AC problems

[Fleetmon]

Yes, you are heading in the right direction. Add a little more slowly and road test to get air flow across the condensor for a true test. As weird as it may seem, ac may not feel ice cold at lower ambient temps due to the compressor cycling frequently. Good job so far!

 

[Merkava_4]

Is cat843 and Donald the same person?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Fleetmon
Yes, you are heading in the right direction. Add a little more slowly and road test to get air flow across the condensor for a true test. As weird as it may seem, ac may not feel ice cold at lower ambient temps due to the compressor cycling frequently. Good job so far!


So how do I know if another 6 oz is enough? I was thinking to add until the high is about right for the ambient temp, which at 70 would be about 150.

The condenser was replaced about 2 years ago after it was damaged. So the majority of the 24 oz of R134a has leaked out in 2 years given I have added 12 oz and need more. I thought I would see something with the UV light.

 

[Fleetmon]

It may be a low-pressure side leak....that normally won't carry dye with it since it's only leaking vapor.

I think charging by ambient temp (2x ambient on high side) will be cool (pun intended)....forget about ounces in this particular case since there is no way to determine exactly how much is in your system unless you get it all sucked out....charge (slowly) by pressure....you're on the right track.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Fleetmon
It may be a low-pressure side leak....that normally won't carry dye with it since it's only leaking vapor.

I think charging by ambient temp (2x ambient on high side) will be cool (pun intended)....forget about ounces in this particular case since there is no way to determine exactly how much is in your system unless you get it all sucked out....charge (slowly) by pressure....you're on the right track.


So would an electronic leak detector pick up a low pressure leak?

When you use up a 12 oz can of R134a, do you really get 12 oz of usable R134a out?

 

[Fleetmon]

Yes for the leak detector. You can get the full 12 oz out of it but you'll have to use some warm/hot water....I use a Folgers coffee jug (the big red one) and fill it about half-full and set the can (with hose attached) to warm it up....it'll take some time to empty the can but the warmth will increase the pressure above the systems pressure to allow flow from the can to the system.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Fleetmon
It may be a low-pressure side leak....that normally won't carry dye with it since it's only leaking vapor.


I shined the UV light as the pow pressure port with the cap off and excepted to see some leftover UV dye from it being added, but did not see any.