I started doing my spring maintenance on my '91 motorhome (E350). After changing the oil, I fired up the engine. The condenser started making noise right away. Turning on the a/c didn't change the noise. I also noticed the clutch was not engaging.

When I parked it in the fall, all was well. This was the first time I ran it since then. What happened? I'm running R-12 right now and was planning on doing the R134 conversion in the next week or 2.

What do you think is broken? Do I need a new compressor? I talked to an a/c guy, who doesn't do repairs, and he said for the conversion I would need a new Drier, true?

Thanks,

-Victor

 

Your second question first. yes you should replace the dryer/ accumulator cartrige with a new one if you are going to do a conversion from R-12 to 134a .
Now the first Question Second .A good guestument is no your compressor has not gone bad on you. A/c systems, O-rings and espesally commpressor seals tend to get q little wear on them after a few years use and develope small / slow refregerant leaks. most A/c units have a safety devise for there own self protection that will not alowe the clutch to engage and run / damage the compressor after x ammount of freon has leaked out. this probly what has happened wth yours. the nouse from the condenser after the refrigerant all leaks out air starts getting in .

When you convert you should replace o-rings also, and do a flush. also add a can of MAXiCOOL booster additive first then complete the charge useing gage readings/ indications or a weight charge minus the maxicool charge

When was the last time any refrgerant was added and how much if you know?

 

Danll,

Thanks for your response. Okay, I will get the new drier accumulator.

So happy to hear that is what is probably going on. I was affraid of having to tell my wife I need to buy another $300 item. Your guess makes a lot of sense, because the a/c seemed to not put out as much cold air by the end of summer.

Alright, will change the o-rings & do the Maxicool too.

I think it's been a while since anything has ever been done to the a/c system. My guess would be never though. The P/O kept impecable records, and I don't have anything on a/c work.

Any guesstimates on how much it might cost to have this work done?

Thanks a ton,

-Victor

 

I've heard that on a system that old, you should replace the hoses as well since they are old and brittle and were designed for R 12.

It's one of those things that it might work -- and then again it might not.

 

A Ford specific conversion kit goes for about 17.00 thats o-rings , label, fittings, spring locks and ester oil.

134 A is 4.00 a lb or 6.00 if you get the 14 oz car cans. your compressor will have the full charge /weight ammount on the label or there will be a separate label under the hood some where.

Maxi cool is about 6.00 bucks a can too.

a dryer /accumulator cart is 53.99 before taxes for your machine.

Labor i dont have a clue. you can call a couple of shops then pick one that has a standard fee for the complete conversion. I am a EPA card carrying
do it my self kind of guy

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I just called Ford, and the parts guy said they no longer sell the conversion kits.

I talked to a few a/c shops, and none of them said they put in Maxicool and don't want to. How do I get around this? Should I keep looking for a place that will?

Where can I get Maxicool?

As far as my compressor goes, will I harm it if I don't get this work done right away? I have a number of other maintenance things I'll be doing and I'm wondering where on the list this should go. On top? The other things are purely maintenance and not repairs.

Thanks,

-Victor

 

You are in a tight spot. Your system was designed for R 12 and is over 10 years old. It sounds like you may be putting good money after bad if you try and just upgrade part of it.

If money is tight, I wouldn't worry about the compresser. It has a low pressure switch that will prevent it from running.

If you want it to work so that it works and you are not always having to cuss it, I think you need to look at replacing you AC system. Not a cheap alternative but it beats $200 and $300 every couple of weeks on a system that is not set up for R 134.

If you're good at poker, then you may have luck by trying to get your old system to get you by.

We have a '90 dodge p/u (at work) that is in the same boat. I just spent $200 dollars so that it will cool on the R 12 and my hope is that it runs through this summer and then we can get rid of it before the whole thing shoots craps. A gamble already.

 

LD_VIC
First of all the reto fit/ conversion kit is availible from http://www.refrigerantsales.com/ for about $17.00 dont sweat the dealer on that.

MAXI COOL is sold at about evry auto parts store ive ever been is in in fact i was in advance today and saw it on display.

Again if you have a shop you trust and they dont want to use it go with them its not a must have item and they will get the system up and running or they wouild go out of bisness. and dont worry about the conversion kit they will supply the required fittings and labels its the law they gots to.

As far as how long to wait and will it hurt the compressor? As long as there is some freon left in the system you are OK even if their isnt the required amount to operate it. this keeps the air and moisture out and moitsure in a A/C system is a bad thing
so hold off on the A/c and get you other items taken care of firdt but dont wait for ever.

Dano