A/C Issues Help, Help, Help

[geezerstiva]

do you have freon (r12) or refrigerant (r134a)? you should definitely use a vacuum pump and a guage set to pull a vacuum on the system. this is called evacuating the system. it pulls moisture and air out of the system so you can get pure refrigerant (and oil) in the system. you should leave it in a vacuum for a while (1-2 hours i would say) to make sure you got all the stuff out. then you can charge it up. i think the festiva holds about 2 pounds of refrigerant.
i would also say you should probably go with getting hardlines on your condenser/reciever. it was designed that way for a reason, after all. good luck!

[boostmaster]

I suppose I am going to be using r134a since it's more readily available.

Vacuum pump and gauge set??? I don't suppose that this is an item I can "rent" from the local parts store

If I can secure a vacuum pump and gauge set, how do I "leave it in vacuum"?? Not really sure what that means. Does the car need to be on or off. (1-2 hours)?? Can you clarify.



Sorry for all the questions but this my first time fooling with a retrofit and so far I think it's gone well. If I would have had a complete set up from the beginning ti would have been easier...

Thanks agian to everyone for their help.

[m715]

More

JMO, but I would consider the condensor toast. You would at LEAST need a flare on the end, and hope that an A/C style clamp *might * hold under optimum conditions.Where you would have problems are the hot days, sitting at idle building pressure in the system. It might blow out at that point.
You will need to evacuate the system with a vacuum pump, which you can buy at Harbor Freight. Keep this in mind as you work to this point.. take the evaporator out of the box, seal the ends off, and clean it out now, taking care not to get water in the core. If you don't now, you will likely be dissapointed with the airflow, and cooling. Consider a new dryer if it has been sitting with the ends open. It contains dessicant to remove moisture, and it will have been ruined by humidity out of the air.
Pull the vacuum cycle for at least 30 minutes, then shoot an 8 oz can of oil to the system. Allow it to settle for a few minutes, then add a 1 lb can of refrigerant. Start the car, set the controls to recirculate, full cool, high fan, and push the A/C switch you installed on to engage the compressor. Add another can slowly, watching the guage keeping it out of the red zone. Continue until the guage shows charged, allowing the system to equallize pressure as it is filled. Use the sight glass on the dryer to check the fill by looking for bubbles which indicate it is not quite full yet as a final check. Just be cautious not to over fill the system. You can add as you go over a day or so. If you are filling the system on a hot day, you can suppliment the air movement through the condensor using a fan in front of the car also. Over the next few days, you can use a thermometer to check the output temperature out of the vents keeping in mind that it will vary depending on outside ambient temperature, and humidity.

Michael

[boostmaster]

The concendser toast???? I was under the impression that the condenser I just purchase would be sufficient for my needs. I asked here on this board and was told it would be ok.

I understand the part about the dryer but where can I buy a new one? Everytime I have asked for part numbers, etc, I have been told to find stuff in the jy. SO, I am under the impression that most of thse items are not available.

Am I mistaken?

[m715]

The problem with the condensor is that they have cut the fitting off the end. That is why I said that. Look above about the build up of pressure . Not trying to make things worse, it's just that trying to keep a hose on a high pressure line like that is tough to do, and then you have to start all over again charging the system. Dryers can be matched up if you take the old one to a good parts store that has a helpful counter man usually. As I said before also, this is just my opinion. We did A/C service for many years, and all my systems have been swapped from other cars to the ones I drive and own except the pure aftermarket system I have.
Until tommorow, I am headed home from the shop.

Michael

[boostmaster]

I was just looking at the condenser. There is a threaded fitting on the top right (as you stand in front of the car) and one on the bottom left. The bottom left one is the one that attached to the dryer via the black hardline. I wonder if I can have a hardline fabricated or if a new condenser or dryer come with this line.

Frankly I would have bought everything new it I would have know this would be such a PITA.

Anyway, I guess I'll check the local parts stores and see what I can find...

I have a Harbor Freight store in Lexington and I can go there in an hours time. I have always wondered about purchasing the A/C servicing equipment from there. Is there a particular brand or style that is preferred or recommended. I hate to spend a bunch of money on something that won't work properly or that I'll never use. I suppose if I learn how to do this myself I could save a few bucks...

BTW, on my other car I have been told about an "Oriface tube". Does this Festiva system have such a tube? If so where does it go, what does it do, and shoudl I put in a new one?

TIA

[mechanicaldj]

the festiva has a Thermal Expansion Valve located in the evaporator box under the dash(all systems)

[boostmaster]

So, I don't need to worry about the oriface tube?

[boostmaster]

Well, I just got off the phone with all of the local auto parts stores. Apparently, I can get the best price from O'Reilly and order a new receiver/dryer for $28.99 and have it here tomorrow.

No one has new condensers except Napa and they want $141.00!:pale:

I have checked with a few local shops and they think they might be able to fix my hose that was cut.

However, I have yet to find anyone who has or can fix my black hardline from my receiver/dryer to my condenser.

Any ideas?

[m715]

Hold on... I think you have your condensor mounted upside down for one thing. The dryer should be at the top on the LEFT side, and the fitting on the right on the BOTTOM. You may want to look back at the pictures again, and step back for just a moment.

Michael

[boostmaster]

I don't have it mounted yet. I was going by the pic in the yellow car you provided.

There is a fitting on the top right of the condenser (as you face it)
The is also a fitting on the lower left of the condenser.
The dryer is mounted in the clamp off of the top left side of the condenser.

I am able to buy a new dryer but I cannot find the hard line that goes to it.
I have contacted a few places but it doesn't look hopeful.

This is starting to become more of a hassle than it's worth.:cussing:

Is there any compatability with the Aspire or other car that I can simply buy the proper parts I need, hook it up and go???

It's getting warmer and the "boss" wants A/C now...

[m715]

Check your condensor again. At each end, there are nut fittings that have flare connections on them. That is the first thing. These will connect directly to the dryer canister, and the front hose assembly. Post back with what you find, and what is attached, or cut, and where it is damaged please.

Michael

[boostmaster]

If you look at the first post in this thread you will note that in pictures 4, 5, and 9 (that last one)- all of the parts that I am working with and their condition.

In pic 4 you will see the dryer with the cut hardline still attached

In pic 5 you see the upper fitting of the condenser

In pic 9 you will see the condenser, dryer and at the lower left corner of the pic you will see the end of the hose that connects from the compressor to the condenser and where it's been cut. There is a better pic of that hose in picture number 6 (you will see a group of hoses, it;s the 3rd one down from the top).

Hope the pics clarify. If not I can provide more pics...

[m715]

Ok, humor me then... Look at your 9th picture. The Condensor, as it lies in this picture, is the EXACT way that it would be sitting in the car with you looking at it with the grille removed, and the dryer on the top and passenger side. My factory systems, and the dealer installed types have a DIRECT nut flared fitting from the dryer, to the condenser on at that view the right fitting of the dryer. The built on bracket, as pictured holds it in place. I cannot see from thr picture this fitting which is built on the Condenser. That is what I first saw as a problem. Is the fitting there, and I just can't see it from this view, or was that hard line cut off?

[Arnie]

Have you checked with these guys? http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/ Maybe they can help with some parts or additional advice?

I've got an aftermarket AC system that's been sitting around for a few years. my plan is to install in the next few weeks so this thread has been helpful to me as well. Thanks! If you don't mind, I might be posting my own questions in your thread as they come up since we've got all the AC gurus on here already.