AIR CONDITIONING


  1. AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL PANEL


    1. General


      1. A push-button type air conditioning control panel (multi-media module receiver assembly) is used.

      2. The rear air conditioning control assembly (No. 2 air conditioning control assembly) has been relocated to the center rear seat armrest assembly of the second seat.

    2. Air Conditioning Control Panel


      1. An A/C switch and 4-zone switch have been used on the top screen.

      2. An eco air conditioning mode ON/OFF switch has been provided except models for Europe for suppressing the cooling and heating operations, allowing the users to turn on or off the eco air conditioning mode arbitrarily.

      3. The set temperatures for the driver seat and front passenger seat and outside temperature are displayed on the accessory meter assembly.

      4. Along with the use of the right/left independent temperature control, the temperature control switches for the driver and the front passenger have been located closer to the respective seats to enhance their ease of use.

      5. Along with the adoption of the pollen removal mode, a pollen removal switch is provided.

      6. The rear air conditioning can turn ON or OFF using the accessory meter assembly.

        Figure 1. Accessory Meter Assembly

        A01W7J4C01
        *A Except Models for Europe - -
        *1 A/C Switch *2 4-ZONE Switch
        *3 Eco Air Conditioning Mode ON/OFF Switch - -

        Figure 2. Air Conditioning Control Panel (Multi-media Module Receiver Assembly)

        A01W7GJ

    3. Rear Air Conditioning Control Assembly


      1. The set temperatures for both seats and the operation mode for the rear air conditioning can be adjusted by individually operating the switches arranged on the rear air conditioning control assembly.

      2. The set temperatures for the rear air conditioning zone and both seats are displayed on the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) rear air conditioning control assembly.

      3. A wood-grain panel has been adopted for the No. 2 air conditioning control assembly.

        A01W73B

  2. AIR CONDITIONING UNIT


    1. Front Air Conditioning Unit


      1. A semi-center location air conditioning unit, in which the evaporator and heater radiator are placed in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, is used. As a result, the air conditioning unit has been made compact and lightweight.

        A01W734C01
        *1 Evaporator *2 Heater Radiator
        *a Front *b Side View
        *c Top View - -

    2. Heater Radiator


      1. A compact, lightweight, and highly efficient SFA (Straight Flow Aluminum)-II type heater radiator is used.

        A01W7UW

    3. Evaporator


      1. An RS (Revolutionary super-slim Structure) evaporator is used.

      2. By placing the tanks at the top and the bottom of the evaporator unit and adopting a micropore tube construction, the following effects have been realized:


        • The heat exchanging efficiency has been improved.

        • The temperature distribution has been made more uniform.

        • The evaporator has been made thinner. 90 mm (3.5 in.)?50 mm (1.9 in.)

      3. The evaporator body has been coated with a type of resin to reduce foul order caused by the propagation of bacteria and odor on the evaporator surface. The substrate below this coating consists of a chromate-free layer to help protect the environment.

        A01W739C01
        *1 Tank *2 Micropore Tube
        *3 Cooling Fin - -
        *a Aluminum Matrix *b Chromate Free Layer
        *c Base Resin Layer *d Hydrophile Resin

    4. Evaporator Temperature Sensor


      1. The evaporator temperature sensor detects the temperature of the cooling fin immediately past the evaporator in the form of resistance changes, and outputs it to the air conditioning amplifier.

    5. Blower Motor


      1. The blower motor has a built-in blower controller, and is controlled with the duty control from the air conditioning amplifier.

    6. Air Mix Control Door


      1. A compact rotary air mix control door has been provided.

      2. This door is independently arranged on both the left and right sides of the front air conditioning unit. Moreover, 2 sets of doors are individually arranged on the warm and cold air sides. Unlike the conventional open/close type damper, all doors are designed to be openable and closable while rotating, thereby minimizing the operational space and making the front air conditioning unit more compact.

        A01W7O6C01
        *1 Cool Air Bypass Door *2 Cool Air Side Door
        *3 Warm Air Side Door - -
        *a Front *b Cool Air Side
        *c Warm Air Side - -

    7. PTC Heater


      1. The PTC heater is located above the heater radiator in the air conditioning unit.

      2. The PTC heater consists of a PTC element, aluminum fin, and brass plate. When current is applied to the PTC element, it generates heat to warm the air that passes through the unit.

