[mrvmax1]

I'm working on a friends vehicle (o.k., it's actually a car but I know you guys can help). We replaced the drier, orifice tube and evacutated the system. It should hold 2.5 cans. We only got one can in and the low pressure sied is showing high pressure (about 90 psi) and the high side is showing low pressure (about 120 psi). It would not take any more 134a and nothing was cooling. The compressor was on continuous and all the lines were hot. When we pulled the orifice tube it was chock full of junk. His system worked before we started (it wasn't working well, only blew 70 plus degree air) but he had mistakenly added 134a to a r-12 system. He took it to a mechanic and they evacuated it again and said the compressor was bad. I'm wondering if maybe one of his lines may be plugged since the orifice tube was full of junk, or, maybe the 134 and r-12 screwed something up.

 

[Partsman]

All the gunk in the tube are pieces of the compressor. Sorry.

 

[SoB]

More than likely parts of the compressor. If there is any metal pieces the compressor is junk.

Steve

 

[mrvmax1]

It didn't look like metal, it was grey looking stuff. When I replaced the orifice tube in my 86 pickup it had the exact same stuff and it worked fine.

 

[AggiePSD]

The lack of a higher pressure differential between the high and low side also sounds like a compressor failure.

 

[mrvmax1]

Thanks for all the help guys. It does look like a bad compressor.

 

[AlH]

[ QUOTE ]
he had mistakenly added 134a to a r-12 system.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just curious, how does one do that? The can and vehicle fittings are BOTH different, unless someone added conversion fittings it can't be easily done... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif

 

[Birken Vogt]

If you put the wrong can on the tapper it is easy to do....

Birken

 

[Knothead]

R134 will gel the mineral-based oil that is used in a R12 system, clogging up the orifice, dryer, etc. When switching to R134, a synthetic oil is used.

 

[mrvmax1]

[ QUOTE ]
If you put the wrong can on the tapper it is easy to do....

Birken

[/ QUOTE ]
exactly. I think his compressor was going south anyway.

 

[Kampnnut]

I replaced the compressor, accumulator, and orfice valve. The orfice valve was totally clogged with gray junk. With all the junk in the system, make sure you flush it out good before installing any new parts. The auto parts store will have what you need to flush it out. An air compressor is a must.

I went to Harbor Freight to get the gauges and venturi vacuum pump. All the equipment was $60. The AC parts were $300 from NAPA. The Haynes Techbook for automative heating and air conditioning gives alot of good information and various make and model specifications.