Calling all A/C Experts, Anyone experienced this? Options

[jdamiano]

So I swapped my York for a Sanden and hooked the old lines up and charged it with R-134 about a month ago. I purchased the car with non-functionality AC. Didn’t touch anything else in the system. Went for a couple hundred mile cruise down A1A along the beach today with the wife. 80+ temp all day. The A/C on max all day and all it did was cut the edge off the heat. Then about 30 minutes before I was home we drove through a driving rain. It lasted about 5 minutes. A/C started blowing ice cold!!! I talking ear stinging cold. We had to turn it down. Stayed blowing ice cold all the way home. Any ideas?

[timothy_nd28]

Sounds like a dirty condenser coil

[Chris914n6]

First thought, not enough airflow thru the condenser. Is the fan on and blowing the right direction?

[JOEPROPER]

Check system pressures... high side is probably too high. Clogged condenser or other restriction. Most likely bad condenser. Should inspect expansion device and make sure you have the correct amount of refrigerant in the system.

[914_teener]

If the system was R12 the expansion valve ahould be for R13 I would add....so check to see that you have the right one.

[iankarr]

Check system pressures... high side is probably too high. Clogged condenser or other restriction. Most likely bad condenser. Should inspect expansion device and make sure you have the correct amount of refrigerant in the system.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Did you replace the dryer and do a full draw down/evacuation of the system before you charged? If not there could be air and moisture in your system which are really bad at heat transfer and all kinds of funky things can result. Also, how did you clean the system to purge the old oil?

[jdamiano]

Check system pressures... high side is probably too high. Clogged condenser or other restriction. Most likely bad condenser. Should inspect expansion device and make sure you have the correct amount of refrigerant in the system.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Did you replace the dryer and do a full draw down/evacuation of the system before you charged? If not there could be air and moisture in your system which are really bad at heat transfer and all kinds of funky things can result. Also, how did you clean the system to purge the old oil?

I didn’t replace the dryer. I just swapped the compressor and ran a vacuum pump on it for a few hours. Once I saw it held a vacuum I put 2 cans of 134a in it and called it good. I’m going to pull the cover under the spare and take a look. I’m thinking the evaporator was blocked or the fan isn’t running. The fact that driving in heavy rain made it blow cold makes me think that the issue is there. Maybe upgrade the fan??

[Chris914n6]

r12 oil + r134 oil = gel, so oops. You have to use the inbetween oil ().
Always a new dryer. It only works once but it's vital to collect water & crap.
You will need to clean all the insides with the a/c cleaner fluid to get rid of all traces of the r12 oil.
Optimum cooling requires the amount of r134 to be in the "sweet spot". So running and with pressure gauges and a temp gauge in the vent.
And since it's already off... a r134 expansion valve would help, but I've done plenty of retrofits with just changing the comp & dryer.

[markhoward]

Ester oil is compatible with both r12 and r134a, right?

[ClayPerrine]

It may be undercharged. Check the sight glass on top of the dryer. When the AC is running, it should show no bubbles in it. If it is filled with white foam, you are undercharged.

Clean the condenser too.

OH... and if you are using the R-12 lines, your AC will go away shortly. The R-134a freon is a smaller molecule, and will seep through the R-12 lines. You have to replace every AC hose with barrier hose rated for R-134a.

[914_teener]

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/art...nts-and-the-law


From the Haggerty's site.

I've done this one.

Evac everything and flush it completely. Change the orifice tube for R13. Get a new drier to make sure there is NO moisture or dirt in the system. I went through a can of flush agent and blew it through everything with really dry air.

Get or rent a gauge set if you don't have one already. Hook up the set and pull vacuum enough to boil of ANY residual moisture and to check for leaks.

Charge the systems and check your gauge set for the recommend temp split to amount of refrigerant at the correct pressure.

Should be good to go after that, but check it on a good hot day. You didn't state how the evap coil or condensing coil is set up but that could also be an issue as well.

If you didn't completely flush the system you will stunt the lifespan of your compressor.

Good luck.

Edit.....I feel old sometimes....I should have said orifice tube not expansion valve. If you clean and flush your system well the exp valve sb ok.