IS250 SE-L - Air Con - No High Pressure

[Quince99]

Suffering badly with the heat this summer - isn't everybody? - I took the IS250 in for what I thought it needed, i.e. a re-gas, as it wasn't blowing particularly cold. This was done and was cold on drive home but after that it suddenly became far less cold and it was more effective to open the window.

Took it back to ATS to run vacuum test, basic check for leaks and nothing found to be leaking. What they also said was that when switching on AC the high pressure side of things was not activating, hence no cold air. Was told this could be anything from a sensor/switch to the compressor itself.

Without spending hundreds of pounds at Lexus in investigative work, do other owners have experience of this issue, i.e. is it commonplace, or is it time to look for another car?

[Texas]

Next stop before Lexus would be a Auto AirCon specialist, more knowledgeable than the tyre fitters and cheaper than Lexus!

Not sure myself ( others may chip in) but TechStream software may shed some light on a malfunctioning AC system.

paul m.

[sorcerer]

 

5 minutes ago, Quince99 said:

Took it back to ATS [...] Was told this could be anything from a sensor/switch to the compressor itself.

Really great diagnostic skills in evidence there. Take it to a proper aircon specialist such as https://www.coolcaraircon.co.uk/ or http://kevingreenaircon.co.uk/ for example.

[Quince99]

Thank you both for advice - ATS fine for a simple regas (especially as good price with Groupon!) but yes, anything more in-depth and they're sadly out of their depth. Have emailed Kevin Green as they're local to me - thanks for that - and about 40mins drive away. Will await reply and see what happens.

[Linas.P]

Same story with Fraudfords, used them for re-gas only because they are literally across the road. Did the performance test in winter when outside temp was 7C and said it is blowing blistering cold aka "IS250 A/C creates winter in the cabin"!. Checked myself with re-circulation ON and realised the A/C does not work... like at all. They were little embarrassed and after 2 days diagnostics decided it is high side pressure sensor which has failed. Still failed to the day.. because it is very expensive and I have no confidence it is real culprit of the problem.

There are few other check you can do e.g. is your A/C light switching, is you A/C clutch engaging, does the compressor engaging at all. Could be many things, bad relays, bad compressor, bad sensors.

[jackcramerr]

Why would anyone one complain about slighly warmer weather 🙂

A specalist will save you money here. Don't bother with anyone else. 

[Quince99]

In the display the AC light goes on and off when the touch screen is pressed but I can't hear anything engaging - this may be that it's relatively quiet compared to my previous car. ATS said that the clutch was engaging although I'm not sure how they worked that out, so hopefully not the compressor itself.

If it becomes too complex/expensive or not possible to determine the fault, I'll simply change cars. Once the cost of repairs starts to represent a significant percentage of car value it's time to bite the bullet sadly.

jackcramerr - have never coped with heat well, get migraines with weather this hot - 20C is great for me!

[JamesIS220]

I have a 2006 Lexus IS 220d and had spent £45 on a re-gas with another company who had said leak free. The AC worked lovely for 7 weeks then went warm. The passenger vents cooler than the drivers side vents. Apparently common as AC is set up for LHD car market.

Had cool car in and put a bit of gas in and used his sniffing probe on all components and the tool alarm went mental when testing the condenser. Charge for coming out was £30. I had ordered a new condenser but damaged the stubs while fitting so ordered a new condenser so hopefully fitting it next Wednesday. The IS 220d condenser is £156 and is Nissens. IS 250 aftermarket around £70.00

https://www.adrad.co.uk/car-air-conditioning/condensers/catalogue.php?manu=LEXUS&model=IS

James

[Quince99]

Just to follow this up:

I emailed Kevin Green and he arranged an appointment for the following week - he was, quite understandably, very busy in the heatwave with artics, tractors etc. that were in need of cold a/c by professional drivers. After a thorough examination, on a very expensive piece of equipment, the system was cleaned, lubricated and CORRECTLY regassed. The temperate at the vents was something Arctic like 6 deg C and in short order the car was like a walk-in freezer.

There were no leaks in the system and he could only suppose that the a/c had only had a partial regas before and, quite likely, using the high pressure valve as the low pressure one (the one you should use) was at the back of the engine bay and hard to reach.

Since then I've had a small hole in the centre section exhaust welded up - £1700 for a section was a bit much! - and the 'sports' exhaust is back to being quiet once more.