I need to replace a faulty Hot & Cool box (Colour Grey) on my 1992 Town Ace has anyone any ideas where I might be able to pick up a second hand one?
Also is there a workshop manual available anywhere for the vehicle?
- (#13090) Ian Lawrence, 29 Aug 04 10:06
Ian. There are currently two Townaces on Ebay which are being broken for spares. It might be worth checking if either have a cool/hot box. Go to "Automotive", then "car parts by brand" and type in Townace. Ref a manual, there is no complete workshop manual available but, your local Toyota dealer can supply the engine manual, code RMO25E, and this gives a wealth of information on engine, lube system, electrics etc.
- (#13090) John Davis (Leics), 29 Aug 04 15:50
And be aware that you must evacuate the aircon system before attempting to remove said coolbox...
- (#13090) David Miller, 30 Aug 04 00:44
What is it that is faulty?
If it does not work when the rest of the A/C does it could just be the magnet valve.
- (#13090) Clive (Bristol), 30 Aug 04 03:53
Hi Clive,
My H/C box doesn't work but the A/C is good, front and rear. I've read in the archives that the expansion valve may be faulty (dirty?). Is the magnet valve you speak of the same thing? Any ideas on how to best trouble shoot the box? All the buttons and indicator lamps work fine...
thanks
Andrew
- (#13090) Andrew (Canadian Rockies), 30 Aug 04 22:53
I called it the expansion valve but Toyota list it as magnet valve, one of the same as far as I'm aware. If you remove the side panel on the box you can see the brass coloured valve.
No way to test it, can't look at it without de-gassing the system! My a/c agent suggests having gone that far just getting a replacement is the quickest and cheapest solution as they can rarely be cleaned. Likely to have gummed up due to lack of use.
- (#13090) Clive (Bristol), 31 Aug 04 09:06
Clive, the magnetic valve is a solenoid operated valve that opens to let refigerant through the evaporator in the coolbox & closes to turn it off, this is used to allow some parts of the system to operate & others to be off. I.E. coolbox on, a/c off. A/c on at front coolbox & rear a/c off etc.
The expansion valve is the capilliary operated temperature related expansion valve (TRX) this opens & closes dependent on the temperature of the evaporator. In exxence it is a pinhole valve that the refrigerant is forced through, the hols stsrts at a particular size, once the system gets cold, it opens slightly, flooding the evaporator with refrigerant & effectively allowing it to warm back up, once warmed it restricts the flow again, increasing the pressure & cooling the evaporator again. This is done to stop the evaporator freezing & cracking & to make the system cycle in & out.
So they are two very different things.
If the magnetic (solenoid) valve won't open, then the system will not get any refrigerant through it.
If there is dirt on the TRX valve, then no refrigerant will flow through it. If it is stuck open, then system will not get cold. To check if it is stuck open, run the a/c, let it cool down, now turn on coolbox, if everything else warms up, then the TRX on the coolbox may be stuck open.
HTH Rob.
- (#13090) Rob Drinkwater, 31 Aug 04 12:37
Thanks for that Rob. I was only going what the a/c guy said and the part he pointed to on the diagram, called it one thing and pointed to another. So the bit I'm thinking of is the expansion valve, although of course one or other may not be working and need investigation.
Clive who has heard too many tales of gassing oneself and is scared to touch his a/c!
- (#13090) Clive (Bristol), 31 Aug 04 13:51