Air Con Filter

May 26, 2004

Hi

I have 1999 1800 Auto Avensis, I have only had it a couple months and because of the recent nice weather I am now wondering whether the air con is working properly.

The owners handbook says check the filter and I have tried!

That’s the problem where is it? The handbook makes it appear as if it’s in the drivers side foot well to the right of the pedals. I think this is not so as the owners handbook is probably showing a left hand drive foot well.

So I then looked in the passenger foot well, I peeled back the carpet as instructed and could not find a filter to pull out, what I found I believe is probably the heater box.

Can anybody out the please give me some advise on this?

Also the air con seems quite weak, only being slightly colder with it on than with it off. Is this usual?

Pete

May 26, 2004

I think you need to remove the glove box and it's behind that. I'm only about 70 % on this though so wait for someone else to confirm / deny.

May 27, 2004

I have fairly recently bought an avensis of similar age, havent looked for the filter but will do now you have given me the impetus to search.

On the cooling side you should feel a noticeable differnce when it is on. (22.C ambient down to 8.C coming out of the vents on mine).

When I bought mine I wondered the same, the air seemed only slightly cooler. On investigation I found that air con wasn't actually working. On all air con systems in cars a small amount of the gas leaks out each year through braided hoses and past shaft seal on compressor with the net result after a few years it stops working. You can usually tell by looking at the air con pump pulley when the engine is running and the air con is on. The outer section of pulley is driven by the belt and the inner section section is driven by a clutch that engages when there is enough gas pressure in the system(amoungst other things). If enough of gas has leaked out a pressure switch will prevent the clutch from engaging.

In this case a recharge is needed.

June 21, 2004

Filters are behind the center console, you get to them from the drivers side, pull the carpet back same as you did on the passenger side. Mine was full of leaves, once cleared and filters vacuumed the air con works far better.