A/C problem after R134a conversion, please help.

[Sal 87WE2]

OK all, i finished up the conversion late yesterday and here is a rundown of what i did and what happened:

Flushed out hoses, lines, and evaporator. Installed New Compressor, Condenser, Drier, Red Orifice Tube. Added oil to compressor, condenser, and drier, 8oz total. Installed green o-rings.

(Orifice tube installs arrow pointing to evaporator, right?)

Vacuumed down system for 30 mins, stopped for 10 mins, vacuumed down again for another hour.

Began the process to add R134A and it took 5 mins for 1 can, can started to ice up. Checked the lower line where the orifice tube is located and it was icing up on the evaporator side. Opened line and removed orifice tube, covered in oil and black trash mostly on small screen side. Flushed out Evap AGAIN with ac flush and air, reinstalled NEW red tube and vacuumed down for 30 mins (while system was opened, i capped off drier with plastic caps originally came with). Tried to add R134a and same thing, lower line of evap icing up in same place.

Ideas on what i did wrong and how to fix this? Very frustrated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[charlief1]

You need to replace the condensor. Sounds like there's some trash in it and it doesn't want to come out.

 

[Sal 87WE2]

You need to replace the condensor. Sounds like there's some trash in it and it doesn't want to come out.

Thanks Charlie, i didnt flush the (new) condenser because it had caps and i thought it would be clean. Should i replace the new drier or cap it off as soon as i remove it? Orifice can only go in one way, right? arrow point to evap?

Thanks for all your knowledge, i really appreciate it.

 

[charlief1]

It's a new condensor? Then you may have some other trash in it some where. Get another accumulator and take everything off for a good cleaning again. I prefer the quart size so I can have the lines off. Plug one end of the line with your finger and pour the cleaner in. Then kinda shake it up so you can clean it real good. It takes longer but it works best for me.

 

[Sal 87WE2]

It's a new condensor? Then you may have some other trash in it some where. Get another accumulator and take everything off for a good cleaning again. I prefer the quart size so I can have the lines off. Plug one end of the line with your finger and pour the cleaner in. Then kinda shake it up so you can clean it real good. It takes longer but it works best for me.

Yes new. I bought it from O'reillys and when i picked it up the box was beat to hell. I called them and they are trying to find another one for me.

The only other place that i can think of is the evap core has trash in it. I flushed it after the orifice clogged the first time and black trash was flowing out, it wasnt there the first time i flushed it

Also, when i opened the lines after the orifice clogged (to flush), the oil was foamy. Is that normal?

 

[charlief1]

Foamy oil is fairly normal since the R-134 does mix in it to some degree. I've been thinking about it at work tonight and I'm beginning to think your hoses are breaking down. After 20 plus years I'm sure the hoses are begining to rot so take a very good look at them.

 

[Sal 87WE2]

hmmm, could be. How can i tell if they are bad? The outsides look good when i had them off, where can i get new replacements? Or can someone/company make me new hoses?

 

[turbogray]

the way mine were done is they cut off the old crimp and removed the hoses then used barrier hose for 134a and re crimped onto the old aluminum lines

 

[Sal 87WE2]

the way mine were done is they cut off the old crimp and removed the hoses then used barrier hose for 134a and re crimped onto the old aluminum lines

Cool, who did them for you? about how much?

 

[Sal 87WE2]

Foamy oil is fairly normal since the R-134 does mix in it to some degree. I've been thinking about it at work tonight and I'm beginning to think your hoses are breaking down. After 20 plus years I'm sure the hoses are begining to rot so take a very good look at them.

Another question, since the orifice had small black particles (possibly hose material) how will the new compressor hold up with some of this in the system? i am thinking about pulling it off, completely draining it, and flushing the entire system. I ran it for about 10 mins total...

Thoughts?

 

[charlief1]

the way mine were done is they cut off the old crimp and removed the hoses then used barrier hose for 134a and re crimped onto the old aluminum lines

Very good idea Gray. Thanks.

