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conversion van

koolkar on Thu June 27, 2013 6:21 PM User is offlineView users profile

Year: 2004
Make: ford
Model: e 350
Engine Size: v-10
Refrigerant Type: 134
Ambient Temp: 91
Pressure Low: 55
Pressure High: 201
Country of Origin: United States

have a conversion van with issues. came to me with a series of problems. first, electrical has been hot. blower switch (also control power) had a terminal burned completely off and wires were shorted together so fan ran constantly. replaced switch. second, found relays i suspect have been too hot. replaced with heavier duty relays. found power wires with discoloration. cut and replaced wires. found undersized connectors on power wires...... why in the name of....... anyway, replaced wires.

so, front a/c works great. power to all components finally, still not cooling. condenser fans working as they should, blowers both fine. am starting to suspect the expansion block at the rear of the unit is not opening to allow refrigerant to enter evaporator. hard to tell if this is the case since the front unit is functioning properly. no real fluctuation in the gage to indicate txv opening and closing. both lines off the txv are warm to touch.

this is NOT your standard conversion van but rather a complete custom van built from the ground up for a music star. it has an incredible amount of wiring and tubing going everywhere and nothing is easy to get at. add to this, components like a big screen t.v that raises from a bulkhead, amazing sound system, fridge, vibrating captains chairs, all manner of lighting and lots of "other stuff" that has wiring crammed everywhere.

thinking i'm missing something, but i'm dog tired after working in a black van in direct sunlight at 91 degrees all day.

any ideas would be appreciated. still thinking a bad txv, but maybe a solenoid somewhere i'm missing? to find parts anywhere requires disassembly of panels. most are covered with expensive leather of expensive wood. trying not to remove and replace as much as possible.

mk378 on Thu June 27, 2013 6:44 PM User is offline



Edited: Thu June 27, 2013 at 6:46 PM by mk378

mk378 on Thu June 27, 2013 6:45 PM User is offline



Edited: Thu June 27, 2013 at 6:47 PM by mk378

mk378 on Thu June 27, 2013 6:45 PM User is offline

There could be a solenoid valve. It would be in the high side line between the underhood area and the TXV. If you can reach the TXV, disconnect it, disconnect the front end of the line, then see if you can blow air through the line. If the path is clear the TXV must be bad. It should open when there is air flowing over the rear evaporator, and close down when the air stops, letting the evaporator get very cold. Stock dual air systems typically count on this effect instead of having a solenoid.

Edited: Thu June 27, 2013 at 6:48 PM by mk378

koolkar on Thu June 27, 2013 8:10 PM User is offlineView users profile

thought of a solenoid valve on the high side, and you may well be right. NOT looking forward to tracing the high side line, but think it's gonna have to happen. i've done alot of weird stuff over the years, rooftop units on cabover trucks, r.v.'s, and even a boat or two, as well as r-502 systems on custom busses. been away from the trade for a few years since i broke my neck some time ago and let myself get talked into this by a friend. lot's of "different" stuff on this van like condensor for rear air under the van and behind the rear axle with pusher fans and low/high pressure switch, accumulator, and fan relay UNDER the van, relays and fuse located behind a panel that isn't easy to remove, and power coming off of a 50 amp heavy duty breaker located UNDER the van. the wiring is nuts, and near impossible to trace any length, and heat/corrosion issues to repair as i find them.

gonna start tracing the high side line tonight after it cools down. just read where the same performer who owns this one just bought a new custom van and paid like 500,000 for it. hope i never see that one.

thanks for your response!

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