My 87 Maxima's A/C is ailing even after adding 1.5 pounds of R-12 freon. Cooling is much better after service, but not like before.

The A/C inlet screens near windshield often fill with leaves/blossoms from overhead Oleander trees. Some debris falls past the plastic screens inside the A/C. Does this debris collect in the A/C internals or does it travel down and out some vent at bottom?

Is the debris possibly degrading the cooling?
Can I clean this debris or is this something
an A/C shop MUST DO?

My 87 owners manual is not showing any deris collector or path or vent.

Thank you, Dave

 

Well, most of that stuff would most likely be sitting at the bottom of the vent inlet right now. There is a water drain there to let water out, but that is up by the screen. It will definately hinder the fan's ability to move air if it there is a lot built up. Does air movement in the car seem to be an issue? If so, it probably a good idea to clean out the duct work. Usually you can take a vacuum to the air inlet area under the dash and work the lever that switches between recirculation and fresh air. That's what I would do....anyone care to add?

S

 

 

Basically, if you look under the glovebox area on the passenger side of the car, you should see an inlet area for air to go into. Basically you can stick a vacuum hose in there, and basically while moving the hose around to pick up the stuff in there, you would operator the lever that switches the intake from fresh to recirculate a to help kick up everything in there so the vacuum can get it. That seems the easiest way to clean out everything without tearing the dash and the air ducts apart to clean everything out (or at least in my opinion). Someone else might know of a better way.

S