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Everything is new, so why doesnt my a/c work?

Old 05-05-2007, 10:10 AM
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Question Everything is new, so why doesnt my a/c work?

It's about that time of year. I replaced everything: evap, condenser, compressor, filter, expansion valve. But now about a week later it doesnt work. The compressor kicks on but no cold air. Plenty of coolant. Whats the deal?

Last edited by Lifelongtoy; 05-05-2007 at 10:11 AM.
Old 05-05-2007, 10:27 AM
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Did you pull a vacumum on the system before recharging it? By "filter" do you mean the reciever/dryer? What I'm getting at is there may be moisture in the system thats freezing up.
Old 05-05-2007, 11:10 AM
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Why did you have to replace everything? Did you have a major compressor failure? If so, did you clean/flush all the lines out. I have had debris get left in the lines after a major failure and days later plug up the valve. Did you "pull" really good vacuum on the system and it held it for at least 20min without a drop in vacuum? It take time to "boil out" any moisture in the system if its been opened up. As mt_goat said, even a small amount can "freeze up" your system. Whats the cycle times [on, then off] of the compressor and can you get/tell us what the High and Low side readings are? What refrigerant are you using/did you put back in, and how much?

Last edited by 1eye; 05-05-2007 at 11:15 AM.
Old 05-05-2007, 12:23 PM
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I replaced everything b/c it was old and rusted. Compressor clutch was bad and the compressor itself was original with r12. I cleaned everything and put a vacuum on for about an hour and then let it sit for an hour after to ensure no leaks. I forget the high/low readings but I will get them. I remember them being good but ill check. using 134. Yes I mean dryer. I put enough in to get the right pressure.
Old 05-05-2007, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Lifelongtoy
.... Whats the deal?

Close yer heater valve, or I should say make sure it closes
Old 05-06-2007, 07:22 PM
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it closes
Old 05-07-2007, 04:58 AM
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how did you apply a vacumn? Do you have a vac pump or some sort of tool for that purpose? Im courting an AC problem and would like to open the system up and be able to close it and vac it back up. What are you using to get a vacumn? thanks.
Old 05-07-2007, 04:03 PM
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I used a basic a/c evac from autozone. They let you borrow them.
Old 05-07-2007, 04:16 PM
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Just a wild shot here, but you do know that too much freon is as bad as too little right?

Sure you're not overfilled?
Old 05-07-2007, 04:18 PM
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I thought about that. All I have to go off of is the pressure.
Old 05-07-2007, 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Lifelongtoy
I replaced everything b/c it was old and rusted. Compressor clutch was bad and the compressor itself was original with r12. I cleaned everything and put a vacuum on for about an hour and then let it sit for an hour after to ensure no leaks. I forget the high/low readings but I will get them. I remember them being good but ill check. using 134. Yes I mean dryer. I put enough in to get the right pressure.
Is your system converted for 134? An R12 system filled with R134 can eventually leak out, i'm not sure of the specifics, but fittings, bushings and/or washers etc. will corrode over time and cause failures unless they are replaced with the correct fittings, bushings and/or washers.
Old 05-07-2007, 04:53 PM
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I converted to 134, the right way. not just changing fittings. but the pressure is there.

Last edited by Lifelongtoy; 05-07-2007 at 05:09 PM.
Old 05-07-2007, 06:26 PM
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could the expansion valve gotten clogged somehow?
Old 05-07-2007, 08:50 PM
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When reinstalling the refrigerant, the most accurate way to insure the proper amount of refrigerant is to "weight" it. Also, most convertions will have you put in more of R134 that what the old system took to operate on R12[which worked better, but kills the ozone]. How much new R134 compatible oil did you put into it? Did you upgrade the O-rings to ones that are compatable to R134, There is a differance between the two types.

Unless you have reason to believe that there would be any debris inside the system,[it was still a sealed system?] and you did not have a internal failure did you? I would say its not very likely that the exp valve/orifice is plugged.
Best Guess right now, its low on refrigerant, but to diagnose it further, we need those pressure readings and cycle times, as well as the ambient temp they where taken at.

Which: make/model/year/engine size are we looking at and how many lb/oz of R12 did the old system call for?
Old 05-08-2007, 05:39 PM
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Ok, so the high-side pressure is 45 psi, is that too high? It does not seem to cycle at all, just stays on. Maybe I didn't leave it on long enough.
Old 05-09-2007, 07:25 AM
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Or, what if there is air in the system?
Old 05-09-2007, 07:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Lifelongtoy
Or, what if there is air in the system?
Air=moisture, especially in Texas right?
Old 05-09-2007, 07:39 AM
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What confuses me is that it held a perfect vaccum for over an hour with no change. The little window on the top of the accumulator looks like there is air flowing, but I'm not sure.
Old 05-09-2007, 11:12 AM
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I'm in north Texas were it's not that humid.
Old 05-09-2007, 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Lifelongtoy
I'm in north Texas were it's not that humid.
Hmmm...I lived in Wichita Falls for 5 years, it seemed pretty humid to me. It was no Arizona or Colorado anyway.

Last edited by mt_goat; 05-10-2007 at 06:30 AM.

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