air conditioner blowing hot
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,768
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
Start small. If you don’t have a gage set or experience, why not hit a local A/C shop, or good garage for an evaluation? I think my guy in Orlando charged me $30 or so to tell me what was wrong.
If you want to do your own evaluation, gages are $50ish at Harbor Freight, less on Amazon and there is a wealth of information here and elsewhere on the net.
If you want to do your own evaluation, gages are $50ish at Harbor Freight, less on Amazon and there is a wealth of information here and elsewhere on the net.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
From: Macon GA
If you were closer, I'd tell you to swing by and let's look at it. I just replaced the a/c compressor on my '01 C5 Z06 due to having a belt snap and taking out the coil.
However, I do agree to use gauges. AutoZone will rent them to you and you can make sure things are in order. They also have other tools such as the vacuum pump, should you want to do the job yourself.
Jose
However, I do agree to use gauges. AutoZone will rent them to you and you can make sure things are in order. They also have other tools such as the vacuum pump, should you want to do the job yourself.
Jose
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,768
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
For proper diagnosis, you have to have a set of gages. That said, if you were to get a $25 recharge bottle -- the kind with a pressure gage -- it would tell you quite a bit, just not everything. Hooked up to the low pressure port, just like the instructions on the bottle say, but with the engine and compressor off, the gage should read quite close to the ambient air temperature. Less than ambient would indicate your charge is low. Below about 35 psi and your compressor won't even turn on. Between 35 and ambient the compressor may turn on but then turn off again when the low side drops below the cut off. My A/C was dead when I bought the car. Hooked up a recharge bottle, and it said the system was empty. Filled it to ambient, started the car and compressor. Filled to 40 psi and had cold, cold air! For an hour anyway. Stupid leaky compressor.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
The A/C in my 2000 hardtop started to lose it's effectiveness about 10 years ago and I had it serviced a few times over the next 5 - 6 years. Each time I had them add dye. It would work fine for a while and each time I took it back they couldn't find evidence of the leak so they would recharge and add more dye. Finally about 18 months ago, I told them they really needed to find the leak as the recharge/servicing wasn't lasting 6 months Amazingly they were able to find the leak this time by adding dye and running the car for a while to look for the leak. It turns out the compressor front seal was leaking and because of its location is difficult to see, especially weeks and months later.
Replaced the compressor and it has been working superbly ever since.
Good luck... GUSTO
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Lilburn GA
I would also ask them to add some dye while they're servicing the system. If there is a leak, it's one of the first things to do to try and find it.
The A/C in my 2000 hardtop started to lose it's effectiveness about 10 years ago and I had it serviced a few times over the next 5 - 6 years. Each time I had them add dye. It would work fine for a while and each time I took it back they couldn't find evidence of the leak so they would recharge and add more dye. Finally about 18 months ago, I told them they really needed to find the leak as the recharge/servicing wasn't lasting 6 months Amazingly they were able to find the leak this time by adding dye and running the car for a while to look for the leak. It turns out the compressor front seal was leaking and because of its location is difficult to see, especially weeks and months later.
Replaced the compressor and it has been working superbly ever since.
Good luck... GUSTO
The A/C in my 2000 hardtop started to lose it's effectiveness about 10 years ago and I had it serviced a few times over the next 5 - 6 years. Each time I had them add dye. It would work fine for a while and each time I took it back they couldn't find evidence of the leak so they would recharge and add more dye. Finally about 18 months ago, I told them they really needed to find the leak as the recharge/servicing wasn't lasting 6 months Amazingly they were able to find the leak this time by adding dye and running the car for a while to look for the leak. It turns out the compressor front seal was leaking and because of its location is difficult to see, especially weeks and months later.
Replaced the compressor and it has been working superbly ever since.
Good luck... GUSTO
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Thanks Dennis for asking. Lots of wind and rain, but very little damage. Still without power since last Thursday, but thankfully no flooding. Lots of folks in this area are not so fortunate. Many communities are still isolated because of flooding.
The real blessing has been all of the crews from around the country that have come to help. Without them, this would have been much worse. I can assure you their presence and efforts are greatly appreciated.
S/F, GUSTO
The real blessing has been all of the crews from around the country that have come to help. Without them, this would have been much worse. I can assure you their presence and efforts are greatly appreciated.
S/F, GUSTO