Author Topic: 85 Gts Air Cond (duracool)and Passenger Seat Cable (Read 15243 times)

sleekaman · « **on:** Apr 18, 2008, 04:59:49 am »

Folks, my air conditioner just stopped working. ie. no more cold air. I do hear the compressor running but thats it. Has anyone converted their freon R12 to the newer enviromentally friendly gas (whatever its called) ? Or just refilled their system with R12.
Also I have a problem thats been bothering me for some time, the passenger side, has this 'passenger assist' feature where you press this lever on the rear right side and the seat moves forward and reclines at the same time. This allows the rear seat passenger easy access in/out. I've replaced this fu**ing cable twice, since new, and just got a quote from the dealer that this cable is $120 can. and has to be ordered from Japan. Any way of fixing this cable or using a stronger one, aftermarket ?

thanxs, Harvey.

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #1 on:** Apr 18, 2008, 05:20:04 am »

BEAUTIFUL car Harvey!
Seat: First time in all my time owning my Celica (10years+) and being a member of this forum that I've heard of a problem with that seat assist. Yard a few, and keep some spares is the best you can do.

AC, well that's a sore subject since we all know now what a joke 134A conversions are, and how they actually cause more damage than good to the AC systems. There are a fair amount of R12 replacements out there that don't require all the conversion mess, and destroy your clutch, and they cool just as good as R12, with even lower head pressures. Mac Freeze is one of them, but there are more. Google it! You will find a great deal of options over 134A that are much better.

As for the lack of cooling, your compressor should not run if the coolant has leaked out. You'll need to be more specific. There are built in fail safes on AC systems.

sleekaman · « **Reply #2 on:** Apr 18, 2008, 05:30:14 am »

When I turn on the A/C button, I do hear something kicking in, I would suspect its the compressor or belts or something. That little glass thingy connected to all those pipes, I do see a bit of bubbles in the glass window whurling around. Hm weird.

thanxs for the comments, just started the car a couple of weeks ago, and replaced the clutch cylinder....the baby sure rides great from the last time I drove it last Oct.

:D

Harv.

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #3 on:** Apr 18, 2008, 05:37:04 am »

Well judging from the terminologies you use, and the fact that you haven't stepped out of the car after pushing the button for AC to actually visually inspect the clutch and belt, I would say leave the AC to the professionals. It gets way more complicated than the bubbles in the glass window, (although the sight glass is very useful), and I hear something that may be the clutch.

This isn't meant to be a demeaning comment in any way, but AC is not for everyone.

Theres a LOT of reasons that you could have an issue with not blowing cold anymore. An overcharged or undercharged system, leaks, bad RD unit, or orifice tube filter. The list goes on and on. A professional shop, with a good reputation should be doing the work, or at the very least, diagnosing it, so you can replace the parts yourself if you know how.

I don't doubt you have some mechanical skills and knowledge, which is why I said have a pro diagnose it, and drain the system for you so you can replace the bad parts if you feel confident enough.

OldMage · « **Reply #4 on:** Apr 18, 2008, 06:44:40 am »

Hmm... Harvey... You an old OCC'er by any chance??? I swear I remember a 'Harvey' in Canada w/ a white GT-S hatch...

If you're the same one, I'm the same "OldMage".
edit - nevermind, you ARE that Harvey!
Hey, you found us!! I just checked your Celicas.org page, and you've updated it! (how'd you get ahold of Sean to do that??).

Anyway, I'm running the more common R134 in my Celica. I didn't bother w/ the whole "retrofit" crap to the whole system. Just a new compressor (which I needed anyway) and modern AC oil. Oh, the fittings on the compressor had to have adapters added. The trick was to install the high-side adapter, then use the old style low-side hose on the new AC manifold set (I think that was the deal anyway).

On the seat cable... can't really help ya, mine broke it's mounting tab clean off the seat frame!! I don't see why it couldn't be replaced w/ some thin stranded cable & clamps (whatever they "tie" cable off with). That assumes it really is a "pull" type of deal. I thought I remembered it being a thin solid rod (not really thick enough to push on tho).

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #5 on:** Apr 18, 2008, 03:51:25 pm »

Harvey and OldMage. Do you guys know if the GT seats and GT-S seats use the same part? I have 2 sets of bucket seats in the basement that are GT. Maybe I can pull the cables from those before I scrap them, and keep one for myself, and send the other to Harvey?

OldMage · « **Reply #6 on:** Apr 18, 2008, 05:16:25 pm »

The passenger side seat frame/rails may be the same. The GT-S driver's seat has the thigh bolster adjustment, so the frames/rails are different.

I believe only the passenger side has the "rear seat passenger assist" foot tab.

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #7 on:** Apr 19, 2008, 12:48:45 am »

Yeah, as I recall it, it's only on the passenger side. I'd be willing to part with one, since I have a spare. Just don't want to send the wrong part. That would suck.

a2ndopinion · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 19, 2008, 03:57:03 pm »

For the A/C question, I converted our Corolla to R134a, and it blew down to <40 degrees fahrenhight. You need to change the compressor oil and install a new dryer first, and the most important issues are ensuring the system is very clean, and then is drawn down to a vacuum before charging. I recommend charging on a very warm day, and have a fan available to cool the condenser very well.

sleekaman · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 19, 2008, 04:14:03 pm »

Quote

Hmm... Harvey... You an old OCC'er by any chance??? I swear I remember a 'Harvey' in Canada w/ a white GT-S hatch... If you're the same one, I'm the same "OldMage".
edit - nevermind, you ARE that Harvey!
Hey, you found us!! I just checked your Celicas.org page, and you've updated it! (how'd you get ahold of Sean to do that??).

