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menko
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2015
Posts: 51
Location: Bay Area
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 Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2022 5:51 pm Post subject: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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Hi everyone,
I just put a transmission cooler on, and while reading the directions to remove the bracket holding the power steering cooler on I accidentally unscrewed a torx bolt that released AC refrigerant instead. I quickly closed it, but it shot a bunch of yellow goop all over and not surprisingly my AC no longer cools.
What I wasn't sure of is whether this opened my system to air and I need to replace anything, or if I can take it and have them recharge the refrigerant level to get it 700 +/-50g of charge again. The AC worked perfectly fine prior to this, so hopefully no underlying issues. I just wanted to be sure if I took it a local AC person I knew what I was getting into.
Thanks in advance! |
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TheOneTrueQuux
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021
Posts: 360
Location: Winona, MN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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| menko wrote: |
Hi everyone,
I just put a transmission cooler on, and while reading the directions to remove the bracket holding the power steering cooler on I accidentally unscrewed a torx bolt that released AC refrigerant instead. I quickly closed it, but it shot a bunch of yellow goop all over and not surprisingly my AC no longer cools.
What I wasn't sure of is whether this opened my system to air and I need to replace anything, or if I can take it and have them recharge the refrigerant level to get it 700 +/-50g of charge again. The AC worked perfectly fine prior to this, so hopefully no underlying issues. I just wanted to be sure if I took it a local AC person I knew what I was getting into.
Thanks in advance! |
It kind of sounds like you ran a screw through the condenser. There shouldn't be any screws that, when removed, release refrigerant. Is it possible that when you re-installed it you punctured the condenser? |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:05 am Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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Have to system evacuated , pumped down for a few hours, then test to see if it hold vacuum. Then recharge by weight.
No need to replace drier if it has been exposed for less than 24 hours, you ve been open much less than that
Internet sheep might bleat differently.
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TheOneTrueQuux
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021
Posts: 360
Location: Winona, MN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:36 am Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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| Abscate wrote: |
Have to system evacuated , pumped down for a few hours, then test to see if it hold vacuum. Then recharge by weight.
No need to replace drier if it has been exposed for less than 24 hours, you ve been open much less than that
Internet sheep might bleat differently. |
Baaa!
Seriously though, it might be helpful if the OP posted a picture here of the area of the leak, and annotate that picture to show which screw was removed. That way we'll all have a better idea of what happened. |
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menko
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2015
Posts: 51
Location: Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2022 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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Here's a close up of the screw I accidentally opened. Photo borrowed from whatavan.com as I had already put my grille back together.
I also should clarify, I loosened it only until the r134 shot out, and quickly tightened it back down--it never fully came out, but enough leaked out to make a mess.
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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…which means you never let any air or moisture into your system as it never fell below atmospheric pressure. Find a good Ac shop and charge back by performance , no need to evacuate.
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menko
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2015
Posts: 51
Location: Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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Sounds like I finally made a minor mistake instead of a major one  Thank you for the help!
MJ |
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MrPulldown
Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2020
Posts: 649
Location: Truckee
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2022 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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Can't he just shot some more refrigerant in.
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Stripped66
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2005
Posts: 3469
Location: Charleston, SC
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 5:09 am Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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| MrPulldown wrote: |
| Can't he just shot some more refrigerant in. |
He can, but unless he has a set of A/C gauges/manifold, it will be a guestimate whether he adds the correct amount.
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| 66brm wrote: |
| Bodacious wrote: |
| Why not just make a custom set of wires with a Y splice in them. Then you could just run one distributor. |
I don't think electrickery works that way |
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subdewd
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2018
Posts: 238
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 6:34 am Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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Option a: shoot some in
b: use gauges
c: evacuate and add by weight
I choose c |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:42 am Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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| subdewd wrote: |
Option a: shoot some in
b: use gauges
c: evacuate and add by weight
I choose c |
Except C requires going to an AC shop anyway to recover charge.
If you blow charge into our breathing air you are a prick of epic proportions. This includes the people who just need to 'add a can each summer to get AC"
If you take it to the right shop, they can add charge to performance.
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subdewd
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2018
Posts: 238
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 11:14 am Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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| So b and c require going to a shop. Labor prevalent an hour either way so why not go by weight which is the proper. Plus while it's drawn down check for leaks. Just a thought |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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| menko wrote: |
Sounds like I finally made a minor mistake instead of a major one Thank you for the help!
MJ |
On the scale of Foxtrot Uniforms, it was a minor Charles foxwalk, yes.
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menko
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2015
Posts: 51
Location: Bay Area
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:45 am Post subject: Re: A/C Advice--I messed up |
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| Thanks everyone, took it to the shop today and they are evacuating and recharging it. Next up, transmission cooler =) |
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