A/C Adventure continues
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Stephentown NY
A/C Adventure continues
I had an A/C line with a hole in it, I replaced the (expensive) line a couple of weeks ago vacuumed the system (it held proper vacuum for 30 minutes) and recharged using my gauges and store bought cans. Going down the road on a 70 degree day I could only get the front vents to blow 47 degree air and of course warmer at idle. Thinking I might have had to much oil in the system or not enough 134a I took it in to Jiffy Lube today. I did watch them run it on the A/C machine. When they brought it around front the kid says ok its blowing cold air now. I pull out the thermometer and I'm getting about 57 degrees at idle and about 46 going down the road 68 degrees outside temp. Just wondering if these temps are normal ( seemed colder before). I always thought that 30 degrees under ambient but not below 33 was what it should be. I complained a little and the manager is going to call me tomorrow. Dont want to yell at him if its me or the Navigators fault. Any thoughts or opinions?
Thanks
Dom
Thanks
Dom
Elder User
Joined: May 2011
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Well honestly the PROPER way to do the servicing is to hit it on the high pressure side with the A/C machine from empty. The cans might not have been up to the task since you were using the low side.
The next issue is taking it to Jiffy Lube. The people who work there are not actual techs of any sort and have minimal training at best or are just high school kids turning wrenches at worst (actually lucky if you get someone still in HS and not a drop out or an addict...). I will never take any of my vehicles within 100 feet of any of the "qwik lubes" personally. If you still don't like how the A/C is blowing I would take it to the stealership and have them evac everything that is in there and re-service it properly. If it still isn't cold after that then there is something else going on.
The next issue is taking it to Jiffy Lube. The people who work there are not actual techs of any sort and have minimal training at best or are just high school kids turning wrenches at worst (actually lucky if you get someone still in HS and not a drop out or an addict...). I will never take any of my vehicles within 100 feet of any of the "qwik lubes" personally. If you still don't like how the A/C is blowing I would take it to the stealership and have them evac everything that is in there and re-service it properly. If it still isn't cold after that then there is something else going on.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 241
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From: Albuquerque
That seems like an odd way to recharge the system. The high side can get to 200psi when running. Does the machine pressurize the freon to add it? During the several years I did auto A/C install and service we always added to the low side with a can and properly filled it. This was 30 years ago when there was no need to recycle the freon so we didn't have fancy machines to remove the freon before servicing, but it seems the overall process should be the same.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
Dude, safety first! Most people here do not have use of an A/C machine. Therefore they're going to use cans. If they use cans and open up the high side with the can connected, it's going to blow up like a grenade and cause a whole lot of hurt. What you failed to mention is that with the compressor OFF, both the low and high sides get filled, then the high side is closed off, then the compressor gets turned on, and then the balance of the refrigerant is added through only the low side.
Elder User
Joined: May 2011
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I wasn't suggesting someone try to put a can in the high side or use an AC machine themselves...
Besides the couplers are idiot proofed so you can't hook up a low pressure connector to the high pressure side. I was suggesting that he have it properly evac'd and serviced by an actual shop that uses real techs instead of high schoolers/college kids.
Besides the couplers are idiot proofed so you can't hook up a low pressure connector to the high pressure side. I was suggesting that he have it properly evac'd and serviced by an actual shop that uses real techs instead of high schoolers/college kids.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 521
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From: Southern New England
If the system was in a vacuum state then it should easily pull in the refridgerant from the low side. It may be that the system was not cleared of non-condensables, since it was open to the atmosphere from the hole in a line. 20 degrees below ambient is a good guide for supply air temps.
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