AC LP schraider valve replacement

[DrDusty86]

I have noticed the ac in my car slowly getting warmer over the last week. I also noticed it is not dripping water. Normally it would leave a AC puddle about 10-12" in 5 minutes in this heat. I took it to a AC guy in Waco and he did a vac and recharge of 28 oz. He found the system .52lb low in charge. Soon after leaving his shop It was worse than before. I unscrewed the LP service port cap and heard a loud long hiss and saw bubbles as the schraider valve. They were constant small bubbles. I put the cap back on tightly and called him. He said bring it back in Monday and to drop it off. The vac and recharge was about $55, which I think was very reasonable. What is a reasonable cost to replace that valve and recharge? This guy wants me to bring the car in and drop it off to check the car over. To me that is like giving someone a blank check and makes me nervious.
This guy was super cool though, He even offered to let me use his shop press for my LCA bushings.
Thanks,
Dusty

 

[xxch4osxx]

You can replace that valve in all of 30 seconds with a valve core tool if the system is empty.

 

[DrDusty86]

Im letting him do it. My system isn't empty. I still see bubbles and a loud his when I unscrew the cap.

 

[HerrStig]

Perhaps he ought to give you a bit of a break since he failed to check something so obvious the first time. . While the system was empty he should have, in my mind anyway, replaced the valve on principle.

 

[Kestas]

I think it's just rotten luck. The same thing happened when I checked the pressures on my car. The schrader valve started leaking. I didn't notice it until all refrigerant was gone.

Is the valve normally replaced during major service?

 

[DrDusty86]

I don't blame him at all. I went to him asking for a vac and recharge. I didn't catch the LP leak either. This time I did. He performed the service I requested. It was my fault. If he gives me a break, cool. I'm not going to beg or plead or be "that guy" to get him to give me one though.
We will see.
Even if he doesn't, I will not fault him for it. If he replaces the valve and recharges it and just hands me the key I will no doubt recommend him to anyone that needs his service and let them know what he did for me.

 

[richard8988]

There is a tool to replace them while under pressure. I am lucky enough to have the priviledge to pay $60 for one.

 

[JHZR2]

Worse than before could mean overcharge. If he is reasonable, just get it evacuated, change the valves and go from there. The caps are meant to seal, so a little residual is often found under there and can boil.

Personally if I were going through that, I'd replace the receiver dryer and do a quality update on the system.

 

[Roadkingnc]

Im sure he would have noticed the leak when he took the cap off if it was leaking then. Most likely started leaking when the fitting was removed. It happens, I think a better valve could be designed but cost is always a factor.

 

[DrDusty86]

It has a new reciever/dryer and condenser. OEM
Questions:
Should I ask him to add oil when he recharges it for the sake of the compressor or does the compressor not loose oil when a vac is pulled on the system?
Should I have him put in a new orfice tube while he is at it? The orfice tube is still factory. Is that expansive?

 

[richard8988]

Have it replaced. Cheap and can plug up, causing problems.

 

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: richard8988
There is a tool to replace them while under pressure. I am lucky enough to have the priviledge to pay $60 for one.


Robinair. I have that tool, but it is for R-12. Never got around to getting one for R134.

 

[DrDusty86]

What about adding PAG oil to the system on a vac and recharge? Standard or optional? Recommended? Is that done with a machine on a recharge?

 

[Donald]

By the questions you are asking I would say tell him the facts you know (prior history) but let him decide what to fix. If you do not feel he is an A/C expert, take it to someone who is.

 

[JHZR2]

So let me get this straight. You obviously had some major issue with the system that caused you to need to replace the R/D and the condenser. How about full history and reasons? What happened last time? Was oil added to account for losses in the R/D and condenser?

Was the system leak checked at pressure before being evacuated and charged? Since it was opened, it should have been.

I'm still not convinced the valves are actually leaking.

 

[zzyzzx]

It's a $10 kit and you only need one of the parts. You just unscrew the old one and screw on the new one. Then recharge the A/C. The only "catch" is that it uses a 8 sided nut, and you may require a special tool to remove it. I used an adjustable wrench.