A/C troubleshooting
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
A/C troubleshooting
OK. I got everything put back together. I got everything hooked up. I took it down and had them Vac it out. Afterwards, it held the vaccum, so I know I have no leaks. Problem now is, the brand new compressor doesn't seem to kick on, and I can't charge the system. I checked the fuse, it looked fine, but I put a new 25 amp fuse in anyway just to be sure. I looked at the vaccum hoses, they look fine. I checked all the electrical connections, they look fine. The blower works, and when I turn the switch from off to Max A/C, the blower kicks on, so I think the switch is working.
Any suggestions? PLEASE!!!!! It's August in Florida
Any suggestions? PLEASE!!!!! It's August in Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,069
Likes: 83
From: Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer. Wisconsin
You will have to pull the connector off the pressure switch &
jumper it out. trace the wire from the comp. clutch to it,
& jumper it with a short piece of wire.
jumper it out. trace the wire from the comp. clutch to it,
& jumper it with a short piece of wire.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Originally Posted by steelblue shark
You will have to pull the connector off the pressure switch &
jumper it out. trace the wire from the comp. clutch to it,
& jumper it with a short piece of wire.
jumper it out. trace the wire from the comp. clutch to it,
& jumper it with a short piece of wire.
THANKS!!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
OK, the jumper seems to work and it sounds like the compressor is kicking on. Now another problem. I put a 90* low side retro-fitting on the compressor fitting assembly. For some reason, it doesn't seem to be taking any charge. When I open the cannister valve, the pressure goes up over 100, and it doesn't seem to be emptying.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Could it be that the fitting is on too tight? or too loose? How tight should these be torqued on? I'm thinking there's something blocking the juice from going in.
Obviously, I'm desparate here. I thought this was going to be an easy 20 minute job after having it vaccumed out. 4 hours later....
Obviously, I'm desparate here. I thought this was going to be an easy 20 minute job after having it vaccumed out. 4 hours later....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,069
Likes: 83
From: Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer. Wisconsin
I'm by no means an auto A/C specilist, but have done extensive
research on the subject. You MUST NOT charge the systen thru
the high pressure side. Only charge thru the low pressure side.
Do a search on dogpile or another search engine for
Auto a/c forums, thats how i found a great deal of info.
research on the subject. You MUST NOT charge the systen thru
the high pressure side. Only charge thru the low pressure side.
Do a search on dogpile or another search engine for
Auto a/c forums, thats how i found a great deal of info.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,716
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
Do you have a set of service gauges or are you using the little single charging hose that you get at the auto parts house? I think the switch you need is attached to the accumulator it is called the clutch cycling switch or low pressure switch. Make sure you are connecting your charging hose to the large line (suction) side of the system. Did you convert to 134a if so I have never seen a 90* retro fitting. I am not sure how it would work with the hose fitting having to depress the shraidder (spelling) fitting in order to allow the refrigerant into the system unless you removed the shraidder fitting from the original fitting.
Neal
Neal
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 914
Likes: 0
From: Longview Texas
also, if you are not using a set of service gauges and are using the single "hose from the bottle" type, check the fitting on the inside of the hose that goes to the schrader valve. I just had one mess up, the plunger thing is plastic and it collapsed which in turn did not push in the valve button on the a/c fitting .....
just my thoughts
just my thoughts
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
OK
I am by no means an AC expert on this either. As far as I was told, there are two places you can connect to on the low side. One is at the accumulator, which is in the fender well and a pain in the **** to get to. Especially after putting a retrofit low side fitting on. I was told that the fitting on the Compressor fitting assembly was also a low side, and as it is where the big hose come in, I believe that this is true, as the big hose is the low side hose. As far as the 90* fitting, it was bought at Napa, and he told me that it was a retro fit. It screwed right on the old fitting no problem, and has the new style quick connect for the charge. I got the 90* fitting, because the fitting on the compressor fitting assembly is pointed right at the tightening bolt, and it would have been impossible to get a regular retro-fitting and be able to get the quick connect on. I am definately not hooked to the high side, as that is up near the fender on the small line.