        A01W7RHC01
        *1 Aluminum Fin *2 Brass Plate
        *3 PTC Element - -

    8. BUS Connector


      1. A BUS connector is used in the wire harness connection that connects the servomotor from the air conditioning amplifier.

        A01W7GOC01
        *1 BUS Connector - -
        *a To Air Conditioning Amplifier *b To Mode Control Servomotor (Rear)
        *c To Air Mix Servomotor (Rear LH) *d To Air Mix Servomotor (Driver)
        *e To Mode Control Servomotor (Driver) - -

      2. The BUS connector has a built-in communication/driver IC which communicates with each servomotor connector, actuates the servomotor, and has a position detection function. This enables bus communication for the servomotor wire harness to realize a more lightweight construction and a reduced number of wires.

        A01W7S0C01
        *A With BUS Connector *B Without BUS Connector
        *1 Air Conditioning Amplifier *2 Communication IC
        *3 CPU *4 Driver IC
        *5 BUS Connector *6 Communication/Driver IC
        *7 Servomotor - -

    9. Servomotor


      1. The pulse pattern type servomotor consists of a printed circuit board and servomotor. The printed circuit board has three contact points, and transmits to the air conditioning amplifier two ON-OFF signals for the difference of the pulse phase. The BUS connector detects the damper position and movement direction with this signal.

        A01W7FHE01

    10. Clean Air Filter


      1. A clean air filter (pollen removal type) is used. This filter excels in the removal of dust and pollen. The filter is made of polyester. Thus, it can be disposed of easily as a non-hazardous combustible material, which is a feature that is provided in consideration of the environment.

        A01W7NBC01
        *1 Clean Air Filter - -
        *a Large Foreign Object Layer *b Electret Layer (Microscopic Foreign Object Filtration)

        Tech Tips


        • The filter should be changed at 30,000 km (18,000 miles) under normal conditions [cleaning interval: 10,000 km (6,000 miles)*]. Under dusty conditions, the filter should be changed at 15,000 km (9,000 miles) [cleaning interval: 5,000 km (3,000 miles)].

          *: 15,000 km/h (9,000 miles) for New Zealand package models

        • However, observation of these guidelines should depend on the usage conditions (or environment).

  3. REAR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT


    1. The rear air conditioning unit is located in the left quarter trim.

    2. The rear air conditioning unit consists of the evaporator, heater radiator, air mix servomotor, mode control servomotor, evaporator temperature sensor, rear blower controller and rear blower motor.

    3. The evaporator and heater radiator are arranged horizontally to allow the airflow to be directed smoothly upward.

    4. The mode control servomotor operates the laminate sliding type mode control door, and the air mix servomotor controls the full air mix type air mix doors.

    5. The evaporator has the same RS (Revolutionary super-slim Structure) as the front evaporator.

    6. The heater radiator is the same SFA (Straight Flow Aluminum)-II type as the front heater radiator.

    7. The evaporator temperature sensor detects the temperature of the cool air immediately past the evaporator in the form of resistance changes, and outputs it to the air conditioning amplifier.

    8. As in the front air conditioning unit, the servomotor fitted to the rear air conditioning unit is connected to the air conditioning amplifier with the BUS connector due to the lightweight construction and a reduced number of wires. Furthermore, the pulse pattern type is used for both the front and rear air conditioning units.

    9. The porous duct excellent in sound absorption property is provided in the air inlet duct to improve quietness in the cabin. The cross section of the porous duct consists of two layers. The inner polyethyleneterephtalate layer absorbs noises produced by the air conditioning unit and the outer felt holds the duct shape.

      A01W73IC01
      *1 Blower Motor *2 Rear Blower Controller
      *3 Evaporator *4 Rear Evaporator Temp. Sensor
      *5 Air Mix Servomotor *6 Mode Control Servomotor
      *7 Heater Radiator *8 Air Mix Door
      *9 Mode Control Door (Laminate Sliding Type) - -
      *a Face *b Foot

  4. CONDENSER


    1. An MF (Multi-Flow) type condenser is used. This is a multi-flow condenser consisting of three portions: a condensing portion, a super-cooling portion and a gas-liquid separator (modulator) all integrated together. This condenser uses a sub-cool cycle for its cooling cycle system to improve heat-exchanging efficiency.

