Reconnecting AirCon

[GermanCerb]

Hi guys,

as usual I need your help!
Actually I'm going to reconnect my AirCon. During the reassembly of the car after the body-off I decided to spare the AirCon out for the moment and to take care of it later. I already bought the parts I had to replace(cooler, drier) and now I'm trying to figure out how everything was connected. Unfortunately the pics I have don't help that much.

What is the correct order when I'm starting in the wheel house coming from inside the car:
1. Thick pipe/big fitting -> Fuel Cooler right side
2. Fuel Cooler left side -> Compressor
3. Compressor -> Drier (in or out?)
4. Drier (in or out?) -> Condenser (up or down?)
5. Condenser (up or down?) -> small long pipe back to the wheel house

Where is the Expansion Valve located? I also bought that but not sure if I really have to replace it.

There is also a sensor and I guess it's a pressure sensor or? Is it mounted to the Drier?
If yes, there is just one possibility: There is a screw on top of the Drier and I guess I have to remove it to mount the sensor instead. Correct?

Many thanks in advance!
Michael

[Imran999]

This might help
Also, the trinary (pressure) switch attaches to the top of the receiver/drier (just screws in to the top).

Edited by Imran999 on Friday 20th January 20:14

[GermanCerb]

Thanks but unfortunately not (except the pressure switch - this is what I thought). This is the part I have - I'm mainly looking for the connections on the Drier and the Condenser.

Best regards
Michael

[gruffalo]

I believe the expansion valve is in the drivers side wing behind the wheel arch.

You can get to it by taking out the peddle box and a load of other stuff.

The easier way of gaining access is to cut an access hole in the inner wheel arch and then make a removable panel to reseal it afterwards.

I need to do this some time soon as my expansion valve is knackered.

[Mr Cerbera]

gruffalo said:

I believe the expansion valve is in the drivers side wing behind the wheel arch.

You can get to it by taking out the peddle box and a load of other stuff.

The easier way of gaining access is to cut an access hole in the inner wheel arch and then make a removable panel to reseal it afterwards.

I need to do this some time soon as my expansion valve is knackered.

Hi All,

My (Sept) 2001 4.5 does have the Evaporator where you say, Gruff,
BUT
fortunately, it has an inspection panel

My problem is, I can't get tools in to take it out so am (not) looking forward to removing the Pedal Box anyway



___________________________________________________________

ETA

Hi Michael,

Extracted most of my AC and, like yourself, I took a stack of pics and marked up each joint in the hope that the next owner would not have too much of a 3D Jigsaw on their hands (very L,G,B,T,Q )

Just to make sure that we don't get confused I will use the following terminology;-

The Driver's side of the Car = The RHS = The EVEN side (The even-numbered cylinders)
The Passenger's side of the Car = The LHS = The ODD cylinder side.

OK, sorry for the quality of the pics but:-

The Evaporator is mounted behind the EVEN side wheel arch. On my 2001 4.5, there is an inspection panel allowing (a limited) access. (Above Pic.)
The two Evaporator pipes have a tortuous journey up and over the EVEN side front wheel and between that arch and the underside of the Engine Compartment’s EVEN wing.

Its ODD side pipe (therefore closest to the engine) comes through the wing and enters the engine bay through one of the three EVEN side bulkhead grommets, curls up around and enters the Fuel Cooler’s ODD side.

I believe that this was because of the designers not wanting to make basic changes from the RV8 layout when installing the AJP – Nightmare !

The other side of the Fuel Cooler (EVEN) arcs across the bay and joins to the Compressor (ODD side).


The other joint in the Compressor (They are two, different interfaces so no problem of confusion) goes to the Condenser's upper, short, stubby junction (ODD) side.


The Condenser's other junction (with the long vertical pipe – which exits on the ODD side, in an upward direction) attaches to the left-hand side of the Dryer (This is if you look at the top of the Dryer with the Electrical connection in the 6 o' clock position).


The Dryer is mounted vertically, ahead of the ODD side, front wheel arch.

The Dryer’s RHS Pipe is long and disappears across the front of the engine bay, through one of the three grommets in the side bulkhead wall, to the rear, over the arch, to the Evaporator.
It attaches to the Evaporator on its EVEN (furthest from the engine) port.




Now I've read that back, it still sounds confusing but I've been working on that explanation for a whole day to try and make it as simple as....

Viel Glück, mein Herr Busch

Edited by Mr Cerbera on Monday 30th January 14:29

Edited by Mr Cerbera on Monday 30th January 14:41