TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Aug 11, 2012 6:49 pm

So it's very possible that I'm crazy, but it would appear that either I don't know where the high pressure service port is or it is not there.

The short story is that my AC does not blow cold. A mechanic told me there is no pressure and they found a large leak near or at the dryer as indicated by green oil all over the place.

I thought I would learn a bit about the AC before walking blindly into a new mechanic (the first guy would not work on) again, by identifying parts etc (and reading nearly the entire Redtek thread here on the Samba).

So am I nuts?

Sat Aug 11, 2012 6:56 pm

Time to pull the corner cabinet...

Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:00 pm

Ok, I read a thread at some point mentioning that it was in there, but is it supposed to be near the compressor as in the Bentley pic?

Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:07 pm

It is on my '86 but obviously not on yours.
Many little changes over the years with the AC (& sometimes other) systems.

I think you lost the first guy because he didn't have the time to go hunting for the port.
Pull the cabinet, find the port, and the next mechanic will know what to do.

Good luck!

Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:16 pm

That makes sense - so the first mechanic said they "checked the system" and found no freon. He said he then put some freon in (god knows what, b ut not R12 - I think Freeze12 maybe) and the system started to get a bit cold but then they noticed a large leak by the dryer.

Would he have been able to do any of that without access to the high side? I'm not looking to go back and hassle anyone, I just want to be smarter the next time I go to another mechanic.

Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:39 pm

Inside the rear cabinet pull the shelves and the corner inside board. They are screwed in but come right out. The high side is right there. Also the pressure sensor. Jumping the sensor allows the compressor to come on when pressure is low.

Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:46 pm

Charging refrigerant goes in the low side... (wait - you missed this after reading all through
the Red Tek thread???) ...but best operation requires measuring pressures on BOTH sides.

Good info here if you'd really like to get into this: http://www.ariazone.com/manuals/Automotive%20Air%20Conditioning%20Training%20Manual.pdf

There's a LOT in there, but it's good stuff to know and ESSENTIAL if you want to talk knowledgably with your mechanic.

Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:06 pm

I do actually remember something about that from the redtek thread, but I admit not absorbing all of the info in a 25 pg. thread :D

Thanks for the link!