    2. In the sub-cool cycle, after the refrigerant passes through the condensing portion of the condenser, both the liquid refrigerant and the gaseous refrigerant that could not be liquefied are sent to the modulator. In the modulator, the gaseous refrigerant is separated from the liquid refrigerant. Then, the gaseous refrigerant is cooled again in the super-cooling portion. Thus, the refrigerant is sent to the evaporator in an almost completely liquefied state.

      A01W7R4C01
      *1 Modulator *2 Super-Cooling Portion
      *3 Condensing Portion - -
      *a Gaseous Refrigerant *b Liquid Refrigerant

      Tech Tips


      • The point at which the air bubbles disappear in the refrigerant of the sub-cool cycle is lower than the proper amount of refrigerant with which the system must be filled. Therefore, if the system is recharged with refrigerant based on the point at which the air bubbles disappear, the amount of refrigerant would be insufficient. As a result, the cooling performance of the system will be affected. If the system is overcharged with refrigerant, this will also lead to a reduced performance.

      • For the proper method of verifying the amount of the refrigerant and for instructions on how to recharge the system with refrigerant, refer to the Repair Manual.

      A01W7OQE01
      *1 Properly Recharged Amount
      *2 High Pressure
      *3 Point in which Bubbles Disappear
      *4 Amount of Refrigerant

  5. A/C COMPRESSOR


    1. General


      1. A 10SR19 A/C compressor has been provided, which features a compact, lightweight and low-noise swash plate design.

      2. The A/C compressor consists of the A/C pulley, shaft, lug plate, swash plate, piston, shoe, crank chamber, cylinder, and lock sensor.

      3. The lock sensor sends an A/C compressor speed signal to the air conditioning amplifier. The air conditioning amplifier compares this signal with an engine speed signal sent from the crankshaft position sensor. If the air conditioning amplifier determines that the A/C pulley has locked, the air conditioning amplifier turns the magnetic clutch off.

      4. A rotary valve capable of directing suction refrigerant into the cylinder has been provided.

        A01W7IXC01
        *1 Pulley with Magnetic Clutch *2 Lock Sensor

    2. Rotary Valve


      1. In order to eliminate suction loss, the rotary valve has been replaced with a conventional suction valve.

      2. A hollow shaft is used in the valve so as to allow refrigerant to be sucked into the compressing section of the cylinder through the hollow section. Holes individually arranged on the shaft and cylinder are designed to align during the rotation of the shaft. When the holes are aligned, refrigerant is sucked into the compressing section.

        A01W7DXC01
        *1 Piston *2 Shaft
        *3 Lug Plate *4 Housing
        *5 Suction Section *6 Compressing Section
        *7 Cylinder - -
        *a Refrigerant Flow - -

        Figure 3. Image of Valve Operational Behavior During Suction

        A01W7GKC01
        *1 Cylinder *2 Cylinder Bore
        *3 Cylinder Suction Passage *4 Shaft
        *5 Rotary Valve Suction Port - -
        *a Refrigerant Flow *b The position where the rotary valve suction port and cylinder suction passage become aligned

  6. SUBRMCOOL ACCELERATOR (DOUBLERMPIPE INTERNAL HEAT EXCHANGER) SYSTEM


    1. General


      1. A sub-cool accelerator (double-pipe internal heat exchanger) system has been provided. This system consists of an inner pipe and an outer pipe which are changed from the conventional refrigerant pipes (liquid and gaseous refrigerant pipes).

      2. The cooling performance can be enhanced by occurring heat exchange by utilizing temperature difference of refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle and further cooling the refrigerant discharged from the condenser.

        A01W7YXC01
        *A New Model *B Conventional
        *1 Condenser *2 Compressor
        *3 Engine *4 Evaporator
        *5 Expansion Valve *6 Sub-Cool Accelerator System
        *a Outside Air *b Inside Air
        *c High-Temp, High-Pressure Liquid Refrigerant *d Low-Temp, Low-Pressure Gaseous Refrigerant

    2. Refrigerant Pipe


      1. The refrigerant pipe consists of inner and outer pipes, and thus heat exchange can occur by utilizing the temperature difference between low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant flowing inside the inner pipe and high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing between the inner and outer pipes. Furthermore, a spiral groove is formed in the pipe in order to attain further effective heat exchange.

