AC Repaired...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Originally Posted by EvanD
Looks like I got it done, the only problem was the instructions and cans said to hold them upright when filling and they needed to be upside down. I think most of the first can was wasted because of that. I ended up with a little less than 35psi running and when the a/c is off it goes up to 55psi.
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
I live in Florida so it's plenty humid here. So far though, it has been putting out quite cold air. The real test will be mid summer when it is 95F and 95% humidity. Theoretically one can change the condensor out to a 134a compliant condensor which has a larger surface and hold more. This would improve the performance of the cooling.
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,252
Likes: 2,892
From: Charlotte N.C.
Seems to work pretty good, I went out earlier and with the AC on normal and the lowest setting I was getting a 23 deg F reading at the vents. Beautiful day in the 70's here today.
Thanks for the help...
Thanks for the help...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola Florida
I replaced everything and I'm trying to get the system to accept the freon but it's not and I having troublr get the compressor to cycle in order for it to accept freon, any helpful hints would be appreciated.
Originally Posted by Jet-Jock
Well at the risk of jinxing my repair it may be safe enough to post this now.
Looks like I have a successful AC repair and upgrade completed. Had to replace a leaking evaporator, which includes the orifice tube, and I replaced the accumulator and all new o-rings. Upgraded to R134a as well.
It was time consuming job much like the heater core but not nearly as much of a PITA since your not having to work in a cramped area. The actual job itself was fairly easy. In summary removed the front wheel, wheel liner, fender, surge tank, washer fluid tank, and brace. Drained the coolant and disconnected the heater hoses and hoses to surge tank. At that point you have straight-on clear access. About a half dozen 10mm bolts (or hex head screws- terminology) and the passenger side half of the evaporator housing comes right off. Cleaned everything up including the nasty fan cage (it was almost black with caked dirt, its now white again!). Picked up the black textured sealant material that seals all the openings where pipes come through the housing (same stuff as the manufacture uses). Re-installed everything and added the 134a fittings.
Charging was a slight challenge after the first can with a C68 AC system you have to jumper the high pressure sensor to get the compressor to cycle on (after you clear the 09 code). Then it sucked in the required refrigerant and oil (about 80% of R12).
And it seems to get fairly cold too. Matter of fact the Vette was sitting at work this morning temps outside about 86°F, and with the cabin temp set at 66° it was at cabin temp within a couple miles and kept it cold.
Dealer wanted well over 1200. for the job, and I doubt they would have taken everything apart and cleaned it before reinstallation, and my cost was somewhere under 250. for parts and refrigerant.
Nice benefit, now the air inside smells nice and clean.
Now for the nose R&R next weekend. All materials are ready just waiting for time to get at it.
Looks like I have a successful AC repair and upgrade completed. Had to replace a leaking evaporator, which includes the orifice tube, and I replaced the accumulator and all new o-rings. Upgraded to R134a as well.
It was time consuming job much like the heater core but not nearly as much of a PITA since your not having to work in a cramped area. The actual job itself was fairly easy. In summary removed the front wheel, wheel liner, fender, surge tank, washer fluid tank, and brace. Drained the coolant and disconnected the heater hoses and hoses to surge tank. At that point you have straight-on clear access. About a half dozen 10mm bolts (or hex head screws- terminology) and the passenger side half of the evaporator housing comes right off. Cleaned everything up including the nasty fan cage (it was almost black with caked dirt, its now white again!). Picked up the black textured sealant material that seals all the openings where pipes come through the housing (same stuff as the manufacture uses). Re-installed everything and added the 134a fittings.
Charging was a slight challenge after the first can with a C68 AC system you have to jumper the high pressure sensor to get the compressor to cycle on (after you clear the 09 code). Then it sucked in the required refrigerant and oil (about 80% of R12).
And it seems to get fairly cold too. Matter of fact the Vette was sitting at work this morning temps outside about 86°F, and with the cabin temp set at 66° it was at cabin temp within a couple miles and kept it cold.
Dealer wanted well over 1200. for the job, and I doubt they would have taken everything apart and cleaned it before reinstallation, and my cost was somewhere under 250. for parts and refrigerant.
Nice benefit, now the air inside smells nice and clean.
Now for the nose R&R next weekend. All materials are ready just waiting for time to get at it.
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,252
Likes: 2,892
From: Charlotte N.C.
You have to jumper the high pressure switch if you were low on freon. Look though the posts. Real easy, you have two switches, on on the low, one on the high, junper the one that has two wire going to it, then start the engine turn on the A/C and open the valve on the freon bottle and it sucks it in....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati Oh
where did you source your parts through, for such prices?
For a complete - and I mean COMPLETE - overhaul of the A/C system (new everything), do you think it would be a better choice to pay a professional?
I was thinking of buying all the parts, plugging them together but then taking it to a shop for the charging and fill....? I've taken literally everything else apart on this car, but the A/C system still stupifies me. I'm afraid I'll screw something up and ruin the parts. I'll have to get a new compressor, accumulator and condenser from previous mistakes, and I'll likely go ahead and swap out the heater core anyway. I figure the real raping will be on actual parts costs so I'll acquire those myself and do the bolt-ins. The charging... I doubt I'll keep from fubaring that.
For a complete - and I mean COMPLETE - overhaul of the A/C system (new everything), do you think it would be a better choice to pay a professional?
