A/C Work done (Evaporator Core & Expansion Valve), Double-checking auto shop's work Options

[UTSlickVic]

I have some questions regarding the A/C components behind the glove compartment (passenger side lower dash). Please note: I'm obsessive when it comes to my car and trusting others to work on my Celica is difficult for me. Can't trust mechanics these days.

I got an auto-shop to diagnose my a/c not working. It had stop working for awhile now (no a/c light but fan still operated), so when I took it to them I expected it to be the compressor. To my surprise they drained the system/recharged it w/ dye to trace leaks which resulted in the a/c to start working again! They were surprised (as was I) but said the dye would help to track down coolant leaks should the system get weak again. After a few months it started getting weak so I took it back to see where they could track down the problem. They said I had a bad evaporator core (fine, have to trust them on that). I asked that they use only Toyota parts and might as well order/replace the expansion valve; which they did.

Obsessive part: I can't trust anyone taking things off my car because usually they are not careful/don't care and -f crap up. Interior parts are hard to come by these days, so I decided to take apart the glove compartment (lower dash), that way they won't break interior pieces and what not. I'd plan to but it back together when they were done. Before I dropped it off I took photos of the disassembled lower dash, that way if I saw something out-of-sorts I could compare back to the photos. Prevents them from saying.... "it was like that when you brought it in".


So, first thing I noticed was a connector that didn't seemed to be plugged in. Compared back to my photos and sure enough they "forgot" to plug that back together... THe male end was hdden under the carpet. No biggy (plugged it back in, goo to go) but I have a question... a/c was working / cooling fine without that harness connected; Does anyone know what that harness does?


Next thing I noticed. Looking into what I think is the blower "cage" compartment... Before: The foam-filter looking thing was right up against the "cage" wall.



After: It's now up against the top of the compartment. Noticed that foam-filter is has two precut holes (I assume to hold it in place somewhere?). Does anyone know what this thing is/does and how is it supposed to be properly installed? Pictures would help a million. Today I heard a strange whooping noise every so often (sounded like someone blowing through a straw! and it wasn't a faint noise! Wonder if that thing is blocking air, causing that noise?... I dunno


Thanks Gents!

-Vic

[MaskedMan]

The "Foam filter looking thing" is a door. Change your settings from recirculating to outside air and see what happens .

[UTSlickVic]

The "Foam filter looking thing" is a door. Change your settings from recirculating to outside air and see what happens .

Ahhhh!!! That would make sense, I'll check that out and see how it works.

Thanks for that reply!