Air conditioning unit in my pickup...

[Paulson]

Once again, more problems...

BTW, I'll bite the bullet and say I was a moron... it was the front u-joint in the truck that was making the noises.. (couldn't even hardly move it)

So I appologize for being a stubborn bastard... you guys were right...

Now, onto my latest problem... the air conditioner (well the compressor that is on the belt system under the hood) in my 90 chevy c1500 305 5.0 liter v8 is having some problems...

If you turn the air on in the truck, the compressor unit will spin for about 5 seconds, tick then stop, and start up again... it does this cycle for a long time, before it finally starts working (maybe an hour of start/stoping) and 10 mins of working...

what is the problem do you guys think... is it low on freon, or is the compressor shot and I'll need to get a new one? (hope that isn't the case)

let me know any suggestions/info you may have... thanks

 

[Angrymarshmello]

If it was low on freon it would just shoot out warmish air. (My compressor in my car died 2 summers ago - it sucks but replacing it including labor is about half of the blue book of my car - not even worth it)

 

[Paulson]

well it'll blow out cold air, but it only works for a bit, then it feels like it goes back to just the vent from outside...

like I said though, you can watch the damn compressor spin wit the belt then stop, then spin... I mean it's really hard on the motor...

does that sound like it could be shot?

 

[Zorro]

Sounds like a bad A.C. Clutch

 

[d33pt]

maybe it's the compressor clutch? i dunno much about AC systems, but worth looking into

 

[Paulson]

Originally posted by: Zorro
Sounds like a bad A.C. Clutch

Alright, is there any fix to that or do you have to get a whole new AC unit?

 

[etech]

Automotive A/C Diagnostic Checkout Procedures

Do that first. I know you won't have a guage set. Do all of the rest, then post what you have found.

 

[Paulson]

well, i can't see any visible effects of anything leaking as every time i wash the truck i usually spray down the engine (of course when it hasn't been run for a long ass time)

I don't know, everything seems normal (no loudness) it just shakes the hell outta the engine when it turns on, and it seems to be cycling... it'll turn on for 5 seconds, turn off...

Who knows, maybe that's the way it's supposed to work... I'm going to have some freon put in it tomorrow but I doubt that's the sole problem

 

[yakko]

Oh, I Wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Weiner,
That is what I'd really like to be-e-ee,
Could be a problem with the expansion valve.
Oh, I Wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Weiner,
That is what I'd really like to be-e-ee,

 

[Paulson]

well, I'm not good with vehicles, I just kinda want to get an idea if it's bad or fixable...

I mean I could possibly find another AC unit at a salvage yard if necessary, but i'd rather be able to fix it rather than replace...

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Paulson
well, i can't see any visible effects of anything leaking as every time i wash the truck i usually spray down the engine (of course when it hasn't been run for a long ass time)

I don't know, everything seems normal (no loudness) it just shakes the hell outta the engine when it turns on, and it seems to be cycling... it'll turn on for 5 seconds, turn off...

Who knows, maybe that's the way it's supposed to work... I'm going to have some freon put in it tomorrow but I doubt that's the sole problem

isnt it a federal violation to charge a system that is known to leak? r-12 isnt exactly cheap either.

 

[Paulson]

It's not leaking any fluid as far as I can tell...

everything has looked normal...

I'll see what they think down at the local chevy dealer tomorrow...

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Paulson
It's not leaking any fluid as far as I can tell...

everything has looked normal...

I'll see what they think down at the local chevy dealer tomorrow...

its not fluid leaking the feds are worried about. its the r-12 that screws with teh ozone layer.

 

[Tominator]

its not fluid leaking the feds are worried about. its the r-12 that screws with teh ozone layer.

The R-12 scare, and that is all it ever was, has such a small effect on the environment and we made such an issue of it we look like idiots! Ask any AC specialists car or home. It was a big joke and has cost the economy billions. Not to mention the resources used to be in compliance have hurt the environment many times over what R12 ever could.

Your truck probably has a sensor that kicks in a higher idle setting when the clutch kicks in to run the compressor. Do you have a repair manual for the truck?

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy

Originally posted by: Paulson
well, i can't see any visible effects of anything leaking as every time i wash the truck i usually spray down the engine (of course when it hasn't been run for a long ass time)

I don't know, everything seems normal (no loudness) it just shakes the hell outta the engine when it turns on, and it seems to be cycling... it'll turn on for 5 seconds, turn off...

