Grandfathers mechanic screwed up...

[R18Civic]

My grandfather has an 04 Dodge Dakota with the 3.7 sohc.

A few weeks back his mechanic replaced the valve cover gasket. I was going to do it until I looked at it and realized the AC system needs to be discharged and lines disconnected to gain full access to the valve cover.

I just took his trash to the dump and noticed shortly after firing it up that there was a rattling/clattering coming from the engine compartment.

After getting back I popped the hood and narrowed it down to either under the valve cover or the AC compressor. I attached a gauge and the charge was reading well into the red. This idiot overcharged the [censored] out the AC.

I told him to take it back but he decided to discharge the freon into the atmosphere which did nothing. The AC charge reads in the green but the air blows warmer and the rattling is still there.

Assuming worst case scenario how badly could the AC system be damaged?

 

[mk378]

I'm guessing this mechanic does not own the proper A/C service equipment, so there is probably air contamination from not evacuating the lines after opening the system. You need to have a shop with a machine remove all the refrigerant / air mixture, pull a vacuum, then recharge it by weight with new refrigerant. Only after that can the system's condition be evaluated.

 

[PolarisX]

The stupid thing was he touched it before deciding to take it back. Probably going to be a "last person' to touch it issue.

Unless of course you want to lie and say he didn't touch (discharge) the system. I would probably shut my mouth about him trying to fix it if you want the mechanic to do anything about it.

 

[Trav]

I would have a competent A/C tech look at it then go after the hack for the money. Diagnosing the extent of the damage or not is next to impossible without looking at it, its going to be all guess work.

 

[R18Civic]

I told him not to touch it and take it back but knowing my grandfather he'd rather pay the repair cost than tell the guy he screwed up. He's the son of my grandmother's best friend so he's gonna do [censored] the hard way.

 

[Donald]

A decent A/C shop will evaluate it. Hopefully it's just a charge problem.

 

[E150GT]

Originally Posted By: Hemispheres
My grandfather has an 04 Dodge Dakota with the 3.7 sohc.

A few weeks back his mechanic replaced the valve cover gasket. I was going to do it until I looked at it and realized the AC system needs to be discharged and lines disconnected to gain full access to the valve cover.

I just took his trash to the dump and noticed shortly after firing it up that there was a rattling/clattering coming from the engine compartment.

After getting back I popped the hood and narrowed it down to either under the valve cover or the AC compressor. I attached a gauge and the charge was reading well into the red. This idiot overcharged the [censored] out the AC.

I told him to take it back but he decided to discharge the freon into the atmosphere which did nothing. The AC charge reads in the green but the air blows warmer and the rattling is still there.

Assuming worst case scenario how badly could the AC system be damaged?


Did you use actual gauges for AC or the little one that you get from the DIY cans at auto zone? I think most systems have a relief valve to protect itself from overcharging. I think if you use those DIY low side only gauges that come on the cans you get at autozone, you cannot really see what is going on at all or even if it is overcharged or not.

 

[rshaw125]

How does a clattering in the engine bay become overcharged AC? To get a proper pressure reading it needs to run for a time and then put proper gauges on it.

 

[Dr_Who]

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
How does a clattering in the engine bay become overcharged AC? To get a proper pressure reading it needs to run for a time and then put proper gauges on it.


If an A/C compressor is grossly overcharged they can make loud clattering noises.

 

[djb]

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
How does a clattering in the engine bay become overcharged AC? To get a proper pressure reading it needs to run for a time and then put proper gauges on it.


Some types of A/C compressor can rattle horribly when they are overcharged, or when they have air in the system.

But yes, I suspect that the original poster is measuring incorrectly. They described the pressure as only "in the red". It is likely that they are likely using the uncalibrated gauge on a top-off hose, rather than using a gauge set which connects to both the high and low sides. And they are probably not verifying that the compressor is running at the full displacement, or even that it is pumping at all.

 

[bullwinkle]

Need to evacuate it with a vacuum pump, for at least a few hours, then weigh in the correct charge with a refrigerant scale, then see what the pressures are. It could even be as simple as a shortage of oil in the compressor (it comes out with the refrigerant when there's a leak).

 

[rshaw125]

Originally Posted By: Dr_Who
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
How does a clattering in the engine bay become overcharged AC? To get a proper pressure reading it needs to run for a time and then put proper gauges on it.


If an A/C compressor is grossly overcharged they can make loud clattering noises.


What about the high pressure sensor?

 

[R18Civic]

I'm no longer worried about it. He's convinced himself everything is fine and dandy just so he doesn't have to go tell this guy that he [censored] up the AC system.

"Oh well the clattering isn't as loud since I relieve the pressure"
The AC is blowing room temperature air.
"It's blowing cold air"

Fine. Whatever. If you don't wanna gather your balls and go tell the guy to fix it I don't give two [censored].

 

[PolarisX]

Whatever, you don't gotta sit in front of the vents.

I would not involve myself in his automotive affairs anymore if this is the outcome.

 

[Dr_Who]

Originally Posted By: PolarisX
Whatever, you don't gotta sit in front of the vents.

I would not involve myself in his automotive affairs anymore if this is the outcome.


Yes. When his pappy has to sweat his privates off in a couple of months he'll be
back there at the same shop so they can make matters worse and steal more of his money. LOL

 

[Merkava_4]

I sure see alotta [censored] in the thread. I didn't cuss either; I actually wrote the word censored.

 

[R18Civic]

Well I'm severe bi-polar/borderline psychotic so my vocabulary is colorful.

I don't know why he didn't just take it to the shop he usually goes to, owned by his son in laws brother. I remember getting my first car and taking it to this guy to get the dashboard off to install a CD player. He missed two bolts so instead of finding them he just goes full retard and ripped the plastic dash off.

Then there was that time my dash lights died on my old car. My grandfather recommended a co-worker that works on the city's natural gas buses. Idiot took copper wire and hooked the ignition fuse to the interior lighting fuse. The fiasco that ensued led me to get my current vehicle.

If I would've pursued a career as a tech my gramps would be my favorite customer.

 

[R18Civic]

Took trash again yesterday, AC blows cold and the compressor no longer rattles but within 10 seconds of turning on the ac there's a loud pop coming from behind the dashboard.

Gramps is still playing stupid.

 

[Papa Bear]

Trying to get other folks to do what you want will mess with your "bi-polar/borderline psychotic"