Refrigeration and Air Conditioning are the same things (different scales,but the same), they work on the same principal, I have also been around before R134, started my apprenticeship when I was 17, at a shop that did everything from installing aftermarket a/c's in cars to grocery stores. I've never had a car that I couldn't fix, it's really simple compared to large refrigeration systems, once you go through it and see whats happening, it's simple to find the problem. Anyways who's talking about the ones you couldn't get working? and why don't you do it now if your certified? I have trouble finding qualified guys to work for me.
Is it because nobody needs A/C in Canada? lol j/k I've seen plenty of things that just don't "work right" for some reason. Maybe Blu ran into one of those things... who knows. But you guys are both qualified so maybe you can help out w/ the A/C problem
First I want to say that I respect you for not taking my jiberish to heart :Handshake I lost intrest working a Pep Boys. I was used and abused most of the 13 yrs I put up with them. Took me that long and thousands invested in tools to get to $20.32 hr. Then I find out they were hiring off the streets with less and or expired ASEs for $25! I started my gate business as a means of escape using my 401K, now i'm happy. Andy, it was several, and I wasn't joking about the crap parts. I would like to think I could shed some light to some and hopefuly be right lol. Seems like the only one I can impress is my sister. Twice she has put the phone up to the car as I listened and got it on the money. Kinda spooked me too tho . She once told me she had to stop at a shop on the way home and the mech said she had a cracked radiator. I told her the wp was slinging the coolant onto it. She got a free radiator cause they didn't want to take it back out... Sorry Roz!! Just chattin while waiting...
Hey, I don't want you guys fighting over me, but on the other hand I haven't had guys fighting over me in a lonnng time . Maybe it's the weather. I was just out in my 1996 Ford Ranger and the A/C was blowing hot for half an hour before it started to cool off. It's only about 80 degrees here today, but the pickup was parked outside for two days and heated up inside. The Mav was parked outside for a day when I drove it back from the repair shop, so maybe I haven't given it enough time. I will try that thing with the thermometer to see how cold it is getting. Would an instant meat thermometer work, or should I use an outdoor thermometer? I'll also ask about how much charge is in it, and insulating it. Frank (71gold is Frank, right?), what did you use for insulation and where did you put it? Roz
I agree with you on crappy parts. When I converted my GMC over I had to buy 3, yes 3 conversion kits. As you all know there is basically nothing in them. The first 2 leaked all my freon out after a few days. I tried getting them to give me freon since it was their fault, but no luck. The third one, which I got at a different parts house, worked like a charm.
I've always used a regular dial face thermometer that is used for meats, etc. They make them just for A/C's but no need to spend the money on one if you have one. Make sure you stick it in your vents, so you know what temp is coming out of the vents, not what it is in the car (shouldn't vary much however)
No problem. I'm not saying the heat is the cause of it, was just a simple suggestion. To much/to little freon, or inferior parts could be part of it also as mentioned. I just know I was disapointed with my A/C when I charged it, but then I realized it was 102 degrees that day, then I was more than happy with it blowing as cold of air as it was. (which was cold, just not as cold as I wanted it to be)
Just be sure it's calibrated. I personaly like the digital ones. They too have a delay in reaching stabalization. I just like reading a # is all the difference. Not as cold as you wanted? I tend to think a system isn't working properly if I don't get a reading of 38 to 44 on low and stabalized.
Like I mentioned before, it can only cool to a certain degree lower than the air tempature.. Plus, The truck was sitting at an idle, in a shop, very little air flow other than the electric fan (was using a air operated vacume machine, not electric, and ran out of air hose) Once I backed it out, and got the air flowing via a shop fan, it cooled down. It only got to 50 ish, but considering it was that hot, it was acceptable. I also didn't let the truck run for as long as I usually would. I had other things to do and the 50ish was way colder than the non a/c I had on the way out to repair, and the not so great A/C before it went out a few weeks earlier.
alot of places offer a free ac inspection. check the penny saver (if you have that where you live) or a news paper that has automotive repair adds in them for shops advertiseing free inspections. Now my pesonal experience wich is servicing air conditioning at a major chain store for 2 years is that r134a can be with in a few degeres of what the r12 systems were at. i would realisticly expect a vent temp under 50 degrees. if the opperating pressures are good (a qualifyed ac service place can verify that with there free inspection) i would install a pusher fan infront of the condensor that turns on when the a/c is turned on. this should ensure proper air flow.
I tried checking the air temp today but the thermometer I was using didn't register anything. It's one of those instant meat thermometers, and very hard to read anyway. I'll see if I can find another thermometer to use, or try a digital. The Mav was in the garage for a few days and did not get too hot in there. When I started driving the air was cool, but after I parked it in the sun for an hour it was coming out warm. The outside temperature was about 90 degrees. I'm going to ask my mechanic to read this thread. Someone in another thread on A/C said he used a product called Freeze 12. Have any of you heard of that? Roz
my opinion...if you don't ...insulate the car from the outside heat and close off the ...fresh air vent...you will never get a comfortable cool inside the car. it's like driving a new car with the windows down... JMO...Frank...:Handshake