Who knows, maybe that's the way it's supposed to work... I'm going to have some freon put in it tomorrow but I doubt that's the sole problem

isnt it a federal violation to charge a system that is known to leak? r-12 isnt exactly cheap either.

I'm not sure about cars but the AC repair guy put 3lb of freon into our home unit which has a documented leak

 

YHPM

 

[Pliablemoose]

I loved the Freon BS, every time the Space Shuttle launches, it's equivalent to venting 300,000 refrigerator's Freon directly into the atmosphere.

The following are the estimated sources of stratospheric chlorine:


Industrial sources: 300,000,000 kilograms/year
Natural sources: 75,000,000 kilograms/year
Shuttle sources: 725,000 kilograms/year

Looks like a trip to the AC shop is in order, you need gauges to troubleshoot it, then lots of equipment to repair it, best to bite the bullet & take it into a shop.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
I loved the Freon BS, every time the Space Shuttle launches, it's equivalent to venting 300,000 refrigerator's Freon directly into the atmosphere.

The following are the estimated sources of stratospheric chlorine:


Industrial sources: 300,000,000 kilograms/year
Natural sources: 75,000,000 kilograms/year
Shuttle sources: 725,000 kilograms/year

Looks like a trip to the AC shop is in order, you need gauges to troubleshoot it, then lots of equipment to repair it, best to bite the bullet & take it into a shop.

From what I understand the R12 flap fit in nicely with the expiration of DuPonts R12 patent. How nice they had an environmentally friendly substitute available.

 

[Paulson]

BS from the local chevy dealer

First off, the assholes charge me $25.00 just to look at it...

They want $250 to fix the air conditioner...

Why? because it's got a leak and they have to fix 2 valves, do this and that...

Then they have to change the coolant from r-12 to r-134...

I don't get why F it has to be $250 though

That's what you get for buying used.

 

[Tominator]

$250 bucks to fix your AC is a drop in the bucket compared to what the average cost of AC repairs are . If a Chevy Dealer will charge $250 you should find a private shop to give you an estimate. I'd bet the dealer is $50 more than that estimate....

 

[Angrymarshmello]

$250 is nothing to fix an AC like Tominator said. It's over $1200 to replace the compressor (P&L) on my car (3 diff shops quoted us around this price)

 

[singh]

I hope you have better luck than me. I just spent $1500 to replace the A/C System on my 98 Civic

 

[LAUST]

They are right, $250 is nothing, heck converting from R-12 to 134 alone is a chunk of change at many places


BTW, I'll bite the bullet and say I was a moron... it was the front u-joint in the truck that was making the noises.. (couldn't even hardly move it)

No you were not the moron, you are learning about vehicles as you go, like 98% of people out there, even I learn things everyday about my truck... did you know I have a Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator on my truck Stock :Q I just found that out yesterday... good thing too cause I don't have time to order one for truckfest to run this amount of boost on only 68PSI

Anyway good it was just the U-joint, those are cheap

 

[Paulson]

Ok, yes $250 is better than a new compressor, I know that... I guess I'm just pissed more money has to go into this thing

First it was the damn transmission... that's all used vehicles are, fix em up POS's

 

[desertdweller]

Originally posted by: Paulson
BS from the local chevy dealer

First off, the assholes charge me $25.00 just to look at it...

They want $250 to fix the air conditioner...

Why? because it's got a leak and they have to fix 2 valves, do this and that...

Then they have to change the coolant from r-12 to r-134...

I don't get why F it has to be $250 though

That's what you get for buying used.

If they just charged you $25 to look at it then you got lucky.

$250 is not a bad price considering they have to evacuate the system, fix the leaks and then
do the conversion. To properly do the conversion, the compressor needs to come off and all the
oil drained out, blow out the A/C lines as best as possible, re-install compressor and add oil for
the R-134a refrigerant, replace the reciever/dryer and then fill the system back up.

By the way, a year ago R-12 was sold through the dealerships here at $65 a can, which is 3/4 of a
pound. Your system likely takes between 2.5 to 3 pounds of it.

As far as your compressor cycling, its supposed to. However, the lower amount of freon in the system
will cause it to cycle faster.


DD