A/C Recharge

[BIGNASTY]

After 14 years the A/C isn't blowing as cold, as fast, as it did. Was looking around in the local NAPA for something else and ran across a product that has all thats needed to refill the A/C. Anyone use one of these with success?


BIG

 

[JR]

Are you talking about a set of gauges with the necessary adapters to connect to the low and high side?
I've got an old set, they do work for basic diagnostic purposes. Reading pressure based on ambient temperature will give you an idea of how your system is operating, after 14 years if it has never been opened up it could very well be a touch low.

 

[NIsaacs]

After 14 years the A/C isn't blowing as cold, as fast, as it did. Was looking around in the local NAPA for something else and ran across a product that has all thats needed to refill the A/C. Anyone use one of these with success?


BIG

I have a slight leak in my '01 and add a can every 2 or 3 years, all I use is the store type with hose and gauge. I also bought a retro kit for my '91 and it will freeze you out.

I have never had them vacuumed out or a full set of gauges on them.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Is what I was looking at, Ive read here that many of the 3rd Gens have had problems with the Heating & air condition NONE OF WHICH IVE EXPERIENCED. The AC does get cold but like I said not nearly as fast as it did. I was thinking if this could be something to do with the High Humidity we have here in Indiana and I'm just not use to this.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

The AC does get cold but like I said not nearly as fast as it did. I was thinking if this could be something to do with the High Humidity we have here in Indiana and I'm just not use to this.

You can drop the blower motor and check to see if there's debris inside against the evaporator restricting air flow.

 

[BSeyler]

Make sure you do not get a can with leak stop. It will eventually plug the screens around the orfice.

 

[DavidC]

Humidity does make a big difference. Is the clutch cycling ?. Is there a lot of condensation out of the drain tube ?.

Dave

 

[DavidC]

There's a lot of info (PDF uploads) here
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...-present-clutch-turning-hot-air.264093/page-3
I know it's a 2nd gen but can also apply to yours.

Dave

 

[petersonj]

I was thinking if this could be something to do with the High Humidity we have here in Indiana and I'm just not use to this.

High humidity, yes, but more importantly a high dew point will significantly affect the rate of AC cooling. A 70 degree dew point at this time of year in Indiana is not uncommon.

So, if the outside air temperature is 80 degrees and the dew point is 70 degrees, when you turn on the AC that air will cool fairly quickly as it passes through the evaporator into the cabin - at about the rate of 1 BTU of thermal energy per 2 degrees of cooling. This rate of cooling will stop abruptly when the air temperature reaches its dew point of 70 degrees. Any cooling of the air from this point on requires the transfer of 970 BTU's (the latent heat of condensation) for every pound of water that is condensed and runs out of the evaporator drain.

So you are correct in thinking that humid (high dew point) days will adversely affect the performance of the AC system.

Using "Recirc" or "Max AC" will help speed up cooling the cabin because you will only be squeezing the moisture from the air just once instead of continuously.

As I write this post, here in the Willamette Vallley in Oregon, the outside temperature is 59 degrees, the dew point is 55 degrees, and the humidity is 86%. So, even though the humidity is high, the dew point is low. Later in the day when the temperature reaches 80 degrees, the dew point will not have changed, so the AC unit will easily cool the cabin quickly.

- John

 

[Tuesdak]

Quick and dirty: feel both lines to the evaporator at the firewall with the AC running blower on high. Are they both the same cold temp? If the line going to the accumulator, the black round can, is warmer then it's likely low.

IMO the cost of the kit is high vs. a cheap gauge set off fleabay or half of the shop labor bill to evac and recharge by weight.

 

[Ozymandias]

Make sure you do not get a can with leak stop. It will eventually plug the screens around the orfice.

And the worse - no official Service Mechanic will ever again connect his equipment to this AC in the Future because it would clog it.

I used the R134a cans in the past with great success, as long there I no leak in the system there is also no need for evacuating it prior to (re)fill it.
You all should be happy to life in a country where you can buy Freon at the Partsstore. Her over this is strictly forbidden an available only for licensed service technicians.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Asked a Wrench at work, he also suggested the purchase of a set of gauges and a $10 can of freon OR bring it into the shop at work and let him do it the right way.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mechanic at work found a O ring seal leak ran a few tests on the A/C system to see if it held vacume had the truck for the morning

Its running COLD NOW!!!!!

 

[DavidC]

Good to know your fixed.

Dave

 

[Tuesdak]

You didn't mention you had a buddy at work!

 

[BIGNASTY]

You didn't mention you had a buddy at work!

I decided that we not tell you who he is but he COULDN'T have laughed as loud as me when he noticed my TDR Grill Badge and said something about it. Nice young man that from what the shop forman tells me knows his way around trucks.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Good to know your fixed.

Dave

Yep was fixed at 35 years old!!!!!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Hey Buddy sorry I haven't gotten back to you or been by the shop to thank you personally. Will see you at the 4th party at our place bring your appetite and swimsuit.

A/C is absouletly great been driving the truck to the office the last few days in the Heat & Humidity

Thanks Gail