and a set of manifold gauges minimum to do the job hence few people do their own A/C work.

You can buy those tools very easily off eBay for ~$200. Getting R134a is the difficult part unless you want to go down the alternative refrigerant route and use propane (LPG), also illegal but works really well

[Micks]

Piece of piss to change

Evac the system
Change the TX valve
Vac the system
Charge the system

It is illegal to vent R34a to atmosphere though.
You need a vac pump and a set of manifold gauges minimum to do the job hence few people do their own A/C work.

You can buy those tools very easily off eBay for ~$200. Getting R134a is the difficult part unless you want to go down the alternative refrigerant route and use LPG also illegal but works really well

More importantly a "reclaim unit" to decant the R134a & if you have a clean bottle & a drier can reuse the gas too!

[macca_779]

More importantly a "reclaim unit" to decant the R134a & if you have a clean bottle & a drier can reuse the gas too!

Yeah that would be to do it "properly". Add a dial a charge unit to the list if you want to do it "properly"

If doing it bushy style you can mitigate a lot of the normal processes.

[Micks]

"dial a charge"
Done without one for thirty years now so no biggy there, though @ the cost of refrigerant now, only a fool would vent it!

[macca_779]

Done without one for thirty years now so no biggy there, though @ the cost of refrigerant now, only a fool would vent it!

That's if you use R134a

Like I said before if you want to do it properly go see someone. Get the system evacuated before doing the work.

But if you want to do it yourself there are alternatives that while aren't technically legal. Work very well.

[mmciau]

Need some clarification on this comment mmciau. "About half way through 90 minute drive, it ceased puming cold air."

What you mean "ceased pumping cold air" ??

Was ANY air coming out of the vents at all, warm or otherwise?? (Good point Micks)
or did the whole system just shut down electrically?

It could be interpreted two different ways is what I'm getting at thats all.

We had car in the sun again for two hours. We got in and started engine and drove off. The fan was set about half speed and A/C on and Recirculate on. The trip home was at least 90 minutes and we stopped at store but I didn't shut the engine down. We were on the Port Expressway doing about 85-90 Km/hr when the system stopped pumping any cold air out of the dash vents. I hadn't touched any controls up to that point.

I rolled the fan back to zero and out to full. nothing about cold air. I then left the fan control at about half and turned the Recirc on and off. Also the A/C Control. Nothing changed.

I then switched all OFF.

Tried again about 5 minutes later and it began to work correctly - pumping cold air out of dash vents and Fan half, A/C on and Recirculate on.

Mike

[Micks]

That's if you use R134a

Like I said before if you want to do it properly go see someone. Get the system evacuated before doing the work.

But if you want to do it yourself there are alternatives that while aren't technically legal. Work very well.

Agree you should get it done properly, heck who wants to keep throwing good $ after bad.
Gotta pull ya up again Macca though, ya can't "evacuate" a fully charged ac system! You mean "reclaim" Can Only "evacuate" once the
system has been repaired & leak tested prior to the recharge.

[mmciau]

Yeah I can't get a picture.. How easy is it to replace a 'TX' valve?

And is it (TX Valve) in the dash or engine compartment?

Mike

[xthommox]

We had car in the sun again for two hours. We got in and started engine and drove off. The fan was set about half speed and A/C on and Recirculate on. The trip home was at least 90 minutes and we stopped at store but I didn't shut the engine down. We were on the Port Expressway doing about 85-90 Km/hr when the system stopped pumping any cold air out of the dash vents. I hadn't touched any controls up to that point.

I rolled the fan back to zero and out to full. nothing about cold air. I then left the fan control at about half and turned the Recirc on and off. Also the A/C Control. Nothing changed.

I then switched all OFF.

Tried again about 5 minutes later and it began to work correctly - pumping cold air out of dash vents and Fan half, A/C on and Recirculate on.

Mike

^^^ This has been simiiar to my car for the 3 years Ive had it. 2010 model. Been "looked" at 3 times by the idiots at Gosford and Cardiff. "Nothing wrong with it sir. It runs fine and is icy". As Ive said to them, go and leave it in the sun for an hour or so and try to get it cool within 20 minutes. You can't. Something freezes up because at a certain point in time I notice it is only pumping out air, not cold air. I turn the aircon off and just let the fan continue to run. It then becomes icy (note again this is with the aircon OFF), so I switch the aircon back on and it's icy and stays that way for the next hour. I havent been in the car longer to see whether this cycle repeats though. Id imagine it would, ie freeze up, turn it off, ice melts, turn on and it work properly, freeze up, etc etc.

Does this sound like it needs a TX valve replaced?

[Mightypns]

If only you lived in the USA and ran R-134a, They sell a DIY refill kit for under $40USD.
Be handy i reckon.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-Pro-Professional-Formula-Refrigerant/20461354

[macca_779]

If only you lived in the USA and ran R-134a, They sell a DIY refill kit for under $40USD.
Be handy i reckon.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-Pro-Professional-Formula-Refrigerant/20461354

Yeah I know right. Here you can't even buy it if you don't have a licence.

