air conditioning

[trashtruck]

good news: compressor works, clutch functions.
electrical system intact.

bad news: catastrophic leak in system.
went to recharge the a/c today and it just blew 4 cans of freon right back out. won't hold pressure so probably will need o-rings at the least. worst case is complete rebuild of the system.

crap.

 

[arco777]

Sorry to hear that. Usually you can get the Freon with leak detection dye, and find out where it's coming from. A lot of times if your compressor is old enough to buy alcohol then it's probably leaking out the front seal. An AC shop can help you to quickly find the leakage spot if you can't.

 

[trashtruck]

thanks. on the plus side i did follow the sticky and replaced the bushings in the window motors so if i decide not to fix the a/c i can just roll the windows down and drive faster.

 

[trashtruck]

jumped the pressure switch connector to engage the compressor and added 2 cans of dye which were blown right back out without going through the system so now i guess i'll be doing a part-by-part inspection

 

[mekelly]

Likely causes are o-rings, pin hole in one of the hoses/lines. Front and/or body seal on compressor.

A complete o-ring kit is around $10. Get a UV llight, see where the dye is leaking, replace defective part, replace your o-rings and accumulator (since system will have been opened up), vacuum and recharge (add oil as necessary).

Should be good to go.

I just replaced my compressor, o-rings, accumulator and orifice tube. Total cost was about $175 and it blows about 39-40 degrees on a 75 degree day!

 

[trashtruck]

ok, so the compressor pulley turns, clutch engages when pressure switch is jumped but not putting out pressure. I may have found the problem.

 

[mekelly]

If you have a leak that big, you won't build up any pressure! Get a UV light, go out tonight when it's dark and you'll find a leak that size in about 2 seconds!

 

[trashtruck]

well this sucks. got the new compressor in, no problem. got the new manifold line in, no problem. went to remove the old dryer to replace it and discovered not one but two oraface tubes stuffed all the way into the evaporator. so at this point I may as well keep going with a complete rebuild of the system.

ya have ta love previous owners

 

[Number4]

Was the system holding a vacuum when...you...vacuumed it?

 

[Centaurious]

If you are going to replace everything update to the 94 parts that are designed to work with 134a and have the correct fittings. if you do this be aware that the low pressure switch is different between r12 and 134a with different tread size.

I recently replaceed the high pressure line between condenser and evaporator and a new orifice and my system will cool to 35 degrees at the vent. Don't let someone tell you that 134a won't cool. The heater bypass valve helps a great amount.

 

[mekelly]

Were the orifice tubes actually blown into the evaporator? If so, they must have been clogged up and created tremendous pressure or the previous owner shoved them in so hard, he pushed them past the lip that holds them in place.

Make sure to inspect them when you remove them. Any metal flakes, brown/black oil, etc. It will tell you much about the state of the A/C system.

 

[trashtruck]

a/c system is a total loss. evaporator clogged with 2 oraface tubes, no circulation. line from evaporator to condenser split at condenser coupling, unable to remove line remnants so condenser is shot. manifold line was replaced but unable to test. compressor pulley spins and clutch engages but does not build pressure in new manifold line. jumped pressure switch connector and plugged both ends of line with my thumbs. system not working when vehicle purchased used. system was not vacuumed. system did not hold pressure. system now removed, issue resolved.

 

[mekelly]

That's a shame but for under $300 you can put in a whole new system if you ever wanted to.

 

[trashtruck]

it's not in the budget now but will slowly pick up more parts over the summer and just replace it all. thanks everyone.

 

[Maniak]

At least I'm not the only one to see an orifice tube blown into the evaporator. My a/c worked one day and not the next.. when I went to take apart the system I couldn't find the orifice tube.. I put another one in and it worked...

Years later I changed the evaporator (got too close to it with a grinder) and a new evaporator and orifice tube went in while I was charging the system. After that I enhanced the crimp on the evaporator.... Didn't have the problem again...

I'll be re-doing the entire system this year as it's full of black death now (parts of the a/d have almost 400k miles).. A local place has all the "parts" for $550 with lifetime warranty.. I just need to do all the work...

~Mark