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73 AC won't charge.

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Old Jun 2, 2020 | 04:06 PM
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Default 73 AC won't charge.

Need some help with my AC system on my 73. I installed a new S6 compressor, which is much lighter then the old A6 also installed the VIR Eliminator to convert over to 134a. I evacuated the system and it will hold a vacuum forever, so I have no leaks. The problem I am having when I go to charge the system is that it will take a can and a half of 12oz 134a and both low and high pressures go to 100psi and stop.. I know the low side should be around 30 to 40 psi and the high should be around 250 give or take. This is with a jumper on the compressor to make sure the clutch is engaged which it is. What am I over looking or doing wrong?
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Old Jun 2, 2020 | 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by khigley
Need some help with my AC system on my 73. I installed a new S6 compressor, which is much lighter then the old A6 also installed the VIR Eliminator to convert over to 134a. I evacuated the system and it will hold a vacuum forever, so I have no leaks. The problem I am having when I go to charge the system is that it will take a can and a half of 12oz 134a and both low and high pressures go to 100psi and stop.. I know the low side should be around 30 to 40 psi and the high should be around 250 give or take. This is with a jumper on the compressor to make sure the clutch is engaged which it is. What am I over looking or doing wrong?
Bad or missing expansion valve? Without a functioning expansion valve there is nothing for the compressor to work against.
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Old Jun 2, 2020 | 07:03 PM
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VIR Eliminator, does away with the expansion valve..
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Old Jun 2, 2020 | 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by khigley
VIR Eliminator, does away with the expansion valve..
well whatever is in there is not restricting the flow to vaporize it just before the evaporator...
or your compressor is not compressing...
i wouldnt jumper the clutch for long only to test..
did you put lube in? Did you manually circulate the compressor to clear oil?
You could also have let air in...
i would pull vacuum again and start over....
luckily its cheap and not r12 like mine

Last edited by interpon; Jun 2, 2020 at 08:49 PM.
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Old Jun 3, 2020 | 10:03 AM
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Old Jul 6, 2020 | 11:36 PM
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Do you have long tube headers ? If you do the A/C lines either touch the exhaust tubes or are very close and will not allow the A/C to work as the exhaust temps heat up the A/C lines
With LT's you have to bend the A/C lines so you have at least a1/2 inch clearance from the lines and the exhaust tubes
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Old Jul 7, 2020 | 07:05 AM
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Bad orifice in VIR kit. No pressure differential, no cold air.
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Old Jul 7, 2020 | 07:23 AM
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I think more likely bad comptessor. More to go wrong with a compressor. Easier to swap out and return, too...
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Old Jul 7, 2020 | 09:13 AM
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Possibly bad compressor. Wouldn't rule it out but even a bad compressor that can only build 100 psi would have 5-10 psi on low side if orifice was good unless your pressure readings are actually static pressure with the clutch engaged in which case I would agree with a wiped out compressor.
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Old Jul 7, 2020 | 09:20 AM
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the 100 psi is the slightly overcharged base pressure in the system.
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Old Jul 7, 2020 | 10:42 AM
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Swap out the orifice and try again. It's a cheap part and simple to do. Not to mention that R-134a is relatively inexpensive so I would suggest going this way.
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