A tiny bit of history on the MANA AC evaporator
 

Hello all -

So, I just took a MANA AC evaporator box (the part under the dash) for a thorough cleaning. With the whole thing apart, there is a stamp on the top that says "ZEXEL Made in Japan" and another with a production date of July 27, 1993.

Zexel made automotive AC parts as a supplier to OEM's in the late 80's and through the 90s. Specifically they had a plant in Texas that made AC parts for, among others, Mazda.

Zexel was purchased and absorbed by Bosch in 2000.

So, it makes sense that the US port installed MANA AC system was made by a Japanese supplier in the US.

Also makes sense why parts (especially receiver/dryers) dried up as the company is really no longer around. Whereas the Japanese-installed all Nippondenso system you can still get parts (like the receiver dryer and expansion valve).

I'm probably the only person that will find this interesting, so there ya go :).

Dale

:popcorn:

I liked it. Background history with cars is valuable and your info is good for those in the future struggling to understand why there are different AC systems in these cars.
The additional part of the story that most know but is helpful to add to complete the story for this thread Is that all cars in the US were to have AC. So when the ones that didn't include it from the Manufacture had them installed at the Port. This required a supply of parts and apparently it was easier to have a more local supplier provide the retrofitted AC parts.

Dale, you are a true asset to the community my friend!

I look up to you, both figuratively..... and literally :D

Dale,

Do you know anything about the A/C on the '95 models? They're r134a I presume. Who made the system? Is it Denso?

All I learned yesterday is up above :). I just got lucky seeing that Zexel stamp on the inside of the evaporator.

I know all FD AC compressors are made by Nippondenso. Not sure if the rest of the system is on 95's, they're such a unicorn I don't think I've ever worked on one.

Dale

The AC compressor is a Denso TV14C which also happens to be on a similar year Toyota paseo/Tercel. I happen to find the pressure relief valve for one at Advance Auto for a smooth $17 (discontinued through mazda). The AC compressor is the same part for both r12 and r134 vehicles. I'm sure some other parts are made available aftermarket through parts stores too.

Good to know that if my evaporator ever implodes, I can get a Bosch "OEM" one! Thanks for this info Dale!

Matt

are the fittings on the AC compressor the same on Denso and Mana systems?

I thought 96 was the year the R12 went away. Same year as OBDII was implemented?

Some 95's had R134A from the factory. They are rare.

AFAIK, the fittings at the compressor are the same. It's your condenser and drier lines that are going to be different. Both shape and SAE/metric.

Matt

my '95 has factory R134a. Blows cold. Previous owner hardly ever used it, so I have no idea when it was last charged, but it did great in Palm Springs with about 95F outside.

The MANA and Nippondenso systems only share the compressor in common. EVERYTHING else is different - threads on the lines, receiver/dryer, condensor, evaporator, expansion valve, everything.

I was under the impression all 95's had R-134a systems, but 95's are so rare that it's hard to say for sure. It may have changed at a certain VIN/production date.

Dale

Just to throw another (mis)understanding onto the pile... I thought 1994 was a changeover year (half got R12 and half got R134) and all 1995s were R134.

I owned a 1994 with R134 - and was under the impression that's how it came from the "factory".

Where can you purchase the denso drier from? And what's the part number?

The Denso drier is available at any auto parts store for about $20. Seriously, they have it in stock.

Call around local stores, it would have to be a bigger one that stocks AC driers, but it's crazy easy to find. Just ask for one for a 93 RX-7.

The MANA drier isn't available for love or money, however.

Dale

I keep running into this company that lists two different driers, one Nippon Denso for $45, and one that specifically says it's for the Mana design for $195. I've never had to guts to try and order it though. The reference picture clearly shows a Denso drier. The could be an error as they have different part numbers.

http://www.discountacparts.com/addto...~60-30557.asp#

Attachment 751447


I'm pretty sure I found the Mana expansion valve on eBay though:

A/C Expansion Valve OE Brand New fits Nissan 200SX Mazda 323 Subaru Infiniti

Well, that's awesome. I just called them and they don't have the mana drier in stock but continue to keep that listing on their website to provide false hope to the masses.

I'm about THIS close to getting my own pad mounts CNC'd and selling adapter lines but I have this distinct feeling that everyone wouldn't want to buy them. FD owners are pretty cheap nowadays.

Make it. I would buy one lol

+1

I would buy a few!

Dale

134
 

Attachment 725303

Attachment 725304


Both the 94 and 95 Troubleshooting manuals discuss the existence of the 134a system.

The 1995 Denso system with 134a had an upgraded condenser and evaporator. The upgraded 95 condenser and evaporator had more and deeper fins than the condenser and evaporator from the 93/94 R12 systems.

I have heard that the upgraded 1995 Denso condenser can be used on an 1993/1994 Denso system. But, haven't tried it myself. So, the easiest way to tell if your system originally came with 134a is to look at the condenser and compare it to the stock condenser in a 1993. If you are changing over your Denso system from R12 to 134a, and you are concerned about efficiency, you might look into getting the upgraded 1995 condenser.

I enjoyed the history lesson... but I'm not sure which one Canadian FDs have. I'm assuming they are the same as the US cars.

Is it wise to ditch my mana system and just fully convert to newer denso with new parts?