A pleasant surprise

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A pleasant surprise

July 06, 2009, 08:55:23 PM

I was looking at my 85 xr-7, with an eye to fixing the AC. I was seeing if the compressor would turn by hand, and it would. I noticed a dirty tag, so I wiped it off. It said that the 134a conversion was already done! That saves some time! I slapped the gages, and vac pump on it, and a couple cans of 134a later, the AC works! It's not super cold, about 48* at the vents, but I had to stop sooner than I would have liked to since I was about to run out of gas, lol.

But at least the system seems to work, that's sweet.

CoogarXR

A pleasant surprise

Reply #1 – July 06, 2009, 09:24:05 PM

Wish mine was that easy.....but otherwise, yes that is sweet.

A pleasant surprise

Reply #2 – July 06, 2009, 10:48:24 PM

Nice surprise !!! A/C is a must !!! I'm getting ready to re-install my a/c equipment.I'm going to buy a new evaporator first,I'm only doing this once.

A pleasant surprise

Reply #3 – July 06, 2009, 11:34:33 PM

Yeah, I am sure it has a slow leak since:
a. the r12 system was converted
b. the 134 conversion was gone

But at least the system works. It held vacuum, so it must not be that bad of a leak. Next can I have to put in will have the dye in it so I can find the leak. Hopefully it lasts the rest of the season, I'm broke :)

It stayed cold all day. The belt is squealing from time to time though. I should replace them all (dryrotted from sitting all those years).

CoogarXR

A pleasant surprise

Reply #4 – July 06, 2009, 11:39:10 PM

Im not sure what's up with mine...I guess a sloowww leak because it died in the middle of last summer, over about 3 weeks. But I dont even want to do anything to it. I almost never used it...and still wont. I dunno. Im just not bothered by the heat and I gottttttta have that friggin window open, elbow on the door as Im cruisin. It wont get used. Waste of money. :hick:

BUT clearly you do want yours, so that's great, very nice surprise indeed. Sick.

A pleasant surprise

Reply #5 – July 07, 2009, 12:24:45 AM

Come on guys you can get reliable AC with out buy everything new! It works like this.

1. First thing first check the Compressor to see if it is locked up. If it isn't there is a good chance that you can make things work on the CHEAP!
2. Next if you have a gauge/gauges check to see if there is anything inside the system. If you don't have a gauge Find the low pressure port and press the center for just a split second to see if anything is in the system. Not the best way but your only doing it to see if there is any pressure in there. If there is pressure in there FIND OUT HOW MUCH! You could be full and have a faulty clutch or pressure switch. I could be just low enough to need a charge to get it back to operating pressures. I could be almost empty.
3. If It is really low or leaked out in a short time. It is best to pull it all apart. Take all parts except the Evaporator out of the car and Flush them all including the Evaporator with A/c system flush. Place the compressor with the ports facing down over an old butter bowl and drain the oil. This will take some time. Rotate the compressor every once in a while during draining to help get as much oil out as possible.
4. Buy the total car kit and replace all o-rings, seals, spring-locks, schrader valves. Buy a new Dryer although I've seen them saved many times too.
5. Put everything back together. If you are doing a R134 conversion. This is the time to think about installing a R134 Style Condenser along with an Auto adjusting orifice tube.
6. Find a local place that can pressurize the system with Nitrogen to check for leaks. They may use a different gas but that is to make sure it is sealed to pressure first.
7. Vac the system down or find a local place to do it for you. The system should vac down close to 30in/hg and hold that for close to 30min.
8. If every thing worked out start the car and get ready to fill the system. At the local parts store they should be able to tell you the correct amount of oil and refrigerant. IF you are doing a R134a conversion. You need to know that it and R12along with R12's mineral oil are NOT COMPATIBLE! So buy some Ester/PAG oil in thin weight Along with Close to the Max fill Amount of R12 because R134a works at a higher pressure.
9. Enjoy, If you did a conversion to R134a and didn't install a auto adjusting orifice tube or a R134a style condenser. You might notice that in town and at lights the cool seems to go away. To help solve this you can add a LARGE electric fan on the front side of the condenser. That will help. Turn it on in town and it will keep those temps down.
10. The Key to keeping your A/C in working order is to use it. Use it a lot that keeps all those seals and such lubed, so they don't dry out and LEAK! In the winter this can be done by turning on your Defrost!

Hope this helps. Need some help drop me a PM I'll do what I can to help. I know it sucks to be cruising in you favorite ride only hating it because you are sweating to death!

Stuckman

A pleasant surprise

Reply #6 – July 07, 2009, 02:59:52 PM

I was told by an a/c shop last summer that my compressonr was pretty much shot. It couldn't produce enough pressure to create the cooling effect (hi vs. lo was 40-50 lbs if I recall). After reading, I am not sure I should have let the original shop convert my HR980 compressor to R134a. But, that's been done...

I've tried adding refrigerant, but no cooling anymore...although the compressor does run (on/off every 5 secons or so). Last year when it was on it's way out, it'd run continuously. I don't have a set of guages, but have tried to work with the little thing that comes on the can (not very useful, I know). I really don't know what my high side pressure is...low is around 40.

Thoughts?