        A01W7Z6C01
        *a High-temp, High-pressure Liquid Refrigerant *b Low-temperature, Low-pressure Gaseous Refrigerant
        *c to Compressor and Condenser *d to Evaporator

  7. COOLING BOX


    1. General


      1. The cooling box is available in the center console box as an option.

      2. The cooling box employs a method of intermittent refrigerant flow control, which regulates the refrigerant flow by switching the magnetic valve ON/OFF for both the front air conditioning and cooling box evaporators, in accordance with the operational conditions of the air conditioning system and cooling box. However, the cooling box employs a method of a continuous refrigerant flow control, which regulates the refrigerant flow through the ejector located in the refrigerant pipes, thereby ensuring high air conditioning performance and cooling efficiency.

        Figure 4. System Diagram

        A01W7BWC01
        *A New Model *B Previous Model
        *1 Condenser *2 Compressor
        *3 Cooler Expansion Valve *4 Ejector
        *5 Evaporator (For Front Air Conditioning Unit) *6 Fix Squeezing Valve
        *7 Magnetic Valve *8 Evaporator (For Cooling Box)
        *9 Expansion Valve *10 Check Valve

    2. Ejector


      1. The ejector includes nozzle, mixing and diffuser portions.

      2. A high temperature, high pressure liquid refrigerant flowing from the condenser is guided into the mixing portion through the nozzle portion at high speed as the nozzle is inwardly tapered.This tapered nozzle allows the refrigerant pressure around the nozzle to decrease while guiding a low temperature, low pressure gaseous refrigerant into the nozzle portion from the evaporator (for cooling box). Thus, refrigerant from the condenser and the evaporator are mixed in the mixing portion and then sent to the diffuser portion.

      3. As the diffuser section is outwardly flared, the refrigerant flow rate in the diffuser decreases and the refrigerant pressure rises.

      4. Under this operational mechanism, the refrigerant pressure in the cooling box can be kept lower than in the front air conditioning unit even if refrigerant is continuously flowing. Moreover, the refrigerant can be kept at a low temperature, thereby achieving high cooling efficiency and air conditioning performance.

        A01W74XC01
        *1 Cooler Expansion Valve - -
        *a to Evaporator *b from Cooling Box

        Figure 5. Operational Concept for Ejector

        A01W73AE01

  8. A/C PRESSURE SENSOR


    1. The A/C pressure sensor detects the refrigerant pressure and outputs it to the air conditioning amplifier in the form of voltage changes.

  9. ROOM TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SENSOR


    1. A room temperature sensor is installed on the instrument panel and right and left quarter trims.

    2. The room temperature sensor detects the room temperature based on changes in the resistance of its built-in thermistor and sends a signal to the air conditioning amplifier.

    3. An ambient temperature sensor is provided in front of the condenser.

    4. The ambient temperature sensor detects the outside temperature based on changes in the resistance of its built-in thermistor and sends a signal to the air conditioning amplifier.

  10. AIR DUCT SENSOR


    1. The air duct sensor, fitted to the air duct connected to both left and right rear heater registers, detects the air outlet temperature in accordance with the changes in the resistance of the thermistor built into the sensor and sends the signals to the air conditioning amplifier.

  11. SOLAR SENSOR


    1. The solar sensor is fitted onto the instrument panel.

    2. The solar sensor consists of a photo diode, two amplifier circuits for the front solar sensor, and a frequency converter circuit for the light control sensor.

    3. A solar sensor detects (in the form of changes in the current that flows through the built-in photo diode) the changes in the amount of sunlight from the LH and RH sides (2 directions) and outputs these sunlight strength signals to the air conditioning amplifier.

      A01W7EFC01
      *1 Sensor Portion *2 Photo Diode
      *3 Frequency Convert Circuit *4 Amplifier Circuit (LH)
      *5 Amplifier Circuit (RH) - -
      *a LH Side *b RH Side
      *c Internal circuit of the front solar sensor *d To Main Body ECU
      *e To Air Conditioning Amplifier Assembly - -

  12. SMOG VENTILATION SENSOR


    1. The smog ventilation sensor detects harmful elements such as CO, HC, and NOx, which are present in the air outside of the vehicle. The sensor outputs it to the air conditioning amplifier.

    2. The sensitivity of the smog ventilation sensor can be adjusted. For details, refer to the Repair Manual.