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Vehicle AC tech in Chit Chat cause I know nothin
- Thread starter dntsdad
- Start date
Pt_Ranger_v8
A dministrator
Are the harbor freight gauges good enough for a shadetree guy? I'm getting ready to work on my civic, because it needs a new expansion valve... I don't mind having it evacuated, but if I can save the money of charging it, I will.
That, and all my other vehicles seem to need a/c work every summer
WaterH
Well-known member
I can see you know AC, (I do also) but this statement has me baffled. You pressurize the system to check and find leaks. You don't use vacuum to "tell you there is a leak". When it comes time to put a vacuum on, you don't need to check for leaks because you allready know you don't. Vacuum is a very poor way to check for leaks for the reasons I stated above. 29" of mercury is equal to 15 psi. So if your vacuum pump is really good, it's only 15 lbs. of differnce. An AC system might run as high as 300 psi! Why would you test with 15?
WaterH
Well-known member
Let’s say you lock up the compressor and throw a new one on. Should you spend an hour climbing around every line spraying it with soapy water while you pump argon (which cost money) into it just in case you might have a leak. Or should you throw the vacuum pump on the bitch and let it chug away, seeing as A- it’s necessary to pump all the moisture out of the system once it has been opened anyway and B- it verifies, if it holds a steady vacuum, that their are no leaks in the system. If it gains pressure, then you can geek out with your bottles of argon and soapy spray bottles and magnifying glasses and whatever the fuck else you want to hang off of the boner you rock while solving the mystery of the ac leaks.
Seriously it’s about doing the easiest, least invasive thing first. If it holds vacuum, there’s no real reason to investigate further
So how do you leak check with vacuum? You vacuum it and then close the valve and wait. If the gauge changes you have a leak. Is it hard to put pressure on and close the valve and wait? No climbing around with soapy water. If the gauge changes, then you can get the soapy water out. Argon doesn't cost that much. If you don't have any, I guess you could use compressed air. (More moisture) Again, 15 psi is not much test pressure for a system that typically runs over a 100.
LSxFJ
Toyota dude
Every r12 to r134a retrofit I've done the past few years has just been oil and a fitting on the low side. If the compressor lives, it lives(it usually does). My process is to evacuate the r12(if there is any, usually it's empty), install conversion fitting on the low side fitting, pull and hold vacuum, add ester oil and charge with 134a(75% of the r12 amount). Run it for an hour or so and then check for leaks via uv dye.
Just my 2 cents...
Just my 2 cents...
DRTDEVL
Mothfukle
Are the harbor freight gauges good enough for a shadetree guy? I'm getting ready to work on my civic, because it needs a new expansion valve... I don't mind having it evacuated, but if I can save the money of charging it, I will.
That, and all my other vehicles seem to need a/c work every summer
I have a cheapo set I got on Amazon (even cheaper then the HF set). The high side port failed miserably after about 3 uses (wouldn't seal, passed gases through the valve itself and pushed the sticker on the knob up to vent). I replaced the quick-disconnects with a better set, and I have used the crap out of it for the past 3 years.
A_G
Semi-Controlled rage
your not wrong.
I dont carry inert gas on my truck so i leak check with a vacuum.
At base id use nitrogen. After evac what it might have in it, comparing to specs. I usually change port Schrader (cheap and usually breaking the seal the first time can cause a leak) check with nitrogen mabye a dye injection. Repair, vac down, charge and run with gauges.
Thats even assuming your static pressures pointed to a leak. Binary trinity switches.
Or my favorite a full system drawing a vacuum. Txv failed or a plugged office
montrose818
Banned
My vote is for Mastercool gauges and a Robinair pump. But I like to hang on to my stuff for a while.
I also like 12oz cans of r134.
Theyve paid for themselves over and over. I got 99 problems, but AC aint one.
I also like 12oz cans of r134.
Theyve paid for themselves over and over. I got 99 problems, but AC aint one.
TRINDU
PBB Orphan
OP, ignore PAE and Waterhead rambling.
Replace parts and seals, draw vacuum, if it doesnt change after 10min fill it up.
Replace parts and seals, draw vacuum, if it doesnt change after 10min fill it up.
Clb
another toyota from P.R.K
I actually watched some YouTube videos last night on this and it looks pretty simple.
I should have done that first!
Youboob
The great unwashed idiot forum to post ignorance.
3-5 dumbazzes concur with the regurgitated rhetoric they saw on the net!
Can we get a you tube for professional people's required to pass a test first?!
Bamajeeper
Annoying flesh monkeys!
My vote is for Mastercool gauges and a Robinair pump. But I like to hang on to my stuff for a while.
I also like 12oz cans of r134.
Theyve paid for themselves over and over. I got 99 problems, but AC aint one.
This for sure.
What does not having a torch have to do with argon?
Pt_Ranger_v8
A dministrator
Most people would use argon for welding.....that's what he's talking about.
WaterH
Well-known member
I assume he means tig torch. I use to have a tank of nitrogen for leak checking and a tank of argon for welding with the tig. But running out of argon on the weekend sucks, so I got the nitro tank filled with argon. Not very big, but it will get me out of a pinch.
not2hye
Knucklehead
Did you get this thing sorted out already?
Ive got 30lb cyl of 134, dry nitro for leak check, vacuum pump and all that needed to convert. I’m right down the road from you. Pm me if you need a hand.
Ive got 30lb cyl of 134, dry nitro for leak check, vacuum pump and all that needed to convert. I’m right down the road from you. Pm me if you need a hand.
dntsdad
Central California
Fuck no I didn't. Why do it when its 104 out? It too hot to fix the AC
I will probably just wait now till I swap the bodies. I was going to just keep the truck as is and use it but i changed my mind...until the next time I change my mind:rolleyes:
not2hye
Knucklehead
Fuck no I didn't. Why do it when its 104 out? It too hot to fix the AC
I will probably just wait now till I swap the bodies. I was going to just keep the truck as is and use it but i changed my mind...until the next time I change my mind:rolleyes:
Because thats when everyone wants their AC fixed.
Bring that bitch over here with some burritos and beer. We'll get it handled.