need help with my car AC system

[toant103]

Pic1

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/ttran/ac2.JPG

What is the name of this part and does anyone know how much it's going to cost me to fix this?

The AC doesn't blow cold air anymore. Maybe there's a leak in the ac system? When the engine is running with the ac on, the engine temp get to about 80%. If i turn the AC off, tempera at around 60%

1986 accord lxi 5 spd.

It's pretty old, but still run pretty well. 208xxx miles.

The fan on the AC condenser was bad. So when it got hot, the safety switch release the hot pressure.


Went to the a Honda dealership and got the car fixed. They convert the r12 to 134a? Something like that. Got a new ac condensor fan, pressure test to check for leak, new refringerant, oil change, rotate tire, inspection sticker, new safety switch. All for around $200 i think.

They said i will need a new radiator soon. I didn't do it at the spot since no money at the moment


Seem like engine collant from the radiator but i don't see any leakage from it.

 

[Shawn]

what exactly are you referring to? that looks like your cruise control.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: Shawn
what exactly are you referring to? that looks like your cruise control.

the black bottle looking thingy with green liquid on it. Is that related to the AC system?

 

[Shawn]

No, that looks like the charcoal fuel canister. There shouldn't be coolant comming from it. It has to be comming from somewhere else.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

receiver dryer
$35

<-lazy dumbass

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
receiver dryer
$35

That's not what that is. It has a vac line on the top of it.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
receiver dryer
$35

That's not what that is. It has a vac line on the top of it.

I just glanced at the pic and he said AC and that is what a Accumulator looks like even though it would likely be near the condenser.

Edit: Having said that at this point I have no idea what it is.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Just a vacuum reservoir....duh
http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d800d0b1b.gif


Now he has to ask himself why it has antifreeze on it and look harder for the leak.
OP why do you think this is broke?

It has nothing to do with your ac which has probably just leaked down.

 

[chrisms]

Bags of ice in the backseat work for me

 

[thedarkwolf]

Looks like your radiator overflow bottle is spitting up all over your engine bay to me. Its probably from running to hot and or being over filled. Your 200k mile 1986 radiator is full of scale/rust/goo and either needs rodded or replaced. Its most likely cheaper to just replace it for around $80 from whatever your local parts store is. To recharge your a/c system you can buy r12 compatible stuff(dexacool, freeze12, whatever), the hose and gauge for around $30 or so. Its not rocket science to refill the system you just hook all that crap up and fill it up till the gauge says its full. Sure it will probably leak but if it last the whole summer who cares. Its less then $10 a can and you can refill it again next year cheaper then you can fix it and how many summers does the car have left anyway.

 

[DaTT]

I would check for coolant on the underside of the hood. You may have blown a crack in one of the rad tanks which will only leak when under pressure. A/C puts a lot of stress on older motors....they are a little more efficient now.....that's why you're overheating. I have a Mazda with 280 000Km and the cooling system works just fine, but with the A/C on in traffic, the temp will rise quite drastically.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Looks like your radiator overflow bottle is spitting up all over your engine bay to me. Its probably from running to hot and or being over filled. Your 200k mile 1986 radiator is full of scale/rust/goo and either needs rodded or replaced. Its most likely cheaper to just replace it for around $80 from whatever your local parts store is. To recharge your a/c system you can buy r12 compatible stuff(dexacool, freeze12, whatever), the hose and gauge for around $30 or so. Its not rocket science to refill the system you just hook all that crap up and fill it up till the gauge says its full. Sure it will probably leak but if it last the whole summer who cares. Its less then $10 a can and you can refill it again next year cheaper then you can fix it and how many summers does the car have left anyway.

Thanks for the advice. I'll give check it out again to see if it's overflowing.

 

[toant103]

check everything and still can't find the leak. I turn on the ac but it's only blowing hot air? Could the ac condenser go bad?

 

[cjgallen]

Might need a recharge/more refrigerant. I got a kit at Autozone for about $30, mine blows hella cold now. I got a can of refrigerant with "Leak Stop," whatever that is. They also have "Leak Detection" gas that will give off a certain color to help find leaks.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Might need a recharge/more refrigerant. I got a kit at Autozone for about $30, mine blows hella cold now. I got a can of refrigerant with "Leak Stop," whatever that is. They also have "Leak Detection" gas that will give off a certain color to help find leaks.

