Recharging my AC
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,005
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From: Eastern, Idaho
Recharging my AC
I went down to checkers and bought a air conditioning recharge kit. My truck is already profesionally converted to a 134a system. I think i have a leak somewhere because last fall I had to put a new blower motor in and I had to move around that core ac core inside the big black box. Well I think I punctured it somehow or bent a line and split something. Any way how long does it take to completely charge this thing? I have had my truck running for about 35 minutes and it still hasnt emptied the bottle completly. My compressor is on and working so it couldnt be that. I bought the stuff with sealer in it but if it just runs out again I will have to buy a new core thing. Does anybody know where I could get one? I dont see them in lmc or autokrafters.
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From: Virginia
Recharging my AC
Are you holding the can upside down like the instructions say? Also you need to make sure how much was in there to begin with. If it was totally empty, you know how much to put in, but if it still have some in it, you don't want to overcharge the system.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Palm Bay, Florida
Recharging my AC
Ditto on turning the can upside down, your truck should have the sight glass (providing it is no newer than '79)and they say you should only use about 80% of what your system was designed for of R12 in R134A so watch the glass, and I'd say about 3 cans (the small ones) should be just about right, let us know what/where you find a leak.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2001
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Recharging my AC
You really need someone that has a set of guages to recharge the system,
also your evaperator core can be repaired, just take it out of the truck after you find the leak, any A/C shop can weld it up for you,
Ben
also your evaperator core can be repaired, just take it out of the truck after you find the leak, any A/C shop can weld it up for you,
Ben
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
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Recharging my AC
An empty system on those older trucks hold about 45 ounces of R-12, so you should be able to get it close with 3 cans of 134a (36oz). If you are charging the system on the low pressure side, which is the best way, never turn the can upside down. By doing this, you are pouring liquid right into the compressor which will slug it and bend rods and valves. Hold the can up-right and let the pressure in the can release into the system. As the can gets colder, the pressure is dropping causing it to take forever. Get yourself a pot of hot tap water and put the can (rightside up) in the hot water, this will bring the pressure of the freon back up and force it into your system. As far as a new evap. core, try to find a shop in your area that specializes in a/c work, they should be able to order one for you, or maybe repair yours.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Gainesville, FL
Recharging my AC
Orange,
The previous comment is correct. Holding the can upright is the proper way. But! If there is way too little refrigerant you can hold the can upside down and get away with it. The sight glass is located on top of the dryer at the front of the truck at the condenser on the passenger side. It's not that easy to see. I think you may have a leak between the expansion valve and evaporator. If you were jerking the whole thing around you may have just cocked it enough to cause a leak. Get some dish detergent and pout it on the joints. Pressureize the system and watch for bubbles. Tighten the joints and you may solve your problem. Don't tell anyone about this technique; It's a secret!
My Way is the Highway.
KingFisher
The previous comment is correct. Holding the can upright is the proper way. But! If there is way too little refrigerant you can hold the can upside down and get away with it. The sight glass is located on top of the dryer at the front of the truck at the condenser on the passenger side. It's not that easy to see. I think you may have a leak between the expansion valve and evaporator. If you were jerking the whole thing around you may have just cocked it enough to cause a leak. Get some dish detergent and pout it on the joints. Pressureize the system and watch for bubbles. Tighten the joints and you may solve your problem. Don't tell anyone about this technique; It's a secret!
My Way is the Highway.
KingFisher
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From: Cullman Alabama
Recharging my AC
Parn' my ignorance here, but if his Compressor is running, I think that means he has pressure in the system. He probably wont find a leak!
If Im wrong there, somebody let me know....
One of the Charactistics of R-134 is "winter leakdown". My 96 Dodge does is, as well as my Chev and Ford Puckups.
It takes a small can to get it going again in the spring.
It wont leak down if you can use the AC once a week or so during the winter. I found it difficult to do when I lived in Alaska.
I've been turning the Can upside down forever. I do it on the First can, then the Second is right side up and a third is right side up if it's needed.
If Im wrong there, somebody let me know....
One of the Charactistics of R-134 is "winter leakdown". My 96 Dodge does is, as well as my Chev and Ford Puckups.
It takes a small can to get it going again in the spring.
It wont leak down if you can use the AC once a week or so during the winter. I found it difficult to do when I lived in Alaska.
I've been turning the Can upside down forever. I do it on the First can, then the Second is right side up and a third is right side up if it's needed.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
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Recharging my AC
thudpucker, back then they didnt use a low pressure switch to keep the compressor from coming on when you got low of freon, it would run even if the system was completly empty.
Late model compressors leak down in the winter because the seals dry up in the compressor which causes them to leak. If you run your compressor during the winter every so often, it will keep the seals soft preventing it from leaking out.
Alot of people charge their A/C with the can upside down, but think about it, when its upside down, its liquid coming out of the can, not gas, liquid doesnt compress, so something has to give. you can pour it in on the high side, but dont try it while the compressor is running, it will try to force it back into the can.
Late model compressors leak down in the winter because the seals dry up in the compressor which causes them to leak. If you run your compressor during the winter every so often, it will keep the seals soft preventing it from leaking out.
Alot of people charge their A/C with the can upside down, but think about it, when its upside down, its liquid coming out of the can, not gas, liquid doesnt compress, so something has to give. you can pour it in on the high side, but dont try it while the compressor is running, it will try to force it back into the can.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Cullman Alabama
Recharging my AC
OK, I'll charge it with the Can Right side up.I thought (there goes my weakness again) that all the fluid would go into the system with the can upside down. ie: I thought I was getting a little more out of each can that way.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Eastern, Idaho
Recharging my AC
I have a guage And it says my system is completly empty. When my truck is running with the fan on low and ac on I can hear a pressure leak inside the black box. I will try the soap on the joints thing.
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From: Virginia
Recharging my AC
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 07-May-02 AT 02:23 PM (EST)]Well, the instructions on the side of the r-134a can with ester oil say to hold it upside down and shake it while the compressor is runnning.
I just looked at the website of the manufacturer of the retro-fit kit I used.
http://www.id-usa.com/faq2.htm
I copied this out of one of their FAQ responses.
What direction should the can be when charging - rightside up or upside down?
Plain refrigerant should be installed as a gas, with the can rightside up. If it's a can with refrigerant and oil or other additives, shake the can and alternate directions (rightside up then upside down, then rightside up, etc.) during installation to prevent the other chemicals from settling to the bottom. Finish with the can upside down.
I just looked at the website of the manufacturer of the retro-fit kit I used.
http://www.id-usa.com/faq2.htm
I copied this out of one of their FAQ responses.
What direction should the can be when charging - rightside up or upside down?
Plain refrigerant should be installed as a gas, with the can rightside up. If it's a can with refrigerant and oil or other additives, shake the can and alternate directions (rightside up then upside down, then rightside up, etc.) during installation to prevent the other chemicals from settling to the bottom. Finish with the can upside down.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 63
From: Eastern, Idaho
Recharging my AC
I think I have a major leak. The refrigerent just runs back out where I can hear the noise. My guage says I have no refrigerent and I put a whole big can in so I will see if I can fix the leak. If I have a crack in the metal tubing can I use quicksteel or jb weld on it? That stuff works great I put some on a hole in my radiator and the stuff doesnt melt or anything. The hole in my radiator was squirting out coolant about 2 feet, so that stuff holds well.
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