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2001 Rx300 Air Con - Regas Or Compressor Gone?


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A/c on my other halfs RX300 is not working

The a/c red light is flashing on and off to indicate a problem.

When pushing the a/c button to the on position it operates for a second or two, then there is a clang and the light starts to flash.

Does this sound like a simple regas need or something more dramatic?

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  • 3 weeks later...

Finally got it to Kwikfit. They did a recharge but it didn't work. As soon as temp is set 20 or below a screech starts and there is a voltage drop.

Is this a major fix? And is it expensive???

If if is, bearing in mind its my wife's car , I may just suggest she open the windows (and run)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Keith;

I just had the same thing happen to my 2000 Harrier 3.0 - after a cambelt change, things were a bit rattly and I was really worried!

A couple of weeks later, however, as the weather began warming up (Sod's law!), the aircon wouldn't work - there was a brief drop in engine revs, then the light on the aircon switch started flashing, and no cold air.

I also tried a re-gas, but this made no difference.

Turns out the aircon compressor is siezed; at least it wasn't the VVTI, or something REALLY expensive rattling! I think a replacement is about £350-ish, plus fitting...

However, starting at about £85 including shipping and import duties, there are lots of used aircon compressors available on eBay.com in the USA - depending in the year of your RX, there are several part numbers; my Harrier needs a 447220-3271, which is apparently the same as an early RX300 for the US market, as well as the Toyota Highlander 4x4 and Toyota Camry, which both use the same engine.

I'd like to try a more recent part, from an RX330 perhaps, but as Mine is a Harrier, I need to be careful about any minor differences (there are differences between the Harrier and the RX engine, such as more BHP, but cam belt changes every 62,000 miles).

Eventually, with a little more research, I'm sure I'll find something suitable on eBay.

I hope this helps - best of luck sorting things out!

Roz.

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Roz, thank you for that. Ironically the car is going in today for our garage to investigate and see what the issue is and what the options are.

Do you have any suppliers websites by any chance?

Thanks

Keith

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K - yes compressor seized and have been quoted £640 incl vat, parts and labour which seems reasonable.

Looking online I came across a US supplier who can supply a brand new 5 piece kit for $295 plus shipping and I'm waiting to find out shipping to UK cost.

Our garage will then price the labour

Guess my concern is that I know that if I get our garage to do the whole thing I can come back to them if there's a problem, whereas there could be a get out if they fitted the US kit and it went wrong.

Here's the link

http://www.discountacparts.com/Lexus-RX300-AC_Kit-60~80230_RK.html#

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I'm not sure. Looking at part codes the US and UK vehicles use the same compressor and clutch etc. so they all should be suitable but it would be a slight risk. I doubt any of the US companies would know 100% if the parts fit UK vehicles.

There are a couple of kits but also more options on the individual parts. I noticed they sell the Denso OEM compressor which essentially is the original part that Lexus use.

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Thanks for your reply. It's the risk I'm concerned about. My garage will happily fit what I supply but then there's that risk.

If they source everything, and their suppliers are saying there's no availability in uk so it would come in from Poland apparently, at least it's down to them to get the car sorted. They had hoped to have it all done for Friday but phoned me late this afternoon to tell me about the sourcing problem.

I have been offered a compressor from a uk breakers at £252 delivered but I'm inclined to leave it to the garage.

We only need one car now and did think of putting in both the RX and my GS and getting something else but there's nothing really comparable!! My 2002 GS only has 92k on it and I love it, and the RX is a 2001 with only 108k on it, and she loves it! Now if only the a/c on the RX has been £1000's!!!!

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Hi Keith;

I've just bought a used Toyota Highlander aircon compressor, one of several for 2004-2007 vehicles, so, as I wanted, it'll be a few years younger than my car!

The first 6 digits of the part number 447220-xxxx seem consistent with 1MZ-FE and 3MZ-FE engines, with the second 4 digits changing by year of manufacturer and intended vehicle, (RX300, RX330, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Camry), but all physical aspects seem identical, right down to the wiring plug and where it's positioned.

The eBay.com item number for the compressor I've bought is 150601435511 - just paste this into eBay.com's search field.

The seller seems decent, and offers a 30-day warranty from delivery. It'll arrive with me between 8th and 14th August.

Total cost, including shipping and import duties pre-paid, has come to $172, which is about £102 today.

I've seen a few non-OEM compressors for sale, but I'd rather have a warranted used part than a completely unknown non-Denso one.

If you can wait a couple more weeks, I'll let you know the outcome of my cheapo fix!

I hope this helps.

All the best

Roz.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi Keith;

Please excuse the late reply - work is nuts at the mo!

I'm glad to hear you got your RX sorted - they are so well worth it, aren't they?

The eBay.com compressor arrived from the USA just over a week ago - shipping took longer than estimated. My car has an appointment with my local friendly mechanic next Wednesday, so all will become clear then.

I am very pleased with the compressor - firstly, it's clearly not seized! There seems to be no excess play in the pulley, and whilst it has the usual under-bonnet detritus on it, it seems in fine condition. It appears to be exactly right physically, even though it's a younger model than the original on my Harrier. If it works, I'll be very happy.

All being well, I'll update on Wednesday afternoon.

All the best

Roz.

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Hi Keith;

Success! I have ice-cold air in my trusty Toyota once again - most welcome on a muggy day like today.

My local friendly mechanic did the swap and re-gas for just £100, and the new compressor is as unobtrusive and effective as any Lexus part - even though it came off a Toyota Highlander!

I understand that I took a risk with a used part from a different vehicle of a later year imported from a different country, but it all seemed to add up, and I'm relieved that it has. Much of that is thanks to Toyota's sensible approach to parts - I bet you couldn't do this with many (non-Japanese) manufacturers!

Your brand new installation will no doubt outlast my cheap fix, but it gets harder to justify dealer-level interventions on a car that has such a low market value as mine, but as the basic car is so damned good, it certainly deserves a bit of inventiveness along with the obligatory TLC!

All the best

Roz.

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Great job Roz! Well done. Maybe you should post the name of the supplier in one of the main sections here?

Having given up my much loved GS as we didn't need two cars anymore I'm now driving the RX everyday. It's hard to believe its 13 years old and has 110k on it. The only thing that I miss, and this shows how good the RX is, is that the music doesn't have the automatic sound level thingy!!

All the best for the future

Keith

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