No wonder people resort to using propane which is more efficient, cheaper and isn't hazardous to the environment. I've got 9kg of it sitting outside my door

[VTClubSprtR8]

And is it (TX Valve) in the dash or engine compartment?

Mike

Its in the engine compartment RHS looking into the engine bay, on the firewall. There will be two aluminium pipes going to it, one thick and one thin. An A/C system has very high pressures in them so taken pipes off without removing the gas charge will be dangerous hence the gear needed to service them.

Reasonably easy to get to, but like Micks has said to do it properly you need the gear to reclaim, evacuate and recharge the system, LEGALLY.
:hide:
There is a temp sensor that monitors the evaporator temps in the VE HVAC system. Some models had problems with this sensors position in the HVAC cases airflow causing evaporator ice-up conditions by incorrectly reading the evaporators temps inturn sending wrong signals to the HVAC module which controls the system.The position of this sensor is CRITICAL.:teach:

This could be yours and reddevils problem. But i say "could" as there are alot of things that can cause this problem in A/C systems, like faulty/blocked TX valve.

Some dealerships aren't clued up as others. I would try taking it to a different place to try get some sort of satifaction.

[JRS]

If the evap is icing up i would say the suction pressure is too low, that could be from incorrect inputs as said above of something else. The control valve in the comp pretty much controls the temp, I'm not real clued up on the ve's but the earlier vt-vz would run to about 2 degree vent temps right on the very edge of freezing up. The only way I could see the TX being the problem would if it got stuck in a low load position and didn't open up as load came back on it therefore cabin temps increase, they become unstuck when the system is turned off and let warm aliitle, could also be moisture in the system giving the same effect.

[Smashfist]

If the evap is icing up i would say the suction pressure is too low, that could be from incorrect inputs as said above of something else. The control valve in the comp pretty much controls the temp, I'm not real clued up on the ve's but the earlier vt-vz would run to about 2 degree vent temps right on the very edge of freezing up. The only way I could see the TX being the problem would if it got stuck in a low load position and didn't open up as load came back on it therefore cabin temps increase, they become unstuck when the system is turned off and let warm aliitle, could also be moisture in the system giving the same effect.

99.99999% of the time ice-up in a VE will be caused by bad readings from the temp. sensor. There is a revised sensor housing to correct this.

[mmciau]

So the Temperature Sensor is in the passenger compartment (under the dash) as i understand it - is this correct please?

[VTClubSprtR8]

So the Temperature Sensor is in the passenger compartment (under the dash) as i understand it - is this correct please?


Yes it is. Glove box out to get to it. PITA to get the sensor out. If yours is the old short sensor housing it will be bout 20-25 mm in length, you will need the revised longer sensor housing from holden.

[mmciau]

Yes it is. Glove box out to get to it. PITA to get the sensor out. If yours is the old short sensor housing it will be bout 20-25 mm in length, you will need the revised longer sensor housing from holden.

Thank you for all your help - i'll see my local A/C man- no confidence to go back to Hamilton Holden of Somerton Park I'm afraid.

Mike

[macca_779]

Thank you for all your help - i'll see my local A/C man- no confidence to go back to Hamilton Holden of Somerton Park I'm afraid.

Mike

The Holden tech data for aircon is actually very detailed. You would have to be illiterate to not be able to fix a/c at a dealership.

[JRS]

The incorrect temp from the sender would be feeding the control valve, shit not cold enough, lower suction pressure BAM evap ice up.

[VTClubSprtR8]

The Holden tech data for aircon is actually very detailed. You would have to be illiterate to not be able to fix a/c at a dealership.

+1 on that.:)

[mmciau]

Similar air-con difficulties with the Cruze

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?162659-A-C-in-Cruze-stops-working-after-driving-for-a-while

[Mungus]

The Holden tech data for aircon is actually very detailed. You would have to be illiterate to not be able to fix a/c at a dealership.

Sorry macca! Had a bit of a laugh at your comment. I don't disagree with you one bit, but after three years of a/c issues ( previous post 2010 this thread and ends up basically losing gas and needing top up add leak detection etc.. every 9 months since) Holden Australia finally agreed to dash out inspection of evaporator etc... This came up with nothing wrong at the evap. but the company that did it for the dealer did find a very badly corroded fitting at the condenser that oil was pissing out of. Long story short, the dealer replaced bits here and there but couldn't find an obvious leak right in front of their noses. Hey at least I hope that was the problem fixed or I'll be back to dealers in a month or three if not.

[macca_779]

Sorry macca! Had a bit of a laugh at your comment. I don't disagree with you one bit, but after three years of a/c issues ( previous post 2010 this thread and ends up basically losing gas and needing top up add leak detection etc.. every 9 months since) Holden Australia finally agreed to dash out inspection of evaporator etc... This came up with nothing wrong at the evap. but the company that did it for the dealer did find a very badly corroded fitting at the condenser that oil was pissing out of. Long story short, the dealer replaced bits here and there but couldn't find an obvious leak right in front of their noses. Hey at least I hope that was the problem fixed or I'll be back to dealers in a month or three if not.

Would of shown up clear as day with a uv light. O well at least it's fixed now