A/C question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lazyj70]

I have a 70 XLT with factory A/C. It wasn't blowing cold so I took it all out cleaned it all up and changed it over to the new freon. Well that didn't work. It blew cool air but never cold air. I asked one of my buddies what he thought and he said the new freon didn't get as cold as the old stuff (R-12). So I changed it back over to the old stuff and I got the same results. Cool air but not cold. On a day that it's 80 degrees outside it will keep it cool enough. Any hotter than 85 and it's a toss up between running the A/C or rolling the windows down. I do not want to take the factory air out and put in aftermarket air unless that's my last option. Does anyone have any ideas or advice.

[69bumptruck]

I have a 70 XLT with factory A/C. It wasn't blowing cold so I took it all out cleaned it all up and changed it over to the new freon. Well that didn't work. It blew cool air but never cold air. I asked one of my buddies what he thought and he said the new freon didn't get as cold as the old stuff (R-12). So I changed it back over to the old stuff and I got the same results. Cool air but not cold. On a day that it's 80 degrees outside it will keep it cool enough. Any hotter than 85 and it's a toss up between running the A/C or rolling the windows down. I do not want to take the factory air out and put in aftermarket air unless that's my last option. Does anyone have any ideas or advice.

The new freon gets just as cold.

Check for leaks. You can buy a dye to run in the system. Do not overfill with freon, this can cause more problems. Make sure your compressor is kicking on. If all this is good, you'll need to have the compressor professionally checked. Could be it's not kicking in, or it's trying to lock up. Filling it full with freon will make it lock up if the compressor is trying to go out. It may run and blow cool air, but not cold air. Check the little aluminum canister under the hood and make sure it's getting cold to the touch. If not, it's probably your compressor. One last thing... make sure the belt to the compressor is not loose.

[Thunderfoot]

Over time / usage or a contaminated system, the expansion valve can go bad. This is where the freon goes from high pressure to low pressure making the freon cold. You can get these at most parts stores.
Also, any time you change to the new style freon, or any time you open up the system you should replace the acumulator / drier, this can get plugged and cause restriction of the freon flow...
Running the new Freon is just as cold as the old but you do have to use more of the new compared to the old for installed amount.

[lazyj70]

I have ran the dye through it and found no leaks. I have also replaced the dryer. I'll check the other stuff though.

[spartman]

I have heard that you need to replace the condenser (the aluminum radiator in the a/c to accommodate for the newer freon not having the same "value" as the old r-12.

Also they have said that you need to replace the hoses and the seals to ones that are compatible with the new stuff.
I guess the new stuff has smaller particle size and will eventually leak through the hoses that would hold the r-12

I have never done it myself but have heard this on various other boards when people convert to the new stuff in a system that was r-12 originally.

[Thunderfoot]

I have heard that you need to replace the condenser (the aluminum radiator in the a/c to accommodate for the newer freon not having the same "value" as the old r-12.

Also they have said that you need to replace the hoses and the seals to ones that are compatible with the new stuff.
I guess the new stuff has smaller particle size and will eventually leak through the hoses that would hold the r-12

I have never done it myself but have heard this on various other boards when people convert to the new stuff in a system that was r-12 originally.

Hey Spartman,
A lot of the dealers changed over cars from the old to the new and they don't replace the condensers or the lines... They do replace the O-rings on the line connections to the “Greenâ€Â

[wt4speed#2]

Some one had some of the old stuff for sale over in parts ection.

[dablack00]

Are you using the original York compressor? I would check the other things first. I know you said you checked for leaks but did you pull a vacuum and then let it sit to see if it held the vacuum? If you held the vacuum then I would really focused on blockages. Especially at the expansion valve.

Let us know how it goes. I will be charging up an original system sometime in the fall.

Austin

[CA180]

i second the expansion valve. The rear a/c in my wifes old durango didnt get real cold, and it ended up being the exp valve.

It is also a good idea to blow all the lines out and get all the old oil out of the system. It can compromise the r-134. But be sure to replace it with a compatible oil. I cant remember if its the same percentage... I think it is though.

[averagef250]

I'm selling enough R12 to last the rest of your life. Somebody buy it please!

[69bumptruck]

I doubt it is plugged anywhere. Lazyj70 said it was blowing, just not blowing real cold. And he also switched back over to the "old" freon. As long as it still has the "old" freon, he will not need to replace everything. But if he switches back the "new" stuff, then yes, hoses, rings, tc.. will need replaced. I still vote for a compressor check. As for the amount of old vs. new freon, both work by the lbs. So if your system holds 3.5 to 4 lbs, it doesn't matter if it's old or new, just how many lbs. are going into it. Putting in too much can be very detrimental to the system. Anyway, Lazyj70, hopefully you'll get it fixed. Just post what the problem was if you would, just curious.

[lazyj70]

Are you using the original York compressor? I would check the other things first. I know you said you checked for leaks but did you pull a vacuum and then let it sit to see if it held the vacuum? If you held the vacuum then I would really focused on blockages. Especially at the expansion valve.

Let us know how it goes. I will be charging up an original system sometime in the fall.

Austin

I took it to a old man that fiddles with auto A/C a lot and he said that he didn't find any leaks. I am assuming that it has the original compressor on it. He said that it had a lot of dye in it from when I was looking for leaks, so he said he pulled a vacuum on it and sucked most all of the freon and dye out and then added 3 cans to fill it back up. He said it holds 3.5 cans when empty. Anyway after all of this it still just blew cool air but not cold air. He said he thinks if I get a new compressor it will fix it, so I am going to order one in the morning for $140 from Auto Zone. I hope I told all of this correct as I am just trying to recall what he told me and I personally know nothing about A/C. I'll let ya'll know if that fixes it.

[Wes]

pressure reading w/ ambient out side temp and max cool regulator temp would aid greatly in diagnoses of the compressor and thermal expansion valve. both high and low.

One other you should check the air flow though the condenser. Have you personal ever had this a/c system working good b4 ?

[lazyj70]

pressure reading w/ ambient out side temp and max cool regulator temp would aid greatly in diagnoses of the compressor and thermal expansion valve. both high and low.

One other you should check the air flow though the condenser. Have you personal ever had this a/c system working good b4 ?

No I haven't ever had this A/C working. I think the guy working on it said it wasn't cooling at all. It kind of feels a little cool to the skin, but it hasn't got real hot yet, it's been hot (about 90 today) but not really hot, so it might no be cooling at all. It may have just felt a little cool to me. It'll keep you comfortable in 80 degree weather but that's it. But then again the vent will nearly do the trick in 80 degree weather. We'll see what a new compressor with do.

[wt4speed#2]

If your goning to replace the compressor might as well grab an acculator while your at it.