2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission I hope I haven’t ruined my ac compressor?

[BEnglish]

I was adding 134a to my system and all the sudden it started popping. I have very little experience with these systems, and hope I haven’t killed my compressor? If not, how can I fix this? I released some of the refrigerant, thinking that would help. Then I restarted it, for just a second and retried it with the same popping result.

 

[JJPage]

You may have "slugged" (hit it with liquid) your compressor! Hope not.



These are fairly complicated systems, better left to the folks who do this for their lively hood.

 

[BEnglish]

You may have "slugged" (hit it with liquid) your compressor! Hope not.



These are fairly complicated systems, better left to the folks who do this for their lively hood.

that sounds right, because i think the popping was liquid comming out of the compressor. do you konw how to fix it?

 

[DValentine]

Was the can you added, right side up or up side down when putting it in the system?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

If the liquid refrigerant is allowed to fill the A/C compressor cylinder, it can damage it much the same as filling the engine cylinders with liquid - the liquid refrigerant is not compressible - and in such cases, serious internal A/C compressor damage can occur - the safest way to charge the system is with the vapor method, where the refrigerant canister is held in the upright position for vapor flow, rather than inverted, for liquid flow...

 

[DirtyDodge]

If the liquid refrigerant is allowed to fill the A/C compressor cylinder, it can damage it much the same as filling the engine cylinders with liquid - the liquid refrigerant is not compressible - and in such cases, serious internal A/C compressor damage can occur - the safest way to charge the system is with the vapor method, where the refrigerant canister is held in the upright position for vapor flow, rather than inverted, for liquid flow...

Thats good to know, learn all kinds of things on this sight.

 

[BEnglish]

Yes I was adding it as a liquid. I have since been told the best way to possibly fix this problem is to drain the system to about 4 lbs and then turn on the compressor and hopefully get the liquid out and to refill it to the specified amount on the compressor or under hood sticker. Does this sound right to you guys?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Yes I was adding it as a liquid. I have since been told the best way to possibly fix this problem is to drain the system to about 4 lbs and then turn on the compressor and hopefully get the liquid out and to refill it to the specified amount on the compressor or under hood sticker. Does this sound right to you guys?

At this point, if any actual damage was done, it's not reversible, and the only benefit from draining refrigerant, is if the system was overfilled - which certainly IS a possibility. If you have actually operated the A/C with no observable problems, it may be OK - but IF you were still hearing popping or knocking sounds, the draining of some of the refrigerant is your last hope.



Overfilling can cause the same general symptoms of compressor "slugging" as allowing raw liquid refrigerant to enter it - since excessive refrigerant in the system would have nowhere else to go...



I haven't really looked closely at the compressors in these trucks, but they are most likely a vane-type pump, but the same general cautions - and potential problems - remain with either type. I think actual piston type A/C compressors stopped being used many years ago...

 

[Mad Bomber]

Good read on http://www.aircondition.com/tech/questions/82/ A/C

 

[BEnglish]

thanks for the help... . I drained it and refilled it to the proper wieght and now it works as it should

Ben