A/C question

[Dude]

(already searched around and couldnt find what i was looking for)

Alright so my A/C turns on and i can hear the clutch engage but theres no change in temperture. PO said it needed recharge. Also no lights come on in the cluster saying its on (iirc the manual said something does). Also someone said if it needs a recharge it might be leaking and isnt worth trying to work with and i should remove it. So my questions are do you think a recharge would work? And if so where I can I find a good e30 specific tutorial on how to recharge with freeze12?


Thanks guys!

[Huff]

I would have it vacumed out by a shop, then throw some dye in it. I ran Freeze 12 for awhile, but eventually caved in and had to convert it to R134. See where the leak is first before you make the next move..

The only light that comes on is from the AC switch itself (the bulb could just be blown)

[Dude]

Yes the A/C switch lights up. Any idea on what i would cost to take it to a shop?

[Huff]

No idea.. But it shouldn't be expensive to have them vacum out the system. I would just check around. You can get the dye/ test light yourself from any auto parts store.

[Rogue]

I took my car this morning to have the A/C recharged. They tried to vacuum out the system, but said they were getting no pressure.

[Turf1600]

I took my car this morning to have the A/C recharged. They tried to vacuum out the system, but said they were getting no pressure.

That's not good.

OP, you have a leak. Before you waste money on refrigerant find the leak and fix it. What year is your car?

[Dude]

Its an 86 es

[peete]

We just went through this with my son's eta. He also had a clogged expansion valve. He bought a new dryer, ex valve, green o-ring kit and a leak detector. Replaced all of the o-rings, dryer and ex valve. Pulled a vacuum, dumped almost 3 cans of 134 in it and it works fine. Not great, but fine.
If you don't have a manifold and a vacuum pump just replace all of the o-rings(most likely cause of leak) and the dryer then take it to a shop to get the system evaced and filled.

[E30Nova]

What are the odds of a system being completely empty without having leaks? I mean a 22 year old car...shit's gotta evaporate right?

I need to recharge mine but it's completely empty...and I don't want to have to start replacing stuff lol.

Matt

[Eric Giles]

What are the odds of a system being completely empty without having leaks? I mean a 22 year old car...shit's gotta evaporate right?

I need to recharge mine but it's completely empty...and I don't want to have to start replacing stuff lol.

Matt

Well the original R12 hoses aren't barrier type like the newer R134a hoses are, so yes over time the R12 will naturally leak out-although I wouldn't 'think' the entire system would. The o-rings will degrade over time-and if the system isn't used they will dry out faster due to the fact the oil that is being circulated thru the system by the refrigerant keeps them oiled and in good sealing shape.

If your system has never been touched in the past 22 years, then your best bet is to go ahead and replace all the o-rings, the expansion valve and the receiver/dryer-take the car to a shop that will pull a vacuum on the system and then recharge it-preferably sticking with R12 (which you can buy on ebay still).

[E30Nova]

Do you gotta pull the dash to get to the expansion valve and the o-rings in the car? That's the only thing I'm worried about. I already swapped a dash for my cracked one. I don't want to have to pull that thing again. The rest of the o-rings and the drier I'm not worried about.

Matt

[Dude]

We just went through this with my son's eta. He also had a clogged expansion valve. He bought a new dryer, ex valve, green o-ring kit and a leak detector. Replaced all of the o-rings, dryer and ex valve. Pulled a vacuum, dumped almost 3 cans of 134 in it and it works fine. Not great, but fine.
If you don't have a manifold and a vacuum pump just replace all of the o-rings(most likely cause of leak) and the dryer then take it to a shop to get the system evaced and filled.

What are the odds of a system being completely empty without having leaks? I mean a 22 year old car...shit's gotta evaporate right?

I need to recharge mine but it's completely empty...and I don't want to have to start replacing stuff lol.

Matt

Well the original R12 hoses aren't barrier type like the newer R134a hoses are, so yes over time the R12 will naturally leak out-although I wouldn't 'think' the entire system would. The o-rings will degrade over time-and if the system isn't used they will dry out faster due to the fact the oil that is being circulated thru the system by the refrigerant keeps them oiled and in good sealing shape.

If your system has never been touched in the past 22 years, then your best bet is to go ahead and replace all the o-rings, the expansion valve and the receiver/dryer-take the car to a shop that will pull a vacuum on the system and then recharge it-preferably sticking with R12 (which you can buy on ebay still).

Do you gotta pull the dash to get to the expansion valve and the o-rings in the car? That's the only thing I'm worried about. I already swapped a dash for my cracked one. I don't want to have to pull that thing again. The rest of the o-rings and the drier I'm not worried about.

Matt

Im punching myself in the face for not knowing all this shit. Any other hobby ive ever gotten into in my life ive learned everything possible in the first month, cars are a little different. I know all that might sound like nbd to you peete but i dont even know where any of that shit is! haha.

I too am gonna hope that somehow all of the r12 leaked out overtime and a recharge will work.

[Turf1600]

Do you gotta pull the dash to get to the expansion valve and the o-rings in the car? That's the only thing I'm worried about. I already swapped a dash for my cracked one. I don't want to have to pull that thing again. The rest of the o-rings and the drier I'm not worried about.

Matt

No, you don't. Juse remove the glovebox and center console.

[E30Nova]

Oh fuck yeah. I'm on this shit then.

Matt

[Dude]

So i want to try to give it a charge of freeze 12 and see how long it lasts. I cant take the bitching from my lady friend anymore, but i agree with her, the car is a fucking oven with the black interior.