Air con stopped working

[Mistercorn]

Kaz warned me that there was a slight leak on my air con last year, it has now stopped working so I need to fix it. Has anybody any experience of changing the pipe shown in the pictures? It is leaking at the join between the metal and rubber pipe by the look of it, or possibly at the valve itself. Does anybody know if these come as one piece? Any advice appreciated.
http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w627/eaxmjhi/NSX/20150519_083429_zpszeibfhv3.jpg (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/eaxmjhi/media/NSX/20150519_083429_zpszeibfhv3.jpg.html)

http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w627/eaxmjhi/NSX/20150519_083455_zpse5nj44mi.jpg (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/eaxmjhi/media/NSX/20150519_083455_zpse5nj44mi.jpg.html)

MC

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

Normally, it’s the valve itself.
It’s like the valve used on the tyre and can be replaced fairly easily so before deciding to replace/weld the metal pipe, I would replace the valve first as it's much easier.

The spongey black rubber like material is just there for the protection and possibly prevention of moisture dripping under the car due to condensation (it's the low pressure side of the system) and the pipe itself is metal all the way.
It’s the long-long pipe running across the centre floor back to the joint next to the side of the fuel tank along with the coolant hoses and the +B power cable.

Looking at the GND battery cable, your NSX has EPS system.
I’m afraid it’s not an easy task replacing this pipe on EPS car as you will need to remove the EPS rack first. May be someone can do it without removing it but after spending long time juggling, I couldn’t find a way to remove the pipe without taking the EPS rack first out of the way.

Unless you have the vacuum pump and A/C service facility, best to leave it to the specialist as after replacing the valve, you must leave the system under vacuum for long enough period to let any moisture absorbed in the system to boil and eliminate it completely out of the system.

A/C specialist can also look for any other potential leakage by leaving the system under vacuum or re-charge the system with nitrogen and detector.
Unlike replacing the condersor, evaporator or expansion valve, replacing the valve won’t expose the system to the atmosphere for a prolonged period so you may be able to re-use the drier/receiver if it’s fairly new.
However, if it spent fair amount of time in the system, just replace it at the same time as it is acting as the filter and absorb the moisture if exposed to the atomosphere.

Kaz

[Mistercorn]

Thanks Kaz, I will get it booked in with Honda to have the valve and drier replaced, as I don't know how old it is, and then regassed. It should all be ready for Wales :)

MC

[Mistercorn]

Honda will only supply the complete pipe with valve assembly, so I'll source the valve centre from somewhere else and fit it myself. I am getting a price from them for the re-gas. Does anybody know a good source for the replacement drier? I have found them online for the earlier cars for about £30 but not so far for the NA2. Honda want around £300 for it assuming they have given me the price on the correct part!!

MC

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

Quite often, if you need extra task other than re-charging the A/C gas, it’s best to find the local reliable A/C specialist than getting the car to the car dealers. They may as well out-source the A/C service any way.

For your NSX, you need the R134a spec receiver if you want to keep using the OEM bracket.
80351-SL0-901 is now superseded to 80351-SL0-305.
It’s nothing special so your local a/c specialist should be able to find suitable alternative one that may require different mounting method (quite often, just a tyrap).

£300 for the drier??? I think I better start parts business.
Even for the OEM one, it will be about £60 – 70 in Japan or US.
If you go for the aftermarket one, you should be able to find one at a fraction of the Honda UK price….
You could get one from RockAuto and ask for the FedEx express/priority service but from your other post, sounded like you need one urgently.

For the Valve core, just get it from your local A/C service place. You may be able to find it even at your local car parts shop.
Make sure to check the o-ring inside the cap and you may want to replace the cap at the same time.


Kaz

[goldnsx]

I guess it's £300 for the pipe. My (stress on) oldschool Honda garage had an assortment of different valves. There's absolutely no need to change the whole pipe. I had to change my valves a few years ago and it costed me £20 or so plus refilling. You can find them on eB. Remind: there are different sizes. Check for 'assorted schrader valves A/C'

[Mistercorn]

I have contacted a company called Comptech who I found about after a search on here. They said to remove the valve and drier, send them over and they will identify the correct replacements. I will let you all know how I get on.

MC

[Hagasan]

I have contacted a company called Comptech who I found about after a search on here. They said to remove the valve and drier, send them over and they will identify the correct replacements. I will let you all know how I get on.

MC

Wow, supercharged a/c ;)

[Mistercorn]

It is the valve which is leaking, when I unscrewed the cap on it there was an audible escape of gas and I got a load of UV dye on my fingers. I have ordered a tool to remove the valve which should be here tomorrow. I removed the receiver/drier and the two small O-rings ready for sending off and taped up the ends of the hoses. Two 17mm fittings on the top and a single 10mm nut on the side to hold it in place, which is accessible through the apertures in the front bumper. I'll take measurements from it before it goes away.

MC

[flyingsniffer]

If you do want to replace the RD while the system is in bits, Compressor Tech are helpful guys. They matched mine up with a Rover 800 replacement which fitted fine: slightly bigger than NSX OEM but shedloads cheaper!

[Mistercorn]

Sorry for the very long delay in getting back on this, I had been trying to get hold of a copy of the invoice to detail the parts which were used, the invoice had been supplied but had gone in to my works accounts system and has only just surfaced.

The bonnet release mechanism had to be removed to gain access to the receivier/drier. Since it was off I thought I would give it a good clean and a re-grease:

http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w627/eaxmjhi/NSX/2015-06-06%2016.03.51_zpsjqgbihv4.jpg (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/eaxmjhi/media/NSX/2015-06-06%2016.03.51_zpsjqgbihv4.jpg.html)
http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w627/eaxmjhi/NSX/2015-06-06%2016.04.00_zpsiubqcabt.jpg (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/eaxmjhi/media/NSX/2015-06-06%2016.04.00_zpsiubqcabt.jpg.html)

Removal was easy, just three bolts. There were marks on the mounting bracket showing where the bracket had been bolted up which will make re-alignment very easy.

I got the new receiver/drier from Compressortech (www.compressortech.co.uk) in Warwich, it was very slightly taller and slightly larger diameter than the original, it required a longer bolt to fit in the bracket, I got a stainless one from Screwfix for a few pence.

http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w627/eaxmjhi/NSX/2015-06-06%2011.54.44_zpsmjmv9fkl.jpg (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/eaxmjhi/media/NSX/2015-06-06%2011.54.44_zpsmjmv9fkl.jpg.html)

Refitting was pretty straightforward, access to the bolts was gained through the front of the car, no major dramas, just bolt the new one back on.

Here it all is in place ready to go:
http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w627/eaxmjhi/NSX/2015-06-06%2016.28.06_zpsgx0migrp.jpg (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/eaxmjhi/media/NSX/2015-06-06%2016.28.06_zpsgx0migrp.jpg.html)

I also replaced the low pressure valve core, which was the source of the problem, the 0-rings were also fitted on the receiver/drier.

Part numbers as follows
RD19115 rec/drier 90 deg No4 Rove £40.95
MT0059-1 Valve cores 124a ***/ROVE £1.95
MT0232-1 HNBR O/RING ACU £0.50

Total including delivery and VAT was £67.62. Honda wanted over £300 for the rec/drier and wouldn't supply just the valve core, they wanted over £300 for the complete pipe would have required many hours to fit. So based on Honda prices I have probably saved over £1000.

I hope these numbers are helpful to anybody else who needs these parts, as they too me a bit of finding.

MC