high side valve core replace
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 80
From: Fort Mill, SC
high side valve core replace
It looks like the low side can be done with a core removal tool that lets you remove without removing r134a but the high side I cant figure out.. can it be replaced somehow without doing a refrigerant recovery? Looks like its hard to get to or maybe its my imagination.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
What year Vette? Does the hi-side valve have a short r12->r134a adapter?
Sounds like you have the short adapter which puts the Schrader ~1/2" down inside the fitting.
I'm in the middle of the 134a changeover and confused whether to use the long or the short hi-side adapter. Sorry to not hi-jack your thread.
Sounds like you have the short adapter which puts the Schrader ~1/2" down inside the fitting.
I'm in the middle of the 134a changeover and confused whether to use the long or the short hi-side adapter. Sorry to not hi-jack your thread.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 80
From: Fort Mill, SC
What year Vette? Does the hi-side valve have a short r12->r134a adapter?
Sounds like you have the short adapter which puts the Schrader ~1/2" down inside the fitting.
I'm in the middle of the 134a changeover and confused whether to use the long or the short hi-side adapter. Sorry to not hi-jack your thread.
Sounds like you have the short adapter which puts the Schrader ~1/2" down inside the fitting.
I'm in the middle of the 134a changeover and confused whether to use the long or the short hi-side adapter. Sorry to not hi-jack your thread.
High side
Low side
High side
Low side
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 363
From: Central Alabama
Just my thought, I'm certainly no expert.
I would expect all the fittings to be the same from car to car. Otherwise the servicing fittings on the service equipment would have to be changed out between cars.
If that is true then any tool that can do the high side should work.
The only way it would not work would be if the shaft in the tool can't reach the valve. And if it can't reach your no worse for trying.
I would expect all the fittings to be the same from car to car. Otherwise the servicing fittings on the service equipment would have to be changed out between cars.
If that is true then any tool that can do the high side should work.
The only way it would not work would be if the shaft in the tool can't reach the valve. And if it can't reach your no worse for trying.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
How far down is the Schrader in the hi-side port?
FYI: Amazon has a Schrader valve removal tool (Mastercool 81490) with 13mm or 16mm reach.
FYI: Amazon has a Schrader valve removal tool (Mastercool 81490) with 13mm or 16mm reach.
Last edited by 65Z01; Jun 25, 2018 at 09:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 80
From: Fort Mill, SC
There is no Schrader valve in the high side port. It is a flapper valve of some sort. It is not serviceable. I had to replace the entire liquid line on my 88, but the part was still available from GM at the time. I had no idea the R-134 ports were the same deal as the earlier ports. Now I do. Put a new o-ring in the seal cap, screw the cap on tight, and add refrigerant from time to time. Probably all you can do.
EDIT/ADD: Remove the liquid line from the car and have the leaking port TIG welded shut. In the future, use one of the high-side switch ports if you really need to connect to the high side for diagnostics. I never connect to the high side on my C4 because I don't want to disturb that jankey 30 year old port valve and cause a leak that I can't get parts to fix.
EDIT/ADD: Remove the liquid line from the car and have the leaking port TIG welded shut. In the future, use one of the high-side switch ports if you really need to connect to the high side for diagnostics. I never connect to the high side on my C4 because I don't want to disturb that jankey 30 year old port valve and cause a leak that I can't get parts to fix.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 80
From: Fort Mill, SC
All righty then. If the high side isn't leaking, obviously leave it alone because it can't be serviced. I own a core removal tool for the -4 R-12 fittings and it works OK most of the time, but can be fussy if there isn't much pressure in the system to blow the core up into the tool. The tool probably costs more than the R-134 that will be lost if you don't use the tool. And no fussiness.
I'll post result because an r-22/r410 tool is very handy.
Last edited by barchetta1; Jun 26, 2018 at 06:55 PM.
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