A/C issue

[daprotege5]

So when i first got the truck a/c was amazing. i replaced the engine and i'm assuming from moving the compressor and a/c lines around something might have gotten loose.

i was thinking of changing the o-rings on the lines?? but wasnt sure of the process cause obviously thats gonna let out all the freon.

how would i go about discharging the system and is filling it back up just a simple as recharging it.

anything i should maintenance or clean in the a/c system??

 

[Buckaroo]

You should recharge with dye and do a leak test to locate the leak. Alternatively, you could use a sniffer. Best not to guess. This is the kit I have...
Amazon.com: MASTERCOOL 53351-B Professional UV Leak Detector Kit with 50W Mini Light, Black : Automotive

 

[daprotege5]

haven't messed with it yet, have just been doing research....

my symptoms right now, drivers side not so cool air, passenger alot cooler, i had attempted to recharge at a friends house so last time i filled it up, the high side was reading up in the 200's and than the ac would purge something out around the compressor (almost like a NOS spray) and would drop to 175.

a/c ran fine for a little bit and than started doing the same thing again recently on a 4 wheeling trip, i was towing a trailer and both vents were pushing out hot air, which i'm assuming is from the added stress of hauling a trailer but it sucked being in florida with no a/c. that was like two weeks ago, took it for a spin today and a/c is back to the hot on one side and cool on the other.

i'm assuming from moving the a/c compressor and its lines around, as well as stepping on the lines while i was changing the motor out a couple months ago might have caused a slight leak.

i'm wanting to change the a/c orings anyway since its a pretty easy step, but my question is can i avoid discharging the current freon in there???

if i did discharge the system, do you add oil to the compressor????

i can borrow most of the tools needed, and will probably rent out the vaccum pump.

 

[eleven14]

haven't messed with it yet, have just been doing research....

my symptoms right now, drivers side not so cool air, passenger alot cooler, i had attempted to recharge at a friends house so last time i filled it up, the high side was reading up in the 200's and than the ac would purge something out around the compressor (almost like a NOS spray) and would drop to 175.

a/c ran fine for a little bit and than started doing the same thing again recently on a 4 wheeling trip, i was towing a trailer and both vents were pushing out hot air, which i'm assuming is from the added stress of hauling a trailer but it sucked being in florida with no a/c. that was like two weeks ago, took it for a spin today and a/c is back to the hot on one side and cool on the other.

i'm assuming from moving the a/c compressor and its lines around, as well as stepping on the lines while i was changing the motor out a couple months ago might have caused a slight leak.

i'm wanting to change the a/c orings anyway since its a pretty easy step, but my question is can i avoid discharging the current freon in there???

if i did discharge the system, do you add oil to the compressor????

i can borrow most of the tools needed, and will probably rent out the vaccum pump.

Is there dye in the system currently? Your symptoms (aside from the compressor discharge you describe) are similar to a leaking evaporator core but, as suggested, dye would pinpoint the issue.

That said, you'll need to discharge the system to swap o-rings, the preferred way is to capture/reclaim the refrigerant but you may not have access to the correct equipment. Swap o-rings and recharge again (add dye if you go this route). You'll also need a new drier/dessicant since the system will have been opened.

Hope that helps

 

[daprotege5]

When i was looking for stripped wires under the dash the evaporator caught the corner of my eye since its the only shiney thing in there, had me thinking if it was changed or not; from how clean it looked. but will never know.

anyway besides the evaporator should i replace any other parts since the system is going to be discharged anyway.....

also do you still use the vaccum at this point?? cause wouldn't their still be freon in the system lines from just changing the orings... (orings should come in this weekend)

just trying to figure the plan of attack on this bad boy....

 

[eleven14]

When i was looking for stripped wires under the dash the evaporator caught the corner of my eye since its the only shiney thing in there, had me thinking if it was changed or not; from how clean it looked. but will never know.

anyway besides the evaporator should i replace any other parts since the system is going to be discharged anyway.....

also do you still use the vaccum at this point?? cause wouldn't their still be freon in the system lines from just changing the orings... (orings should come in this weekend)

just trying to figure the plan of attack on this bad boy....

