a/c worked untill it took a full can...

[SCREWd2V]

1990 4.0 L ranger.

I tried using the search but am having difficulty because of my situation.

my a/c worked, but i begin to notice that the compressor would ingage and disingauge with a loud pop! or a clang every 10 - 15 sec (or maybe longer). so i thought i would take it in cause i figured it was low on freon. Everything still blew cold and worked fine.

I went out of town and dropped the vehicle off.

i called to check on progress and he said that it was low on freon and that it took a whole can... also he said he put a sniffer up to it and found a small leak on the exhaust port side but it was barely visible...

when i got back in town last night i pick up the truck after hours.

I soon as i started it up it was doing the exact same thing but now ever few seconds, and it doesn't stay ingauged longer that 1-2 sec...
so NOW my a/c isn't even working ...

I'm alittle upset. I appoligized for my lack of knowleadge but i feel like something isn't right here. could it may have been charge wrong? maybe too much? is that leak maybe causing it to trip out?


Thanks TRS.

Oh BTW, I live in HOUSTON.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

1 can is "1 pound" its actually about .7lb

thats about half capacity of your system.

if he found a leak you should have let him fix it, if its as small of a leak as he said.. it won't leak a pound out in a few hours.. that takes a big leak that he obviously did not find. maybe he doesn't know how to really use a sniffer?

 

[SCREWd2V]

that a/c worked fine/blew cold before i brought it in. I thought it might need a charge b/c it begin to cycle more than usual.

he charged it and told me over the phone that there was a small leak, and it wasn't worth messing with. so i was like "okay great!"

now it doesn't blow cold air at all and it cycles every 2 seconds...i would think the guy would notice and check to see if it was even blowing cold air....

i'm just trying to dignose what may have caused this to happen. it's LOOKS like the typical "bring it in for one thing, and get it back with something else wrong" case.

oh and i think i understand know if it aint broke don't fix it.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

well its possible that he didn't know what he was doing and ended up over filling it. it won't cool with too much of a charge.

and by the way, any leak is enough to bother about. the ONLY reason your a/c should ever lose a charge is through a leak. it doesn't get used up

if you think about it, you'll just have to keep getting it charged until you take care of all leaks. costing you money

 

[SCREWd2V]

gotcha. thanks brutus for the help! thats exactly what I needed to hear.
just needed some info to state my case.

 

[mini274]

you need not run that compressor unplug it if it has a leak and isnt workin properly... you will end up messing up more than already is meaning you will have to buy a new compressor... its an oiled system just like a motor except they call the ac oil PAG... if your oil runs low compressor can lock up and cause alot of damage..so the leak is a big thing and those sniffers hes got dont work the best you need to have it dyed and check it that way so you can fix the problem asap it is gonna take 2.6pounds of freon and about 15 ounces of pag oil to fill it back up when its taken apart do not buy the freon with the oil already in it buy it in an individual can as if its mixed with the freon it normally doesnt get in the system...

 

[SCREWd2V]

well i'm going to take it back to him and ask him why is it not working at all now. If he gives me some shit i will unplug the compressor like you said untill i get a little more cash. it won't be as bad when the mustang motor is back in... hopefully by then i'll have alittle more cash and can find alittle better solution.

R-12 is the correct freon right? it's bone stock btw, just sat for years.
so here are my possiblities.
too much freon was added, cause it to have too high of pressure causing it to trip in/out
major leak that for some reason he did not find.
clutch could be giving out also?
and is it possible to put the wrong kind of freon in the system? what would happen if you did?

thanks for the fill in.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

well i'm going to take it back to him and ask him why is it not working at all now. If he gives me some shit i will unplug the compressor like you said untill i get a little more cash. it won't be as bad when the mustang motor is back in... hopefully by then i'll have alittle more cash and can find alittle better solution.

R-12 is the correct freon right? it's bone stock btw, just sat for years.
so here are my possiblities.
too much freon was added, cause it to have too high of pressure causing it to trip in/out
major leak that for some reason he did not find.
clutch could be giving out also?
and is it possible to put the wrong kind of freon in the system? what would happen if you did?

thanks for the fill in.

R-12 is freon(brand name), R-134a is not. look under the hood and find the a/c sticker it should tell you what refrigerant it is supposed to have.

if he put R-134a in an R-12 system it could cause problems, the 2 don't mix well, use different types of oil.. that also don't work well with each other, and operate of 2 different temperature/pressure scales. not to mention he would have to had to screw an adapter onto the service port because R-12 uses a screw on port and R-134a uses a quick connect port.

R-12 is no longer manufactured(legally) and im pretty sure its only sold in 30lb containers if you have the proper license anymore, R-134a is sold in 1lb cans and 30lb cans and you can get some at an auto parts store.

adding too much refrigerant does increase pressure above the point that it can function properly and the high side pressure switch will usually cut the compressor off, or the evaporator temperature just can't get low enough.

if the compressor clutch was going bad it would just slip, it either works or it doesn't.

i think you just need to go back and say "W.T.F. my shit worked before i took it to you and now it doesn't"

 

[SCREWd2V]

thank you for the insite.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

As far as I know (In Canada anyways) R-12 is no longer available period and it is illegal to charge a system with R-12. The only thing we can do is convert the system to use R-134A.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

As far as I know (In Canada anyways) R-12 is no longer available period and it is illegal to charge a system with R-12. The only thing we can do is convert the system to use R-134A.

its legal in the states, but you can only buy it or have it in your possesion with a license, over $10,000 fine to charge a system with a known leak, or to vent to the atmosphere.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Hmm we can't charge a system with it period...that's interesting....

I can only recover it with my license, retrofit and recharge with R-134A

And yea, there are major fines for venting it or charging a leaking system too.

 

[4x4junkie]

I also would be highly suspicious he ignorantly stuck R-134a in there. I suspect the only way to fix it now is to open it up and flush everything out of the mixed mess of mineral and PAG oils. May as well convert it to correctly use the R-134a.

FWIW, I converted my '90 to R-134a and it blows almost freezing cold (a thermometer in the vent fluctuates between 36-40°). It's certainly a worthwhile conversion (stock '90 condenser works fine for 134a).

 

[robertc1024]

Not to thread-jack (Although I guess I am) - 4x4 - what did you replace when you did the conversion? My '88 compressor leaked and I was going to replace all hoses (worried about the black death), compressor, drier, expansion valve... Some people here have said to replace the condenser too. Do replacement hoses have the R-134a fittings on them?

 

[4x4junkie]

I detailed my conversion here

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21719

My replacement hoses (and the accumulator/drier) had R-12 fittings on them (on which I had to put the conversion adapters), but the hoses were still the "barrier" type suitable for use with either freon.