Anyway, I'm running the more common R134 in my Celica. I didn't bother w/ the whole "retrofit" crap to the whole system. Just a new compressor (which I needed anyway) and modern AC oil. Oh, the fittings on the compressor had to have adapters added. The trick was to install the high-side adapter, then use the old style low-side hose on the new AC manifold set (I think that was the deal anyway).

On the seat cable... can't really help ya, mine broke it's mounting tab clean off the seat frame!! I don't see why it couldn't be replaced w/ some thin stranded cable & clamps (whatever they "tie" cable off with). That assumes it really is a "pull" type of deal. I thought I remembered it being a thin solid rod (not really thick enough to push on tho).

Yes, its me, finally found the site...and yes, still have the baby. I've been mostly on the toyoytanation.com site....but this site suits me better cuz everyone here knows more about our vintage Celicas.

Harvey.

sleekaman · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 19, 2008, 04:19:34 pm »

Quote

For the A/C question, I converted our Corolla to R134a, and it blew down to <40 degrees fahrenhight. You need to change the compressor oil and install a new dryer first, and the most important issues are ensuring the system is very clean, and then is drawn down to a vacuum before charging. I recommend charging on a very warm day, and have a fan available to cool the condenser very well.

yeh, thinking if retrofitting it, but am still comtemlating this one.

comments....may jump for this this weekend.

http://www.duracool.com/

there was a write up on this product in one of our local Toronto newspapers Auto section that said it was 'cool'....wow...that kinda sounds funny.

too bad you have to pay for more on the write up.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access...top+small+leaks

sleekaman · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 19, 2008, 04:23:34 pm »

Quote

Yeah, as I recall it, it's only on the passenger side. I'd be willing to part with one, since I have a spare. Just don't want to send the wrong part. That would suck.

that would be great if you have the part....the schemetic that I got from the Dealer is a bit better.....the part number I see from the diagram is: 72210 - Cable Assy, Seat Rack Control.

Harvey.

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #12 on:** Apr 19, 2008, 05:05:50 pm »

Harvey, I'll have to look at the seat assembly and see how it works/how hard it is to take off. I don't suspect it's a big job, but to get the part number off of it probably requires disassembly and removal. I will then take a picture or 2 and post them up here, to be sure that you are getting what you need.

As for AC, well it's long been known that R134-A is destructive to your system from running such high head pressures, and there are now a fair amount of direct R-12 replacements on the market that don't require you to have a license to use, and work much better than R134-A, without causing unnecessary stress to the compressor and clutch assembly. I would not even consider R134-A as an option anymore. In fact, I wouldn't even use it if it was free.

sleekaman · « **Reply #13 on:** Apr 27, 2008, 05:05:43 am »

It works folks. Took the plunge and now my air conditioner for my 1985 Celica GTS using R12 is now COLD. For the 1st time in over 20+ years of me owning this car, last year, the air conditioner just stop giving me my usualy cool air. I was worried due to the lack of supply of R12 and the environment. I guessed my entire system was generally fine, but somehow the R12 may have found a way to escape. So performing the filling below, I assumed it was completely empty. I did notice my compressor was still kicking in. The site glass was showing bubles. Here is what I did. As usual Disclaimer: use at your own risk, wear protective gear, googles (supplied), cap, gas mask and cover your arms. I'm just anal about safety when it comes to something I'm not sure of.

1) Bought the Duracool kit from a Canadian Walmart, kit included everything except the refrigerant. 3 cans, 1 eye goggle, adapter and gauge. It costed me $99 Can. I also bought two Duracools refrigerant for $14.00 each. Total cost: $130 Can.

Here are the kit contents:

1.1) I also bought two cans of the Duarcool Refrigerant.

2) what I did 1st was remove the LOW side cap from the compressor. Shown here on the right side:

3) removed the cap, and connected the supplied brass adapter that just screws onto it.

4) pierced the Duracool can, and connected to the adapter, and followed the instructions. Let it out slowly, car is not running.

The can I used 1st was:

Waited for several minutes while slowly opening the tapper valve. Then started the car and air conditioner. the compressor started and clicked in several times. I again slowly continued to let more refrigerant in the system.

When it was empty, I repeated the process with the other cans.

5) Used the Duracool DuraDry Can. Which is supposed to remove the moisture within the air conditioner system.

5) used the Duracool SystemSeal Can, which is supposed to assist in general sealing of the air conditioner system.

6) this is how it looks while filling the system, should be a bit more upright than that, but I had to still take the photo.

In order of cans used: Duracool, DuraDry, DuraSeal. It comes with a Duraoil Chill can, but I didn't use it.

I'm one happy camper now. I will keep you posted if anything changes. Otherwise for further info, go to their site. http://www.duracool.com/

You know me, I don't like to advertise, but if it works for me this Gen of Celica using R12, I'm sure you can find some use for it.

Good luck.

For now, I'm feeling just COOL

sleekaman · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2009, 12:05:28 am »

UPDATE: It'x now May 25th, 2009 and car was stored during the winter, tried the air-cond, and voila, still pumping cold air.

Harvey.