I believe his car is R12. He won't be able to just runout and buy a can.

He can get a retrofit kit for around the same price but he will have to have the systen evacuated.

 

[Ausm]

You will have to buy a converter kit to fix your problem....$$$$$ Probably not worth it on a car that old.,

Ausm

 

[thedarkwolf]

As I said you can get crap that is r12 compatible. You don't have to retrofit it to r134.

Is it still leaking coolant? If not is probably blown enough out that it won't anymore.

 

[Lounatik]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Might need a recharge/more refrigerant. I got a kit at Autozone for about $30, mine blows hella cold now. I got a can of refrigerant with "Leak Stop," whatever that is. They also have "Leak Detection" gas that will give off a certain color to help find leaks.

I believe his car is R12. He won't be able to just runout and buy a can.

He can get a retrofit kit for around the same price but he will have to have the systen evacuated.

Correct.Many cars usually leak from the fittings that the gas is put into. If the system has totally run out of gas, then there is moisture in the system.Dont forget: the compressor is a pump and if you do not have any pressure in the system, the compressor sucks in air from outside. You need to get a vacuum pump on it and suck it down,baby. If you just put the gas back in the system, you will burn up your compressor in no time. Freon + moisture = corrosion from the inside.


Peace

Lounatik

 

[toant103]

the ac work just fine before this happened. if i put more freon in it, are are the freon going to leak again since it's leaked in the first place?

 

[Philippine Mango]

did veronica moser poop out out of your air conditioner? It seems its entirely possible that she pooped in your airconditioning unit which is why you get a stench instead of AC.

 

[erikiksaz]

With a car that old, i don't think it's unreasonable to say that you have some sort of leak. I say bring it into an AC shop for some diagnostics.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
did veronica moser poop out out of your air conditioner? It seems its entirely possible that she pooped in your airconditioning unit which is why you get a stench instead of AC.

???????

 

[Lounatik]

Go to your local auto parts store and get a gauge that will let you see the pressure in your ac. While there, pick up a valve stem tool that will allow you to tighten up the little pin inside the valves. Hook up gauge to ac and see if you have any pressure reading at all. If you do, you just need to change out the freon and oil and then recharge it. If you dont have any pressure reading at all, you need to get it looked at by someone qualified. You cannot get a vacuum pump at a local tool rental place(at least not that I am aware of).And if you are completely out, you will have to get it on a vacuum.


Peace

Lounatik

 

[Thegonagle]

Larger picture, please, one which includes A/C components! (I see in that picture, in no particular order, a cruise control diaphragm, a headlight retractor motor, a charcoal canister, a coolant reservoir, a power steering pump and reservoir, a bunch of wires, and other crap, but no A/C parts.)


EDIT:

Anyway, the overheating and the A/C problems are probably not closely related. The first thing you need to do is restore the integrity and performance of the cooling system. Then worry about the A/C.

Check the inner and outer surfaces that the radiator cap seals against in the filler neck and be sure the inner and outer gaskets can make a seal. (The plastic can deteriorate and crumble; the gaskets cant seal, and the system can't pressurize, causing a boil-over.) Then replace the cap (because it's cheap and can prevent pressurization if it's defective). Finally bite the bullet and replace the radiator.

Then ask us what's up with the A/C.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Larger picture, please, one which includes A/C components! (I see in that picture, in no particular order, a cruise control diaphragm, a headlight retractor motor, a charcoal canister, a coolant reservoir, a power steering pump and reservoir, a bunch of wires, and other crap, but no A/C parts.)


EDIT:

Anyway, the overheating and the A/C problems are probably not closely related. The first thing you need to do is restore the integrity and performance of the cooling system. Then worry about the A/C.

Check the inner and outer surfaces that the radiator cap seals against in the filler neck and be sure the inner and outer gaskets can make a seal. (The plastic can deteriorate and crumble; the gaskets cant seal, and the system can't pressurize, causing a boil-over.) Then replace the cap (because it's cheap and can prevent pressurization if it's defective). Finally bite the bullet and replace the radiator.

Then ask us what's up with the A/C.

Got the car fixed.