Yeah, you'll want to pull a vacuum anytime the system is open. It removes moisture and also confirms the system isn't leaking after swapping parts.

When I did my evaporator core, I also swapped the expansion valve, condenser (which came with a new drier) and schrader valves.

 

[V8Man]

Anytime you open the system you should replace the desiccant packet.

 

[daprotege5]

ordered the dissenient packet, also went ahead and put in some uv die so gonna give it a day or two and start searching for leaks.

my high side was reading around 150 today, was around 170-175 last time i filled with freon, went to recharge some got it to around 210-220 and the ac purges out the side and drops back down to 150.

what should the correct readings be as well?? have a friend thats helping just from knowledge saying its suppose to stay 190+ but not sure exact figures.

 

[iamatt]

When you add refrigerant you do it by weight. All this dye you are adding and recharging makes me think you need to just take it to a shop let them evacuate it or rag and screwdriver over the valve. Put your vacuum on it and see if it holds. With that dye it should be pretty obvious, but not all the time of course. I just redid a system on another vehicle, clutchless compressor on this one. Redid everything , just not worth tracking individual components down to me. The kits come with everything, a few hours and its back working

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[djkurious]

ordered the dissenient packet, also went ahead and put in some uv die so gonna give it a day or two and start searching for leaks.

my high side was reading around 150 today, was around 170-175 last time i filled with freon, went to recharge some got it to around 210-220 and the ac purges out the side and drops back down to 150.

what should the correct readings be as well?? have a friend thats helping just from knowledge saying its suppose to stay 190+ but not sure exact figures.

The gauges if all is correct should read according to your AMBIENT temps: R-134a System Pressure Chart - AC Pro

 

[daprotege5]

also weird question, if i have a leak somewhere, why would the a/c purge itself at around 220 and than drop back down to 165-175

 

[Drcoffee]

Use the sight glass.

 

[daprotege5]

so i put some dye two days ago, used the truck with the a/c which is working pretty good. but i got home today from work and wiped out the uv light, shined it on the a/c lines and they are leaking at the compressor lines. which i had already ordered the o-rings anyway.

so next would be to replace the o-rings, make sure the system holds a vaccum and than recharge as long as it held??

 

[Bigcee]

Use the sight glass.

How? Sure would be nice if you explained yourself.

so i put some dye two days ago, used the truck with the a/c which is working pretty good. but i got home today from work and wiped out the uv light, shined it on the a/c lines and they are leaking at the compressor lines. which i had already ordered the o-rings anyway.

so next would be to replace the o-rings, make sure the system holds a vaccum and than recharge as long as it held??

Yeah that's my guess. Have you thoroughly looked for the dye at every joint elsewhere in the system?

 

[daprotege5]

dye showed up around the a/c line, but i went ahead and changed the following orings.
(2) ac condensor lines at condensor connection
(2) ac compressor
(1) ac line under the intake hose, you'll see another 10mm bolt which holds the line in place.

only thing i have left to replace is the dryer, anyone know the allen size for the cap it comes with???

 

[Drcoffee]

How? Sure would be nice if you explained yourself.

You can add too much or too little and still not run right. The sight glass gives you the correct volume after putting in the weight prescribed by the FSM. Which is where you can find this page. You want #6

 

[daprotege5]

so after replacing all the orings and the dryer, i vaccumed the system.

put 1 can and a little more than half of the second can in and a/c sounded like it struggled to kick on while i was doing this. my high side got to about 50 once i put the first can in and the highest it got was about 100.

my inspection glass is a little foggy and has green around it so can't really tell if anything is flowing or visible in there.

 

[daprotege5]

i'm currently at 35 on the low side and no more than 75 on the high side.....

any suggestions???

 

[daprotege5]

suggestions how to proceed???

 

[PNWLivin]

Fan Speed?

What is everyone's fan speed like? Mine only blows enough to really feel it on the setting next to the MAX speed. I've never been in another 4th gen to compare so I'm wondering if that's normal or not.