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pbnj
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Joined: August 14, 2015
Posts: 157
Location: Texas
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 Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:59 am Post subject: AC not cold |
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I have AC in my 77 vert convertible, and since taking ownership it has never blown cold air. I have put refrigerant in it recently as it was very low, and the compressor plate turns, but still no cold air. Any thoughts?
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Mr.Duncan
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Joined: May 12, 2012
Posts: 3542
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:02 am Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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did you use a proper set of A/C gauges so you can see what the high side, and low side pressures are at?
Is the clutch a/c clutch energizing?
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(Owner) www.vintagecarleds.com
Red 1971 Squareback Thread
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busdaddy
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Joined: February 12, 2004
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Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:37 am Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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Did you pull a vacuum on it before recharging it?
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
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coonhunter
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Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 150
Location: Amarillo, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:42 am Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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When my a/c stops working, I have to do one of two things, pull the string to rotate the element back in the water, or add more water  . This is assuming that I am moving of course, sitting still it never works.
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pbnj
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2015
Posts: 157
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 11:03 am Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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Thanks for the replies. I am not too familiar with pulling a vacuum. I also just used a refrigerant i purchased from Oriely's.
Pete
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Mr.Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2012
Posts: 3542
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 11:06 am Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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| pbnj wrote: |
Thanks for the replies. I am not too familiar with pulling a vacuum. I also just used a refrigerant i purchased from Oriely's.
Pete |
Those kits are not really... that great at "fixing" the problem.
Its best to rent a set of gauges, pull the system to a vacuum, check for leaks. and re-charge it properly.
It sounds like you may need to swing by a shop and have a a/c specialist do this for you...
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(Owner) www.vintagecarleds.com
Red 1971 Squareback Thread
Red 1966 Beetle Thread
---------------------------------------------------
1971 Green Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Ghia (sold)
1971 Blue Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Java Green Std Beetle (sold)
1971 Red Squareback (sold)
1966 Red Beetle |
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pbnj
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2015
Posts: 157
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 11:15 am Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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Thanks
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Q-Dog
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Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8700
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 2:56 pm Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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We had a 1974 with dealer installed AC and on a hot, sunny day it could not keep the car cool. It was OK in the morning, but if you parked that car in the sun for an hour or so the AC could not cool the car down. I drove it with the windows down a lot.
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Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
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busdaddy
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Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51154
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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| Q-Dog wrote: |
| We had a 1974 with dealer installed AC and on a hot, sunny day it could not keep the car cool. It was OK in the morning, but if you parked that car in the sun for an hour or so the AC could not cool the car down. I drove it with the windows down a lot. |
Those same compressors were used on giant 70's land yachts, imagine a great big 4 door Ford LTD or giant Cadillac in black with black seats sitting in the sun, time for a professional recharge.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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Cusser
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Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 31380
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:49 pm Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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| Mr.Duncan wrote: |
| pbnj wrote: |
Thanks for the replies. I am not too familiar with pulling a vacuum. I also just used a refrigerant i purchased from Oriely's.
Pete |
Those kits are not really... that great at "fixing" the problem.
Its best to rent a set of gauges, pull the system to a vacuum, check for leaks. and re-charge it properly.
It sounds like you may need to swing by a shop and have a a/c specialist do this for you... |
1. I sure hope you didn't add anything with a sealer, that could ruin it forever.
2. Was your system converted to R134a? O'Reilly sure doesn't have R-12.
3. Simply adding refrigerant will not solve an issue like this. Yes, once needs to evacuate any air, and add correct amount of refrigerant by weight. Ans likely a new drier. So one needs a gauge kit, vacuum pump, leak detection equipment, etc. The only way refrigerant could be low is due to a leak.
| Q-Dog wrote: |
| We had a 1974 with dealer installed AC and on a hot, sunny day it could not keep the car cool. It was OK in the morning, but if you parked that car in the sun for an hour or so the AC could not cool the car down. I drove it with the windows down a lot. |
Very similar with the dealer-installed AC on my 1970. Supposedly the modern kits are better.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Q-Dog
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Joined: April 05, 2010
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Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
| Q-Dog wrote: |
| We had a 1974 with dealer installed AC and on a hot, sunny day it could not keep the car cool. It was OK in the morning, but if you parked that car in the sun for an hour or so the AC could not cool the car down. I drove it with the windows down a lot. |
Those same compressors were used on giant 70's land yachts, imagine a great big 4 door Ford LTD or giant Cadillac in black with black seats sitting in the sun, time for a professional recharge. |
There was nothing wrong with the system ... professionally serviced and fully charged. The problem was 95° F temps and high humidity of Louisiana.
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'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
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Joel
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Joined: September 04, 2006
Posts: 11099
Location: NSW Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 4:36 am Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
| Q-Dog wrote: |
| We had a 1974 with dealer installed AC and on a hot, sunny day it could not keep the car cool. It was OK in the morning, but if you parked that car in the sun for an hour or so the AC could not cool the car down. I drove it with the windows down a lot. |
Those same compressors were used on giant 70's land yachts, imagine a great big 4 door Ford LTD or giant Cadillac in black with black seats sitting in the sun, time for a professional recharge. |
It was nothing to do with the compressor, VW A/C sucked because the condensers and evaps were undersized, the fans didnt move enough air and the engines lacked the power for such big compressors.
| Mr.Duncan wrote: |
| pbnj wrote: |
Thanks for the replies. I am not too familiar with pulling a vacuum. I also just used a refrigerant i purchased from Oriely's.
Pete |
Those kits are not really... that great at "fixing" the problem. |
THat was one thing that blew my mind when I was in the US recently, that you can just wander into a Walmart by a recharge kit can off the shelf and bobs your uncle.
As a former A/C tech that just makes me cringe.
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Cusser
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Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 31380
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 7:18 am Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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| Joel wrote: |
That was one thing that blew my mind when I was in the US recently, that you can just wander into a Walmart buy a recharge kit can off the shelf .....
As a former A/C tech that just makes me cringe. |
Yeah, and many of those contain "miracle" sealants that will ruin an AC system forever. Folks here cannot seem to understand that refrigerant in a normal system is not consumed, and that if the refrigerant is low, then there is a leak which must - by regulation - be fixed before refilling.
On dedicated automotive AC boards, I've read from experts like GM engineers that 65% of such AC problems are due to refrigerant leaks, like at compressor seals, service valve caps, crimps on rubber refrigerant lines, holes in condenser, etc....
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Joel
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Posts: 11099
Location: NSW Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: AC not cold |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| On dedicated automotive AC boards, I've read from experts like GM engineers that 65% of such AC problems are due to refrigerant leaks, like at compressor seals |
That's exactly it, the shaft seal needs to stay lubricated as its an oil seal.
Most people don't use their A/C enough for long periods like through winter so the shaft seal dries out and the gas gets out.
The manufacturers for about the last 15 years or so have been getting around this by engaging the compressor clutch whenever reverse is selected so the compressor seal stays lubricated.
The other big issue is refrigeration oil is hygroscopic so when all these cars get a low charge and the system isnt pressurised the oil starts pulling in moisture so without vaccing it down and changing the drier when joe blow just shoves his Walmart miracle can in there that moisture can freeze and sludge in the evap.
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