C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

A/C cycle issue

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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 12:13 PM
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Default A/C cycle issue

I had the A/C working fine years ago. Long story short took it off, and have decided to put it back on. Pull a vac., and all that good stuff. The compress. cycles on then off about 5-10 sec. for each. I've managed to get about 2.75 cans of R134A in it. Yes, I had it working just fine with R134 before. It's an 88 vette with electronic a/c.
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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 12:26 PM
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What is your outside temp. and what pres. are you seeing on the manifold.
High and low side. Sounds like you are under charged. With R-134 you only need about 85% of what the mfg. states
Steve

Last edited by Bulldog Steve; Aug 12, 2007 at 12:29 PM.
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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Bulldog Steve
What is your outside temp. and what pres. are you seeing on the manifold.
High and low side. Sounds like you are under charged. With R-134 you only need about 85% of what the mfg. states
Steve
....undercharged???....with 134??
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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 09:01 PM
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Get a high side reading
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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 09:07 PM
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Did you put in a new dryer and orifice tube? A lot of damage can happen to an open system in that amount of time.
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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 11:14 PM
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Your system should hold 44.0 oz. of (R-12) and 8 oz oil since you have gone over to R-134 i would start out with about 85% of 44 oz. and watch your pressure on your manifold high and low side. Rule of thumb high side pressure should be approx. 2.2 x the outside temp about 2 inches in front of your condenser. Also do you have a fan clutch it could be weak not drawing enough air across the condenser....
Steve
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Old Aug 13, 2007 | 09:19 AM
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Sounds like you need more R-134A. When you put the system back in did you put in a/c oil/lubruicant and vacate the system?
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Old Aug 13, 2007 | 01:40 PM
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If all you did was replace the drier and o tube and added 3 oz. of oil and pulled into a deep vac. and it held you should be ok. Your system holds 44.0 oz. of r-12. 85% of 44 oz is 37.4 oz of R-134 ( 3 12oz cans) that should have been added to begin with. If you where near here i would come to help you.........
Dont give up thats what we are here for to help each other.
Steve
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Old Aug 13, 2007 | 10:40 PM
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some additional info ya might want to read about;

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1561487190
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Old Aug 13, 2007 | 10:43 PM
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Originally Posted by 88_vette
Thank you all for the help. I'm going to give this deal one last try. I'll take the car to work tomorrow and pull the freon out, and pull the system apart. Check out the O tube and check for signs of metal. Then check to see if i can figure out how much oil is in the system. I'll post my findings after. Most likely followed by questions.
...how are you going to "pull the freon out"?...are you going to use a recovery machine?..i don't remember if 134 can be vented but at one time i think they said it could. however, there was talk about making it illegal to do so........some reco machines have the ability to separate the oil from the refrigerant as i have both......
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by 88_vette
I'm going to use a recov. machine from work. I work for Penske (AKA Roger Penske) We have a very nice shop with just about every machine and tool you can think of. I just hate bugging those guys this time a year. It's the busy season.
.......
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 08:45 PM
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Bryan,
Did you get anywhere with your A/C today.
Steve

Last edited by Bulldog Steve; Aug 15, 2007 at 10:41 AM.
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by 88_vette
I can only laugh at this point, and please join in. I pulled the system apart and found... That in a moment of wisdom, or lack thereof, I put the O tube in up side down. Now I know why that thing was so hard to get in. Even harder to get out. I was scared for a min. I may not get it out. When the top (aka bottom) plastic part broke off leaving the metal tube and lower (aka upper 1/2 as you know it) stuck. I'm not sure what kind of problems this could cause? I did find very fine metal on the tube. I poured the oil out of the compress. and it was clear. Looked good. I got about 6 OZ out of the compress. The dryer, however had about 2 oz of oil and that was a nice silver color. I liked the color, but not what it means.
...you have question marks after statements and i am not sure if you are indeed asking a question OR making a statement...however, if you left ANYTHING in the evaporator, you WILL have problems!!! it all has to come out..PERIOD.
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by 88_vette
Sorry about that. I forget and type in a way I send text messages, and not in correct format.

What problems wouuld the O tube cause if placed up side down as I did?
......the "O"-tube is a metering device and the reason your evaporator gets cold is because you are taking a high(er) pressure and sending it through the "o" tube. since the diameter of the evaporator "pipes" are larger, a pressure drop will ocurr and this causes cold.....the pieces and every bit of it has to come out!.....over time, they WILL find their way into the compressor and take that out, PERMANENTLY...

Last edited by Da Mail Man; Aug 15, 2007 at 08:50 PM.
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by 88_vette
Luckly I got the "O" tube out. It pretty much broke in half and I got both pieces out just fine. No left over pieces in the tube. I will flush the system out once more, and try again. I will also replace the "O" tube, and dryer. Anything I'm missing?

I used Ester oil this last time. Can I change over to Pag oil? Will the pag oil cause problems with the ester oil left over in the compress.?
....hold it...not to be insultive in any way but, do you KNOW what you are doing?.......if the orifice tube broke in the evaporator, then just flush the evaporator...

.....also, what refrigerant are you using?...that determines what oil you have to use!....you CANNOT just switch oils merely because you want to!...

....different refrigerants require different and SPECIFIC oils!......if you use the wrong oil, the ENTIRE system has to be flushed and compressor drained to remove all the "foriegn - incorrect" oil...

...i don't know how you are putting in any of the refrigerant - if using gauges or what nor do i know if you are monitoring BOTH ports on the system with same...

....you also do realize that if you have a refrigerant source connected to the gauges and you open the wrong valve, the can could very well explode causing VERY serious injuries to include blowing your hand off and even death, right?....
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