Another question, since the orifice had small black particles (possibly hose material) how will the new compressor hold up with some of this in the system? i am thinking about pulling it off, completely draining it, and flushing the entire system. I ran it for about 10 mins total...

Thoughts?

I'd take everything off and make sure that's there's no issues. Drain the compressor for sure to see if any crap got into it. Flushing the entire system is never a bad Idea. When you go back with everything add about 2 OZ of oil to the condensor first, then add a little to the compressor. Turn the compressor 10 or more time before you put it on. Listen for a sucking sound. If it make a good sucking sound then it has enough oil in it. It may come out but don't worry about it. You don't want a lot in the compressor.

Add the rest of the oil, 4-5 oz, to the accumulator and suck it down. Check for leaks from loss of vacuum. If you don't have any then suck it down for at least 1 hour. I prefer to suck it down for 2 or more. Shoot it up and see how she does.

 

[Roger]

the way mine were done is they cut off the old crimp and removed the hoses then used barrier hose for 134a and re crimped onto the old aluminum lines

Did mine same.

 

[Sal 87WE2]

Update....

2nd Attempt....

I removed the orifice tube and this time no trash on screen but i installed new one anyways.

I tried to flush compressor by filling it with oil and draining it. Small black debris came out each time, i filled with 4oz 4 different times (fresh oil each time) for a total of 16 oz and each time debris came out. I filled it with 2 more oz and installed. Under vacuum, I rotated the compressor and it felt very easy to rotate compared to the 1st time when i installed it.

I flushed the evap core 5 times with a total 1.5 quarts of flush into ziploc bag. Each time i flushed, black debris and also what looked like tiny rocks came out. On the last flush, a small amout black debris was still present and the tiny rocks.

Vacuumed down for 3 hours and held vacuum overnight. Vacuumed for another hour this morning and began to charge system.

Attached R134a to charging hose, purged hose, open low valve, engine running, max a/c on, jumped low press switch and r134a can began to get really really cold.

High Side - 50 psi
Low side - 2 psi

Evap inlet started to get cold and icy and that was it.

This is getting very aggravating.

Ideas on what to do next to get this working properly?

 

[charlief1]

The tiny "rocks" are desicant that has broken free from the accumulator and are now floating through your system. I hate to say it but the compressor is trashed. Was it a new accumulator?

 

[Sal 87WE2]

The tiny "rocks" are desicant that has broken free from the accumulator and are now floating through your system. I hate to say it but the compressor is trashed. Was it a new accumulator?

The Compressor *was* new and so was the accumulator. BUT the rocks were in the system (obviously) the first time i tried to charge it.

So, are you saying the compressor is trashed based on the psi readings? Or because of the desicant floating around?

Also, what causes the inlet on the evap core to ice up?

 

[gusszgs]

Just a thought but you do have the orifice tube in the correct way.....short end to the evaporator?

 

[Sal 87WE2]

Just a thought but you do have the orifice tube in the correct way.....short end to the evaporator?

Hi Jim, yes short screen (arrow) pointing to evaporator.

I will try this all over again, I will get another compressor, flush all the lines and replace the evap core and drier.

BTW, I just bought a new evaporator core online from Advance auto for $90. Hopefully third time is the charm. There is nothing else to replace except the car.

This has to be it...

 

[49-blues]

You could also try blowing out all trhe lines with about 125 lbs of nitrogen.

 

[charlief1]

The Compressor *was* new and so was the accumulator. BUT the rocks were in the system (obviously) the first time i tried to charge it.

So, are you saying the compressor is trashed based on the psi readings? Or because of the desicant floating around?

Also, what causes the inlet on the evap core to ice up?

Think about where the desicant is located in the system Sal. The compressor is downstream and it put them in the evap core so they had to go through the compressor first. Some of it was broken apart and it's basically sand then. I'd bet some of it is even in the condensor so you might want to replace it as well.

 

[HillbillyRacing]

a/c problems

if you bought all the new parts at the same place oreillys,advance,ect they should make all the parts up and your freon and oil if the new accumulator came apart i would think.mike