51 degrees F air temp at the left-center vent is well within the performance parameters of the info table that I posted above in #112. Time to leave well enough alone and enjoy your accomplishment. I'd use the A/C throughout the Summer and recheck pressures and temperatures in September.
Automotive AC troubleshooting 101 - help me get started?
- Thread starter SC Maintenance
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I am just going to leave things for now. If it keeps putting out cold air thats good enough for now - knock on wood. I am happy to have gotten it fixed for so little - even if for now.
I wish I had properly checked it with the gauges first time around by getting it up to 1500 rpm, now I wonder if they are off. But there likely not off by that much. I just ended up with Harbor Freight tools after my initial go around. I bought the same vacuum pump again, and this one did not mist oil. One of the biggest hurdles on this was tools. I have read a lot more - and everything points to either spend the money on good tools - and that means at minimum mid-level priced stuff from the top brands, because even the cheaper stuff from the good brands have issues. I re-read the reviews on the Mastercool set i had ordered, and every one of the 1* reviews had the same hose issue I did.
O-rings were another bit of a hurdle. I ordered OEM O-rings. One size came in individually sealed marked bags. The other came in a baggy with no label, and they were brown, not black. Z1 assures me they get them from Nissan and the come in a larger overpack. I want to believe them - supply shortage maybe. However I did not use them anyway - I used the O-rings that came in my 4-seasons "all O-rings needed" for my vehicle - because I was still communicating with Z1. I did use the other OEM ones on the suctions tube.
The 4-seasons dryer I bought came with O-rings. Luckily because it appears the 4-seasons kit had nothing close to that size. It does appear the giant set of O-rings I ordered from Jeff Bezos does have the right size. So O-rings could be an issue. After the fact I found the manual does list every size I am supposed to need - but the manual is lacking in other areas so I am not sure I would trust that fully either.
Anyway, if you read this far - thanks again for all your help everyone. I learned a ton, and would encourage others to try on their own also - its much less daunting (with a lot of help) than it seemed at the start.
I wish I had properly checked it with the gauges first time around by getting it up to 1500 rpm, now I wonder if they are off. But there likely not off by that much. I just ended up with Harbor Freight tools after my initial go around. I bought the same vacuum pump again, and this one did not mist oil. One of the biggest hurdles on this was tools. I have read a lot more - and everything points to either spend the money on good tools - and that means at minimum mid-level priced stuff from the top brands, because even the cheaper stuff from the good brands have issues. I re-read the reviews on the Mastercool set i had ordered, and every one of the 1* reviews had the same hose issue I did.
O-rings were another bit of a hurdle. I ordered OEM O-rings. One size came in individually sealed marked bags. The other came in a baggy with no label, and they were brown, not black. Z1 assures me they get them from Nissan and the come in a larger overpack. I want to believe them - supply shortage maybe. However I did not use them anyway - I used the O-rings that came in my 4-seasons "all O-rings needed" for my vehicle - because I was still communicating with Z1. I did use the other OEM ones on the suctions tube.
The 4-seasons dryer I bought came with O-rings. Luckily because it appears the 4-seasons kit had nothing close to that size. It does appear the giant set of O-rings I ordered from Jeff Bezos does have the right size. So O-rings could be an issue. After the fact I found the manual does list every size I am supposed to need - but the manual is lacking in other areas so I am not sure I would trust that fully either.
Anyway, if you read this far - thanks again for all your help everyone. I learned a ton, and would encourage others to try on their own also - its much less daunting (with a lot of help) than it seemed at the start.
So my 2011 Frontier AC quit working. Yes its still summer here depending on the day. Its the exact same system as my Xterra. I followed the exact same steps as above and found it was the exact same O-Ring, which I have replaced with leftovers from last time. Too much of a coincidence / likely not my problem - that is what I thought but it held vacuum without moving for an hour.....
So questions. I am waiting on a new dryer before I refill. So:
1) Should I replace the Schrader valves? I have lots?
2) Should I add PAG oil - which I have lots?
Another interesting note - we had discussed above how the Nissan manual says the system contains dye, but my Xterra did not, and most had said they had never seen a OEM system with Dye. Well my Frontier had dye. It was clearly a light green color on the hose I took off. So it seems its hit or miss? I know the system was never previously touched - I bought this truck new in late 2011.
So questions. I am waiting on a new dryer before I refill. So:
1) Should I replace the Schrader valves? I have lots?
2) Should I add PAG oil - which I have lots?
Another interesting note - we had discussed above how the Nissan manual says the system contains dye, but my Xterra did not, and most had said they had never seen a OEM system with Dye. Well my Frontier had dye. It was clearly a light green color on the hose I took off. So it seems its hit or miss? I know the system was never previously touched - I bought this truck new in late 2011.
Some pics of the leak and OEM dye under UV.
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