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Re: air conditioning stopped worked Posted by JerseySaab [Email]  (#666) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from JerseySaab) on Sat, 8 Jun 2013 04:47:10
In Reply to: air conditioning stopped worked, rob 96 aero, Sat, 8 Jun 2013 03:34:40 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The compressor will not engage if there is no pressure in the system. The refrigerant is what carries the lubricating oil, running the compressor with no oil will ruin it pretty quickly so there is a safety pressure switch to prevent this from happening.
You really need a gauge set to check the pressures. Harbor Freight has a set on sale for $47, so with one of their commonly-available 20%-off coupons that would make it about $36. (It's definitely a light-duty set that would not be suitable for a shop but is fine for occasional home use.)
If the leak was bad enough to let air into the system, at a minimum you need to draw it down with a vacuum pump to get air and moisture out of the system before refilling with refrigerant. Really in that situation the drier should be changed (a nasty job in a 9000). Also the PAG oil used in R134a systems absorbs moisture. Moisture in the oil does not come out when you draw a vacuum, so if the oil is contaminated it should be dumped and replaced. (In R134a systems moisture can cause acids to form which eats tiny holes in metal parts.)
Of course the underlying problem is that you have a leak in the system that apparently has gotten worse. Could be a bad hose or o-ring, bad compressor seal, leak in condenser, etc. Leak detection can be a challenge, I usually use an electronic detector. You can also inject dye into the system and use an ultraviolet light, or just look at various parts of the system for signs of refrigerant oil leaking out.
One good thing is that except for the drier, the AC system in the 9000 is relatively easy to work on compared to most vehicles. Most of the components are readily accessible. In some cars you have to remove the entire dashboard down to the bare firewall to get at the expansion valve and/or evaporator!
Don't use sealers in your AC system, find and fix the leak!
, Sat, 8 Jun 2013 04:47:10 <-- Viewing This Message
, Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:25:22
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