nightman06

Okay so I hooked the gauges up and got myself an infrared thermometer. With ac off the pressures match at ~55psi. With it on, now I'm getting 33L and only ~85H. Its about 65 regs out low humidity. Temps drops from 110-94 out of the condenser. Drops 192-165 passing the orifice filter. Its about 140 at the L port and about 155 in and out of the compressor. Vents are at 77.

Obviously this is a huge change in high aide pressure from when I took it to the shop. I troubleshot the gauges, they're good.

Standing by.

92GA

Looks like low on gas. Did you pull a good vacuum on this before adding gas? No head pressure no cool.

nightman06

Yes. I haven't added or removed any since the last time and when I left there it was as I stated in the opening message.

mrr23

it should yes. mine wouldn't blow cool at all until my high side was near 200 psi.

92GA

You have to have head pressure for the system to work. Does the head pressure go up when you add gas? You are either very low on gas or the compressor isn't pumping. You need to weigh in the correct charge then trouble shoot from there. Head pressure will very according to outside air temp. Look on your gauges on the 134 scale, go up the scale till you find temp add 25 degrees then look at the pressure scale, that is the minimum for your system to work at.

nightman06

Got it!

Pulled the condenser off and cleaned it. Put the system under suction for an hour and refilled it. Refilled it myself this time to ensure I was getting the appropriate amount of R134 and it is now blowing cold. Numbers are good for outside air temp and humidity. Both driver and pass vents are blowing low 30's temp.

Thanks to all who took the time to contribute. I'm happy I wont need to be swapping a new compressor.

73Corvette

WELL how cool is that...literally! Glad you got it figured out and thank you for posting your results......

92GA

How dirty was it? Glad you got it working. I know sometimes I hit a brick wall and just can't put 2+2 together myself. keep it cool.

Bill Curlee

Excellent!! What part did you clean.. The outside fins or the inside of the piping? What came out.??

BC

4XLR8N

Excellent!

nightman06

I pulled the condenser right out and sprayed/scrubbed the unit. It was pretty dirty on the outside. Plenty of junk jammed in there. I also flushed it out internally and did get some black residue in the flush fluid which I am certain is the remainder of damaged compressor which did not come out when I did a compressor swap 3 years ago. I'm not sure how much of the fix was cleaning that out and how much was me properly using the diagram to put in the CORRECT amount of r134. Either way, I will not be going back to that shop

Thanks everyone, you saved me the un-needed expense and effort of a new condenser and compressor.

73Corvette

Thank you for posting your procedure and outcome...

nightman06

Okay, I may start a new thread depending on initial feedback but I've got a constant hissing now while I operate the A/C. I understand there MAY be a hiss at the system equalizes upon engine shutdown, but this is consistent while the ac is on. It sputters sometimes while operating but always hissing. This is new. Never had this before regardless of whether the ac was operational or not.

Too much r134?
Leak?
Bad orifice tube (just replaced it but maybe bad brand)??

92GA

It may be possible for you to hear the refrigerant going thru the orifice depending on how good your ears are. Can you tell if it's in the line or maybe a vacuum leak. Do you hear it in the car or under the hood? I'm not going to be much help on this one as I've been hard of hearing for a long time. I started wearing hearing aids last year but don't wear them in the garage, so I'll just see where this goes.

Bill Curlee

What are the system pressures when its operating?

BC

nightman06

I've got good hearing, but not this good. It's a clear hissing, clear enough that it takes two levels of speed on the vent to drowned it out. Locating the hiss is a little more difficult. From the drivers seat it sounds like it could be coming from the defrost vent. From the passenger seat it sounds like its coming from up under the glove box. I can hear it under the hood (barely) and it sounds like it is coming either from the drier area or behind the manifold (not visible).

The sound itself, as best I can describe it, comes on strong and steady for about 3-4 secs when I turn on the AC, then goes a little quieter and sputters. Then when I turn it off it picks up again to steady and dies off over about 7-8 seconds. This definitely sounds like pressure either bleeding off or equalizing. But why would it be doing it while its operating.

Bill, pressures read 34/205 @ 68 degs 70ish humidity and 2k RPMS.

Bill Curlee

Are you sure that you got the Vacuum line on the back of the manifold back on correctly??

BC

nightman06

Definitely cant say without looking, but would that ONLY make a hissing when the AC is on? Because this hissing only happens in association with AC. It goes away completely in normal vent mode. Also, suction for the vent movement is good. No leaking there.