Originally Posted by
7milesout
I recall now a question I had about the Mirage's A/C system. While recharging the Lexus, it has a handily placed refrigerant sight window. It rolled cloudy for a long time while recharging. I had always heard it should run clear when running properly. Somewhere in the last maybe 15% of refrigerant being added, indeed the sight glass window went perfectly clear. And my automotive A/C thermometer I placed in a vent during the recharging went into the green target zone.
It sure made a redneck feel good to see that window go clear. Based on that, and the fact that the Mirage's A/C doesn't feel as capable (at idle especially) as the Lexus A/C, I popped the hood on the Mirage. I was going to crank it, run the A/C, and observe the sight window. First I looked and found that 270 gram (it actually read 0.270 kg) sticker, and then looked for a sight glass window. I DID NOT find a sight glass window. Usually they are near the dryer, before or after I cannot remember. But I couldn't find a sight glass window and had to get back to what I was doing (recharging the Lexus A/C).
Does anyone know if our system has a sight glass window and where it is? I found the High and Low ports of course. A sight glass window is not mandated, and leaving it off would be a cost savings. So I suppose it may not have one.
BTW - I believe I read that the previous Mirage's refrigerant capacity was 260 grams. Maybe that was up to 2017 or 2018, whenever that minor model change happened.
I've never seen a sight glass on these cars. I think our 1995 L8000 has a sight glass? I don't recall seeing one in anything I've owned, mostly 90's-2000's junk though.
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View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)