I was thinking of buying all the parts, plugging them together but then taking it to a shop for the charging and fill....? I've taken literally everything else apart on this car, but the A/C system still stupifies me. I'm afraid I'll screw something up and ruin the parts. I'll have to get a new compressor, accumulator and condenser from previous mistakes, and I'll likely go ahead and swap out the heater core anyway. I figure the real raping will be on actual parts costs so I'll acquire those myself and do the bolt-ins. The charging... I doubt I'll keep from fubaring that.
Last edited by Ramanstud; Apr 16, 2006 at 11:04 PM.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Chris May at Superior Chevy 1-800-728-8267.
Well your parts are evaporator (w/orifice tube), accumulator, condensor, and compressor (and a 134a recharge kit for DIY) otherwise R12 if you have a pre-'94. I just swapped out the evaporator and accumlator because of a leak in the evap then recharged with ester oil and R134a.
It's up to you how much you want to spend and how confident you are in your abilities.
For me my situation worked great got my problems fixed, AC is good and I retro fitted it to 134a so now if the compressor goes no problem I can fix it without messing with the R12.
Well your parts are evaporator (w/orifice tube), accumulator, condensor, and compressor (and a 134a recharge kit for DIY) otherwise R12 if you have a pre-'94. I just swapped out the evaporator and accumlator because of a leak in the evap then recharged with ester oil and R134a.
It's up to you how much you want to spend and how confident you are in your abilities.
For me my situation worked great got my problems fixed, AC is good and I retro fitted it to 134a so now if the compressor goes no problem I can fix it without messing with the R12.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Originally Posted by Justardnck
Damn Lani you are turning into Mr Goodwrench
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,475
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Jet-Jock
Thanks ya'll... considering I knew squat about AC systems two weeks ago I'm fairly happy with my performance. It's kind of a challenge sometimes, can't let the fiberglazz machine beat me.
Working on the A/C was my first real task working on my vette. I had a leak or two in the system. I knew nothing about AC systems. I did quite a bit of reading on the subject.I didn't have to do a complete swap to 134a, as the previous owner already did that. My AC system wouldn't keep a charge. I had to troubleshoot the system and find the source of the leak, I had to replace a faulty sensor, pull a vacuum on the system, and then recharge. I went to Autozone to rent the vacuum and proper hoses. The deposit for the vacuum/hoses was $200.
But i got my system all working again and went back the next day and got my deposit back 
I hate the learning curve, but it pays off if i ever have to work on an AC system again.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola Florida
Here are the results of my A/C work. I jumped the low pressure and high pressure vavles and the compressure didn't kick on. I then jump the compressor and it kicked on so while it was on I charged the system but when I thought the system was charged I tried hooking the A/C back up the correct way and for some reason I didn't recieve a signal from the a/c control to the compressor, which leaves me to think the system is not charged enough or I have an open connection between the a/c control and the compressor. When I jumped the compressor the air on the inside of the vehicle was cool air.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 0
From: West Palm Beach Florida
Originally Posted by Onlya1
Here are the results of my A/C work. I jumped the low pressure and high pressure vavles and the compressure didn't kick on. I then jump the compressor and it kicked on so while it was on I charged the system but when I thought the system was charged I tried hooking the A/C back up the correct way and for some reason I didn't recieve a signal from the a/c control to the compressor, which leaves me to think the system is not charged enough or I have an open connection between the a/c control and the compressor. When I jumped the compressor the air on the inside of the vehicle was cool air.
I had a very unusuall problem last week, I installed an aftermarket stereo and everything was fine... I was out cruising and all of a sudden the a/c kicked off. I did every test in the book and nothing was showing me the problem. One of the tests in the Helms was to disconnect the battery and reconnect after 5 mins and guess what, the a/c works fine.
you should pull codes from the body computer before you pull your hair out. What year vette do you have?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Fort Myers FL
Hey Lani,
hope things are going well for you up there in the orlando region....
remember when I was up there and one of the things wrong with my car, was the AC, and had the blinking light, but wouldn't blow cold.....
Eventually it was working on and off again, but it finally quit working all together. So while I had it in for some other routine stuff, I had my local guy check out the AC, and they said it was the control head and possibly the programmer. They topped off the freon, and reset the control head and reprogrammed it, and it was blowing ice cold again. Well an hour later it wasn't blowing cold again, and was getting the code 09 again. So they reset it all again, it worked for a little while, then lost the memory again. So they said the control head was bad. A few days go by........then I call Chris May, order the control head and programmer....and wouldn't you know, that afternoon out of the blue, the AC majically starts working again. So now I have these new parts sitting at home while the AC is working......and has been working for the last 3 weeks......I guess I'll hang on to the stuff for the next time it craps out, unless it's another problem all together......oh well.
Adam
hope things are going well for you up there in the orlando region....
remember when I was up there and one of the things wrong with my car, was the AC, and had the blinking light, but wouldn't blow cold.....
Eventually it was working on and off again, but it finally quit working all together. So while I had it in for some other routine stuff, I had my local guy check out the AC, and they said it was the control head and possibly the programmer. They topped off the freon, and reset the control head and reprogrammed it, and it was blowing ice cold again. Well an hour later it wasn't blowing cold again, and was getting the code 09 again. So they reset it all again, it worked for a little while, then lost the memory again. So they said the control head was bad. A few days go by........then I call Chris May, order the control head and programmer....and wouldn't you know, that afternoon out of the blue, the AC majically starts working again. So now I have these new parts sitting at home while the AC is working......and has been working for the last 3 weeks......I guess I'll hang on to the stuff for the next time it craps out, unless it's another problem all together......oh well.
Adam
