AC no longer working

[Snotty]

The AC in my Newport is no longer working.

When I bought it in 2003, the AC did not work, although all was functional. Turned out the Freon level was low - had to have a leak somewhere. We re-charged the system with R12 and $75 a pound, 4 pounds. It worked great... until last September. I had it on in a McDonald's drive-through when it suddenly stopped - the compressor that is.

So, I'm thinking that after 13 years the Freon has leaked out again.

Problem: no one has R12.

Have any of you had your AC converted to 134a? Does it work well? Would you recommend it?

 

[OneEyed]

Was there any dye put in the system back on 03 to see where the leak might be? If I remember right, you need a special light to see it...ultra violet?

Would the compressor just stop running if all the freon leaked out?
Did the compressor stop or did it lock up and kill the engine as well?

Sorry to add more questions. Might as well troubleshoot my a.c. too, lol.

 

[OneEyed]

Freon shouldn't just leak out over time (but then again our cars are several decades old now). Its a completely sealed system unlike all other "fluids" on a car, or even car tires for that matter. If the freon has leaked out, then thats a sign that there is a problem. Could be an o-ring has dry rotted itself.

I might be way off though considering my formal education on A.C. systems comes from vehicles in the 1999-2001 year range.

 

[Snotty]

Was there any dye put in the system back on 03 to see where the leak might be? If I remember right, you need a special light to see it...ultra violet?

Would the compressor just stop running if all the freon leaked out?
Did the compressor stop or did it lock up and kill the engine as well?

Sorry to add more questions. Might as well troubleshoot my a.c. too, lol.

If the Freon level gets low, the expansion valve will not open. It's a safety system to prevent your compressor from running empty. There is an electric connector on the expansion valve that will shut off the compressor. That is bypassed by an AC technician in order to fill your system.

I am concluding that that is the reason mine is not coming on; it is still wired correctly.

 

[Snotty]

Freon shouldn't just leak out over time (but then again our cars are several decades old now). Its a completely sealed system unlike all other "fluids" on a car, or even car tires for that matter. If the freon has leaked out, then thats a sign that there is a problem. Could be an o-ring has dry rotted itself.

I might be way off though considering my formal education on A.C. systems comes from vehicles in the 1999-2001 year range.

Oh, I am sure there is a leak or it would not have needed filling 13 years ago. There are places on my system that are "wet," a tell-tell sign of a leak. Even so, it lasted 13 years.

I am just not certain that spending some 700 bucks to convert it is worth it if people have done so and not been happy with the results.

 

[commando1]

I've spent that and have cold A/C.
cost me:
hoses
compressor
clutch bearing
condenser
dual pusher fans
drier
evaporator
R134a

 

[Carmine]

Top off with an R12 compatible freon (if that proves to be the issue) enjoy another 13 years. Sleep peacefully because the whole "ozone hole" scare is nonsense.

There is R12 still out there, I see old 1 lb cans all the time at swap meets. I've hoarded so much I don't even bother anymore.

 

[Snotty]

I've spent that and have cold A/C.
cost me:
hoses
compressor
clutch bearing
condenser
dual pusher fans
drier
evaporator
R134a

Wow Stanley, that's the entire system. I was under the impression your could use the original compressor and evaporator.

 

[Snotty]

Top off with an R12 compatible freon (if that proves to be the issue) enjoy another 13 years. Sleep peacefully because the whole "ozone hole" scare is nonsense.

There is R12 still out there, I see old 1 lb cans all the time at swap meets. I've hoarded so much I don't even bother anymore.

My thinking exactly, if I could find some of it. I don't have the tools for installing R12, I do for 134a, but it uses a different size valve.

 

[Carmine]

My thinking exactly, if I could find some of it. I don't have the tools for installing R12, I do for 134a, but it uses a different size valve.

If you just want to top off...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/c/ref=pd_aw_fbt_263_crt

 

[Snotty]

Whatever you linked to there did not come up - it goes to a window asking me to sign up, which I don't want to do. What is it?

 

[Carmine]

Whatever you linked to there did not come up - it goes to a window asking me to sign up, which I don't want to do. What is it?

Sorry that's the risk of posting an Amazon link I guess.

They make a style of AC can tool that is a "clamp" that goes around the side of a wide range of cans and punctures the side. That's what I looked up, but then saw that Amazon wells a hose + a one pound can of "R12a" (a brand name) for $42. Try Googling that, maybe you'll see it.

 

[commando1]

Wow Stanley, that's the entire system. I was under the impression your could use the original compressor and evaporator.

Everything but the evaporator. Thank gawd......

The new compressor was a rebuilt RV2. So, same compressor, basically.

 

[commando1]

If you just want to top off...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/c/ref=pd_aw_fbt_263_crt

I have this stuff on the shelf I'm going to convert my current R134a back to:
FrostyCool 12a Refrigerant "18 oz Equivalent" - 3x cans Replacement for R134a

 

[jct]

when ever i get around do doing my a/c system gonna be replacing the condensor, better routing of the hoses off the sanden compressor and the drier

 

[Snotty]

Sorry that's the risk of posting an Amazon link I guess.

They make a style of AC can tool that is a "clamp" that goes around the side of a wide range of cans and punctures the side. That's what I looked up, but then saw that Amazon wells a hose + a one pound can of "R12a" (a brand name) for $42. Try Googling that, maybe you'll see it.

I will, thanks.

I have an AC recharging kit, but it's for 134a.

 

[Snotty]

Everything but the evaporator. Thank gawd......

The new compressor was a rebuilt RV2. So, same compressor, basically.

I am not fully understanding. Are you saying, all can be used but the evaporator, or everything BUT he evaporator needs to be swapped? It's the evaporator I would not want to touch - those are a pain! Taking the one out of the Gremlin was a pain!!!

 

[commando1]

I am not fully understanding. Are you saying, all can be used but the evaporator, or everything BUT he evaporator needs to be swapped? It's the evaporator I would not want to touch - those are a pain! Taking the one out of the Gremlin was a pain!!!

You can use R134a in the stock factory system by simply replacing the O-rings.
But that's not the way I do things.

The prior owner replaced the compressor twice. I have replaced the compressor twice. That means my car is on its fifth compressor.

Replacing the original condensor wth a high efficiency parallel flow condenser with pusher fans is recomended.

Hoses, well they're 40 years old. Are you gonna put in all that expensive refrigerant when thhe hoses are beyond their life expectancy?

You have to install a new drier and expansion valve, regardless.

 

[Carmine]

You can use R134a in the stock factory system by simply replacing the O-rings.
But that's not the way I do things.

The prior owner replaced the compressor twice. I have replaced the compressor twice. That means my car is on its fifth compressor.

Replacing the original condensor wth a high efficiency parallel flow condenser with pusher fans is recomended.

Hoses, well they're 40 years old. Are you gonna put in all that expensive refrigerant when thhe hoses are beyond their life expectancy?

You have to install a new drier and expansion valve, regardless.

You also need to remove/replace the old mineral refrigerant oil that is not carried through the system by R134a.

I would just buy something compatible with R12 and top it off.

Of course all of this is predicated by putting some gauges on the system and measuring pressures to determine how low-is-low. 0 pressure or just low enough to prohibit the compressor from engagement.

 

[commando1]

I am not fully understanding. Are you saying, all can be used but the evaporator, or everything BUT he evaporator needs to be swapped? It's the evaporator I would not want to touch - those are a pain! Taking the one out of the Gremlin was a pain!!!

I misread this question and didn't answer it correctly.
The existing evaporator doesn't need to be touched. It's fine with any type of refrigerant.