Air Conditioning - its hot out!

[Maengelito]

I didn't know much about A/C systems but recent problems to Jenn's heat pump at her house, my Suby developing some refrigerant leak and now her 2001 Civic A/C compressor shitting the bed, I've been forced to learn all about it.

Obviously, I'm not a licensed repairman so I can't deal with evacuating and recharging the closed systems, legally anyhow, but I'm not gonna pay some guy ~$1000 to replace her compressor. I can find used compressors for about $100 and I know once I open up the system, I'm gonna have to replace the dryer. However, am I gonna have to take the car somewhere to evacuate the system before opening it up? When replacing the compressor, do I have to lubricate the system before it gets charged up or do those refrigerants contain the oil in them? When I replace the compressor, do I change the dryer then, or wait until just before getting it recharged to replace the dryer?

I'm sure I'm missing something else, so if you've got some tips for me, that'd also help.

Damn its hot outside.

[lillitnn92]

send kafn8ed a PM. he mostly does Amonia systems for plants and stuff, but he knows a lot. he may be able to at least point you in the right direction. i did HVAC also, buy only as a helper, otherwise i would help you myself.

[white_2kgt]

I know once I open up the system, I'm gonna have to replace the dryer.

This isn't a 100% sure thing, USUALLY it's just a good idea. If you are going to put in a used compressor, then I'd just stick w/ the dryer that's already there.

IHowever, am I gonna have to take the car somewhere to evacuate the system before opening it up?

If you care about the environment then yes, otherwise, grab some gloves and duck.

IWhen replacing the compressor, do I have to lubricate the system before it gets charged up or do those refrigerants contain the oil in them?

Depends on the refrigerant, just check and see if it includes oil.

IWhen I replace the compressor, do I change the dryer then, or wait until just before getting it recharged to replace the dryer?

Not sure that it matters, just keep the lines sealed until you are ready to hook it all up.

Damn its hot outside.

Yup, my 2 ton is going to 3 ton tomorrow.

[Maengelito]

Damn its hot outside.

Yup, my 2 ton is going to 3 ton tomorrow.

its not quite 118 outside since the outside temp sensor for my car is just in front of the radiator so anytime I get in the car after driving for a bit its way off, but this is still the highest I've seen it.

[NTIman]

I wouldn't be concerned about the dryer if you get the system evacuated as much, when you evacuate the system, the vacuum pulled on the system boils the moisture out, and as long as you don't have a major leak, you're probably ok not to replace it, although, while you spend the money, it wouldn't be a bad idea to replace it just to make sure. You may as well take it somewhere to get it evacuated properly, otherwise, you may not get all of the moisture out in the first place, even with a dryer.


You can install the dryer at any time, as long as everything is sealed up ok, however, make sure you don't use the AC while you have no refrigerant.

Most TOYOTA compressors come with oil in them....I DO NOT know about other manufacturers compressors, make sure you find out before, too much oil is just as bad as not enough, because you're going to put in the maximum amount of refrigerant, and AC pressures will get too high with too much oil, and then you blow a seal, and you're back to sqaure one.

MAKE SURE you lubricate the O-rings with whatever oil is suggested for the system....otherwise they will leak.

[Maengelito]

this is all good stuff, thanks guys.

Since I'll probably be buying the compressor used, I probably wont be buying a new dryer. But I will get the system evacuated and all the moisture boiled out. Since the compressor is used, I'm assuming that the oil will not be included in it. The oil I've seen in the parts stores comes in a similar can as the recharge systems, ie: they're pressurized and not something I'd be able to soak the new rings in. Am I missing something or is it sold in a non-pressurized container that just looks similar to the others? Also when putting oil into the compressor, would I just essentially pour it into the same place where the fittings for high and low pressure lines would be before installing the lines? Will I also have to replace the expansion valve or is that something thats in older cars with A/C? Also assuming this all goes well, I can hook up the belt driven pulley right? Since the compressor clutch doesnt engage, it wont spin the compressor, just the pulley, right? That shouldnt harm anything in the compressor hopefully.

[NTIman]

You only need to replace the expansion valve if it is bad, ie: high low side pressure...

As far as the oil, I've always just added it while recharging the system with our machine at work, so I don't know what to tell you, and for the o-rings, we have a small can of PAG oil for that,I don't even know where it came from.

And you can install the belt, just make sure you don't use AC or defrost or anything that will engage the clutch.

[JustinG]

PAG oil can be had at advance autoparts, and the refrigerant often comes with lubricant already added into the bottle, but dunno if it would be enough to satisfy your systems needs.

[Andy]

You can buy PAG oil but Jenn's honda might want the other kind of oil, at advance. They keep it in the back in a plastic bottle with a twist off cap. They're not going to know how to help you so you need to research which oil you need and how much before hand.

[.RJ]

They're not going to know how to help you so you need to research which oil you need and how much before hand.

Or you could install the compressor and pay someone else to fill the system with whatever it needs.

[Maengelito]

They're not going to know how to help you so you need to research which oil you need and how much before hand.

Or you could install the compressor and pay someone else to fill the system with whatever it needs.

thats the plan but it was mentioned that I should be properly lubricating the rings and seals as well as putting some oil in the compressor when installing it.

[JustinG]

proper lubrication is always key...

[REED]

not a complete hijack since it is AC related - anyone want to help me take a stab soldering a capacitor in my climate control? I've never done it before, but I figure its worth a shot to fix it for a couple bucks versus $100 for a new one

[Evan]

Reed I have a pretty nice temperature controlled soldering iron that I use to build amps and such. Come on over after work one day and it shouldnt take too longn assuming its not a surface mount cap

did the existing one just fall off?

[Ole]

Step 1.) Grab a strong hold of both contacts on said capacitor....heh, heh..I did this in the Electronics Club in HS as a bet.....I made $10....probably killed several brain cells but who needs all of 'em, we only use like 10%, right?

[mrbaggio]

The AC in my WRX is out also. Where are you looking up your information? I need to do some research also.

[REED]

Reed I have a pretty nice temperature controlled soldering iron that I use to build amps and such. Come on over after work one day and it shouldnt take too longn assuming its not a surface mount cap

did the existing one just fall off?

awesome - thanks Evan, Let me read into it a bit more and see whats involved as far as getting out of the car and opening it up. I didn't fall off completly as it does work sometimes, i guess when the connection is good. I need to figure out where to get a new capacitor too, if i'm getting in there I might as well get a new one.

I'll shoot you a PM this week once I get some more knowledge

thanks again

[Maengelito]

The AC in my WRX is out also. Where are you looking up your information? I need to do some research also.

Hey Justin, just saw this as I've been out of town for the last couple of days. Chances are that you're low on refrigerant. The A/C compressor has a safety switch that doesn't come on when the pressure is too low in order to protect the compressor. Check to see if the clutch is spinning on the compressor when the A/C is on. If not, there's a few other possibilities it could be but I'm gonna put my money on you being low on refrigerant. From looking at NASIOC when my suby was having A/C problems, it seems that there are lots of instances of this same exact thing happening.

[NTIman]

Honda is fixed.

This morning I replaced the compressor and reciever dryer, and recharged the system.

And then I searched for 2 hours to figure out why the compressor still wouldn't work, just to find out that it was a 20 A fuse.

So after kicking ass doing everything in 2 hours, and then kicking my own ass trying to figure out a simple problem, its all good.

[Maengelito]

Jason, thanks again for the help!