Ducman82

so after sharktober when i got home i heard a hiss from the engine bay. turns out one of the lines on the on the compressor worked its self loose. i managed to tighten it (while burning my self) to stop the leak. so yesterday i used Robs vac pump and manifold set to make sure it held vacuum, and it did.

so after charging up to spec 37oz today it only gets to about 55 degrees. evap and the condenser are nice and clean, no clogs or anything...


I'm tempted to draw it down and replace the expansion valve and the drier... maybe the compressor.

thoughts .....

The Forgotten On

Check to see if your evap drain is clogged. Mine was and the temps rarely dropped below 60. It then unclogged itself and dumped about 1 gallon of water onto the garage floor and made me think I had a busted heater core.

You can imagine what ensues after that.After that debacle, it became cold enough to give me a head ache.

This was after I completely rebuilt the system with a new compressor though so I knew everything else was clean and working.

Another thing that could cause this issue is a clogged expansion valve, you can check this using a set of gauges to see if the high side pressures are too high.

Best of luck in figuring this out.

Randy V

Replace the evaporator - less than $40 - then evacuate, add oil and recharge.

It's the only way to be sure.

Or nuke it from space.

griffiths

Try this first, writing down all the data you record:
1) Your refrigerant weight charged into the system, ie. 37 oz R???
2) With the system running at idle, AC set to max cold, windows up, fan speed two for the moment, let system run for 10 minutes at idle:
A) The outside air temp around the car,
B) The low side pressure,
C) High side pressure
D) The inside Vent temp
Report those findings and other observations below on your thread

Then check the following while the system is running:
D) Locate the expansion valve, is the outlet (larger pipe) cold and sweating, and is the smaller pipe (inlet) warm to hot?
E) Is the hot water vacuum valve closed; are you getting heat to the heater core
F) Below the glove box, under the glove rack, look with a flash light and located the perforated plastic grill, is the fresh air flap closed?

Ducman82

i will do that and report back. thank you

Alan

Randy - the evaporator lives inside the HVAC inside the dashboard and requires you dismantle the whole car to replace it.... assume you meant the expansion valve?

Alan

Randy V

Thanks Alan. I actually meant the drier.

Ducman82

Ya, i do need to replace the center flap diaphragm... but not that badly yet. :-)

dr bob

Jake-- Look at the sight glass in th top of the drier with the system running, engine at 1500 RPM or so. See if there's a foamy bubbly mess, or a mostly-liquid stream with a few bubbles flying by. Needs to be almost all liquid. You'll need the gauges again before you go further.

Chalkboss

Somewhat related but a bit of a side note... my ac works great on my S4. I never see any condensation under car when it is running. Always see this on other cars. What's up with that?

Ducman82

ya, its nice and bubbly.... at 1500... :-(

going to go back to Gregs and get Robs gauges i left there....

The Forgotten On

On the 928 the evap drain dumps onto the exhaust. That's why you hear a nice hissing noise and your garage stays dry.

Chalkboss

Ah! Haha, thanks.