Ok...So I just had to get my ECM replaced and now the A/C in my wife's 2005 Corolla isn't working...just in time for 85 degree so Cal weather. Out of all the Corollas we've owned, this one is nonstop problems.
Press the A/C button, light comes on, but I don't hear the compressor come on. I'm hoping it's the MG relay under the hood. Hoping it has nothing to do with the new ECM the dealer installed.
Any other ideas? Car has 156,000 miles, a 2005, so i don't THINK the coolant will be too low that the compressor won't come on?
Ok...So I just had to get my ECM replaced and now the A/C in my wife's 2005 Corolla isn't working...just in time for 85 degree so Cal weather. Out of all the Corollas we've owned, this one is nonstop problems.
Check that there's enough refrigerant. When the refrigerant is low, the light will come on but the A/C clutch won't engage.
It may also be that the shop that replaced the ECM didn't hook something back up properly. Maybe they should check it over for you (especially if the procedure for ECM replacement describes disconnecting certain wiring harnesses).
Any other ideas? Car has 156,000 miles, a 2005, so i don't THINK the coolant will be too low that the compressor won't come on?
"refrigerant"
If it went for a few months without the A/C being run, the seals could dry out and then allow refrigerant to leak. This is why it's advised that one run the A/C from time to time, even when unneeded, so that the oil can circulate through the system. Typically, using the defrost position on the heater will engage A/C on a defroster-linked system, though.
I'm on my iPhone so searching is laborious......is there a write-up on how to charge the system by myself? I'm thinking go to autozone, I've seen the recharge kits with the gauges before...just never had a car that needed to be recharged.
My 1999 Corolla that my brother-in-law has now, in Las vegas, STILL has the original A/C working like a champ. So why is this 2005 Corolla possibly out of coolant?
OK....so I've done/will do the following....
1) swapped the horn relay into the MG relay spot....no go
2) Checked fuse under dash....fine, not the problem
3) If I re-charge the system and it's STILL a no go...
I'm on my iPhone so searching is laborious......is there a write-up on how to charge the system by myself? I'm thinking go to autozone, I've seen the recharge kits with the gauges before...just never had a car that needed to be recharged.
Unless the leak is real bad, the charging kits do really well, and they're a snap to use.
You should be able to watch this vid on the iPhone:
First off, check that the gauge does read low-- if it reads "full" or "danger" (too high) before you even start filling it, as it could be a different problem altogether. (If it reads "full", my bet is on the ECM replacement having forgotten a few steps.)
As far as ECM...mind elaborating about missing a few steps? When i took the old ECM out it was just a matter of unplugging 4 harnesses and 2 screws holding it in place. I would assume that if they plugged the wrong harness into the wrong spot the car wouldn't start or there'd be some major system problems?
I could try and plug the harnesses int different ports. I know I can't assume the techs know what they are doing. lol
I'll but the kit. if it reads full, then I'll go the ECM route and tell the dealer. It is kind of a coincidence that the ECM was replaced last week and now the AC doesn't work.
Doesn't the compressor need to be working in order for the recharging to work? My compressor doesn't come on at all. If this is the case I assume I'll have to jump the compressor directly to the battery. I don't even know which wires are for the compressor to do this.....any wire ok? Specific gauge?
As far as ECM...mind elaborating about missing a few steps? When i took the old ECM out it was just a matter of unplugging 4 harnesses and 2 screws holding it in place. I would assume that if they plugged the wrong harness into the wrong spot the car wouldn't start or there'd be some major system problems?
I guess if it was that simple, maybe that wasn't the problem (I imagined there would be other wire looms strung around that would have to be undone to reach the ECM better, etc.)
It could be that the harnesses are in the right places but maybe not seated in until they click, but I'm not sure if the A/C is really tied to the ECM like that in the first place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dblhelx
Doesn't the compressor need to be working in order for the recharging to work?
The compressor has a low-pressure side cutoff that is easily reset once a small amount of refrigerant has been added.
On my wife's Sunfire, I had the engine running and the A/C was switched on and but the compressor wasn't running. I then pressed on the bottle's button for about a second or two, then I turned the engine off for a few moments and restarted it. The small burst I had added reset the low-pressure cutoff and it kicked over the compressor by itself. Of course, then I was able to more easily add the rest of the bottle.
Sadly, the next day the performance had already dropped off and two days after that the compressor was once again not kicking on-- there must have been a heck of a leak.
Thanks dude, much appreciated! I guess a recharge kit is my next attempt. The more I read the AC radiator on these years was prone to road debris damage, later years came with a guard to avoid this. If I recharge, and it works, but later dies, I know I have a leak and the odds are it's the AC radiator.
The more I read the AC radiator on these years was prone to road debris damage, later years came with a guard to avoid this. If I recharge, and it works, but later dies, I know I have a leak and the odds are it's the AC radiator.
Glad to help!
If it turns out to be the condensor in the end, see if they can get that guard and attach it for you (or do it yourself if it's simple).
The condensor is just a little radiator looking thing, no? if so, I assume I can replace that EASILY myself. How hard can that be? I did an Ebay search for 2005 Corolla condensor and there are a few, new, for ~$99. So that should be a cheap and easy fix. Not sure why I read about people paying the dealer $500- $700 to fix this.
Not sure why I read about people paying the dealer $500- $700 to fix this.
The part should be fairly cheap, but the whole system does have to be evacuated to remove air and moisture before filling up again. It's somewhat labor intensive and the equipment is expensive.
__________________ 2005 Corolla LE - Impulse Red - Auto Trans - 1ZZFE - 86,000mi 2003 Echo - Auto Trans - 96,000mi. - slow as dog-dirt - I'd rather put my money in the bank than in the tank!!!!!
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