A/C issues

[mtbtim]

$90 isn't even a full hour charge these days so it sounds about right to me. If they have to use their equipment and hook up to your car and run that pump for 30-60min, it's taking up a spot in their garage that could have another customer in there.

But, it was my understanding that the recovery of the refrigerant is very quick (like no more that a few minutes) and its the vacuuming of the system to get it ready for recharge that takes the 30-60 minutes. It makes sense that it would be a quick job to just evacuate the system of refrigerant. You hook it up to the machine, open a valve and the pressure of the system pushes it out. How long could that possibly take? A few minutes sounds about right.

Anybody can buy a vacuum pump and do the longer evacuation of air and moisture from the system at their own house. However, unless you own your own shop, you're not going to invest in the VERY expensive recovery machines and tanks and get the license to do it legally.

There's got to be shops that will charge a reasonable amount for the time you're asking of them. I did read on a forum that Firestone might do it for a fair price. I'll try calling them today. But, if anyone out there knows of a nationwide shop that does this for free or a very fair price, please chime in.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Only fill on the low side, the high side can't process the liquid (won't take it), or so I was told. I guess Tim it is another FSM mistake.

AC work is one of those repair processes that some mechanics make out to be nothing short of wizardry. It helps their bottom line. But it isn't, just some common DIY knowledge. If I had a garage I'd want a fill/recovery machine just to save time and make myself some good $$$.

I hope the OP gets it all worked out well and posts the fix.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

But, it was my understanding that the recovery of the refrigerant is very quick (like no more that a few minutes) and its the vacuuming of the system to get it ready for recharge that takes the 30-60 minutes. It makes sense that it would be a quick job to just evacuate the system of refrigerant. You hook it up to the machine, open a valve and the pressure of the system pushes it out. How long could that possibly take? A few minutes sounds about right.

Anybody can buy a vacuum pump and do the longer evacuation of air and moisture from the system at their own house. However, unless you own your own shop, you're not going to invest in the VERY expensive recovery machines and tanks and get the license to do it legally.

There's got to be shops that will charge a reasonable amount for the time you're asking of them. I did read on a forum that Firestone might do it for a fair price. I'll try calling them today. But, if anyone out there knows of a nationwide shop that does this for free or a very fair price, please chime in.

I have gotten lots of places to do it for free, Jiffy Lube for one. It seriously takes 3-5 minutes if the system is full.

I agree with [MENTION=69868]LittleCaesar[/MENTION] that it must be an FSM mistake on filling via the high side.

 

[mtbtim]

Only fill on the low side, the high side can't process the liquid (won't take it), or so I was told. I guess Tim it is another FSM mistake.

AC work is one of those repair processes that some mechanics make out to be nothing short of wizardry. It helps their bottom line. But it isn't, just some common DIY knowledge. If I had a garage I'd want a fill/recovery machine just to save time and make myself some good $$$.

I hope the OP gets it all worked out well and posts the fix.

Hey Dudes, check out this link from aircondition.com and read step #9. Basic Charging Procedures

It also says to fill via the High Side at first until you can't get anymore in and then finish by starting the vehicle and filling via the Low Side. If I'm understanding it correctly, the high side, specifically the the suction side of the compressor can't take liquid refrigerant because the compressor can only compress gas, not liquid. But, if you're filling the high side line between the condenser and the receiver/dryer, it would seem perfectly fine to fill liquid refrigerant there since the gas turns into a liquid after it runs through the condenser. What do you think? Maybe it's not a FSM mistake after all.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Hey Dudes, check out this link from aircondition.com and read step #9. Basic Charging Procedures

It also says to fill via the High Side at first until you can't get anymore in and then finish by starting the vehicle and filling via the Low Side. If I'm understanding it correctly, the high side, specifically the the suction side of the compressor can't take liquid refrigerant because the compressor can only compress gas, not liquid. But, if you're filling the high side line between the condenser and the receiver/dryer, it would seem perfectly fine to fill liquid refrigerant there since the gas turns into a liquid after it runs through the condenser. What do you think? Maybe it's not a FSM mistake after all.

As long as the truck is not running while you fill via the high side at first, then it shouldn't be a problem. The liquid refrigerant turns into a gas upon being put in the system unless you tip the can upside down. It all gets balanced out anyway after running the truck with the A/C on.

I've never done it that way. I always fill only using the low side. I start the truck, turn A/C on full blast, then fill as fast as it will allow me to via the low side. The compressor kicks in and it starts to take more refrigerant.

 

[jamob]

Bump, I am having an issue but the compressor is engaged but there is still no difference between cold air setting and the A/c being turned on. And on a hot day both settings produce only slightly less hot air than the air temp. Big issue for me with summer coming up and has been an issue the last two summers. Any ideas? I heard if the refrigerant was low the compressor would not engage to start?


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[mtbtim]

Bump, I am having an issue but the compressor is engaged but there is still no difference between cold air setting and the A/c being turned on. And on a hot day both settings produce only slightly less hot air than the air temp. Big issue for me with summer coming up and has been an issue the last two summers. Any ideas? I heard if the refrigerant was low the compressor would not engage to start?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The only way to truly know what's going on with your AC system is to get a set of manifold gauges and see what the pressure is on your low and high sides. From there, you have have a good jumping off point of what you need to do next. An easy fix is if you're just low on refrigerant. More hard to diagnose are problems with the expansion valve or compressor itself. The low and high side numbers will point you to possible problems with the system and you then have to diagnose further on which area is the culprit.

Many have luck with those DIY recharge kits you can buy from auto parts stores but I doubt anyone on this thread would recommend going that route because the gauges aren't that accurate and you're only seeing the low side pressure and not the high side.

If you're not prepared to buy a set of gauges to properly diagnose what's going on and do quite a bit of research to understand how an automobile AC system works, you're better off taking it to a shop that will diagnose the problem for you and fix it.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

I got a used evaporator and tubes to replace the damaged ones. Am not sure if the AC tech cleaned it properly. so my questions are:

1. What happens if there's some dirt in the tubes and in the evaporator?
2. What are the problems caused by some dirt in the system and what are the symptoms?

Currently, the ac compressor cycles while in the garage but when I travel, it no longer cycles and have the temp set at 77deg F. Also, when I set the temp to "HOT", the compressor doesn't stop running.