I am by no means an AC expert on this either. As far as I was told, there are two places you can connect to on the low side. One is at the accumulator, which is in the fender well and a pain in the **** to get to. Especially after putting a retrofit low side fitting on. I was told that the fitting on the Compressor fitting assembly was also a low side, and as it is where the big hose come in, I believe that this is true, as the big hose is the low side hose. As far as the 90* fitting, it was bought at Napa, and he told me that it was a retro fit. It screwed right on the old fitting no problem, and has the new style quick connect for the charge. I got the 90* fitting, because the fitting on the compressor fitting assembly is pointed right at the tightening bolt, and it would have been impossible to get a regular retro-fitting and be able to get the quick connect on. I am definately not hooked to the high side, as that is up near the fender on the small line.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Originally Posted by Wife'sVette
also, if you are not using a set of service gauges and are using the single "hose from the bottle" type, check the fitting on the inside of the hose that goes to the schrader valve. I just had one mess up, the plunger thing is plastic and it collapsed which in turn did not push in the valve button on the a/c fitting .....
just my thoughts
just my thoughts
JEEEEEEEZ. I need to go take my blood pressure pill. I hate when a 20 minute project is still unfinished SIX HOURS LATER!!!!!!!!!!!! ARGHHHHH!
Last edited by 79MakoL82; Aug 14, 2005 at 06:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Originally Posted by chevymans 77
Are you suing a set of service gauges?
I'm not suing anyone...yet
No, I don't have service guages. I just have the little single hose in line guage that came with the retro-fit kit. As I said, the 90* fitting came from Napa, and the quick connect goes on fine and snaps right on. When I open the valve, nothing squirts out and the pressure goes to 100, so I know the hose is connected OK. The fitting just doesn't seem to be open for the charge.
Last edited by 79MakoL82; Aug 14, 2005 at 06:11 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Not bein an A/C man, I don't know. I would assume that If I remove it, the old fitting would just close up behind it. The other question that comes to mind now is, if I can't get anything IN to the system, did the guy get anything OUT of the system when he evac'd it? He attached it to the low side and high side, but again, I don't know how these things work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,716
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
I am going to run by the local auto parts house and see if I can locate one of these fitting and take a look at it to see how it works. I will post my findings in a little while (about an hour).
Neal
Neal
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Originally Posted by chevymans 77
I am going to run by the local auto parts house and see if I can locate one of these fitting and take a look at it to see how it works. I will post my findings in a little while (about an hour).
Neal
Neal
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,716
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
Yep same thing I found at the auto parts house, the shrader fitting has to be removed in order for the 90* fitting to work. I am not sure about the fitting on the back of the compressor, is the cap that screws on it blue or red? If it is red than it is the high side if it is blue it should be the low side? The high and low side service taps are different sizes so the fitting had to be purchased for the correct tap. The easiest way to charge it may be to use the fitting on the accumulator if there is a retro fitting on it, if not you can buy just the fitting for that service tap very cheaply and charge it from there. The other option would be to remove the shrader fitting from the back of the compressor lose your vacuum and install the 90* than have them pull another vacuum.
Neal
Neal
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,716
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
You are correct that they pulled a vacuum from only one side of the system. This can be done but it would take a very long time. You would be trying to remove all the moister and air from one side of the system through a very small orifice. It would be best to pull a vacuum through both service taps.
Neal
Neal
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
In all honesty, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The old fitting is welded on to the compressor fitting assembly, so there is no way to remove the old fitting. Also, the new fitting screws right on the old fitting. The only thing missing is a pin to open the old fitting. Can the pin in the old fitting be removed so that it's just open? If there was a way to do that, I can see how the 90* fitting would work. Otherwise, I can't see how. I would like to avoid the accumulator, because it's tucked down in the fender and the nozel is very close to the wheel well and the radiator resevoir, which makes dealing with that a nightmare. If I can get a 90* fitting on the Compressor assembly, it would make charging and maintenance a snap.