Questions for the A/C gurus out there

[crash]

Scott, this is on my 99 (with rear air). I charged the 93 that same day and it's been perfect.

I used one can of duracool sealer and so far 4 - 5 cans of duracool refrigerant.

all of the shops in my area swear by this stuff. we sell a TON!

[sfeaver]

Did you put any dye in the system? That would make it easy to find the leak...

I have a few cans of Duracool that you can have if you want. I'm not big on it myself...

I dont live too far from you, im on Hamilton mountain. If you want a hand with this, let me know. If you dyed it, then finding the leak should be fairly easy...

Scott

[crash]

thanks Scott.

I might take you up on your offer. I have a customer that does work on the side and is going to fully charge and dye the system for me this saturday morning. because I give him such a deal on parts he's going to give me a very good deal. he's even going to pick up the van while I'm working and drop it back off when he's done. depending on how that works out.. I'll post the results or a further cry for help...

[sfeaver]

How did ya make out with the AC?

[crash]

VERY funny you should ask Scott.. if I didn't know better I'd think you were here...

the customer that I mentioned picked the van up at my work on the 14th. ran the dye. found two small leaks on part of the rear lines. one right behind the engine block on the driver side and another a little farther down that same line where the aluminum piping meets the rubber. he charged up the system to proper pressure and ran it for well over an hour. this being enough to circulate the sealer that I'd put in. it ran cold and great for the first couple of days (longer than i'd been able to run it). then the weather turned cooler and rainy. i ended up not using it until yesterday afternoon. it was dead again.

so.. now I'm going to spend another chunk and have him cap off that rear line and recharge it again so I'm done with the problems. heck.. my mothers 87 olds ac hadn't run in two years. i topped it up ran in some sealer and it's been blowing cold all week for her.. LOL.......... oh and the 93 astro is still ac trouble free.

[SoCalli V8]

I recommend that you fix the leak rather than add sealer. But if you do add sealer put a warning label under your hood at one of the service ports noting that sealer has beed added to the system.

Because if that system is ever evacuated (sucked down) with a professional shop machine, it can mess up that $5k + a/c machine, making the owner non too happy with you.

[crash]

yep.. i hear ya darren. mines labelled for just that reason. like I said, it's going to be a capping off of the rear and be done with it.

[mikedamech]

Then there's one vehicle I won't be working on.

[SoCalli V8]

At my work we don`t even work on any a/c systems that we see have that bs sealer. And we can tell if that crap has been installed......

[crash]

lmao.. ok ok guys calm down.. I'll promise i won't make the trip

[sfeaver]

Which lines leaked? Just that one from the compressor back half way on the van? Or the aluminum lines too? I didnt think those were all that much, thogh maybe they have gone up in price. I think everyone has had to change that line that goes down by the drivers side of the motor, mine was done in warranty. They made an updated line that had more clearance.

So do you have cool air yet?

Scott

[crash]

I had very nice cool air.. for a week or two. then nada.

today i happened to check the pressure in the system and it's good. compressor is cycling... no cold air though. the guy that did it for me a couple of weeks back seems to be on vacation .. i'll talk to him when he's back about what's up

[sfeaver]

Is the line coming out of the evaporator as cold as the line going in? Thats a good indicator of the charge level, if its warmer then it has leaked.

Scott

[crash]

Scott, checked it this morning. it's warm on both sides. the compressor is still cycling though. what concerns me though is that i only had access to a gauge on the high side and that read ok, i didn't have the dual gauges to measure both high and low. looks like i'll have to wait until the guy is back from vacation ... whenever that is.

[SoCalli V8]

The high side line coming out of the compressor should be hot but not scolding.
The low side and the reciever dryer and larger diameter line going into the compressor should be cold and sweating if the freon charge is good.