Brad Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Ok guys. Got the AC recharge kit and a few cans of R134a refrigerant and was ready to charge up my Dad's 96 Deville. Followed all instructions on kit and guidelines I have seen before on this site, but no luck. The directions say to start car, put AC on high and then release the refrigerant. Trouble here is the AC is not sucking the refrigerant into the car. What is the trick here? The can has been punctured, the valve is open, car is running, but the can remains full. Any ideas here? Thanks Brad ---------------------------- 1999 Deville Concours [sOLD] Blk/Blk w/gold package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 If you had an A/C low refrigerant light it probably disengaged the compressor to protect it. Clear the code before adding refrigerant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Ok, after further research, I disconnected the battery and then reconnected to get the compressor to engage long enough to suck in a can of refrigerant. Only problem now is it only took maybe a third of the can and the AC didn't get cold. So now I am wondering what else to try. Anybody got any ideas? Brad ---------------------------- 1999 Deville Concours [sOLD] Blk/Blk w/gold package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Are you adding it to the low pressure port? It should be near the big silver tube looking thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Are you adding it to the low pressure port? It should be near the big silver tube looking thing. Yes I sure am. From the way this process is described on the board here, it seems to me that the cans empty pretty quickly. Not in my case - it seems the system won't really pull any in and the compressor is on. At least I assume it is on because the car is in "Auto" now and not "Econ." Stumped a little at the moment. I am wondering if there might be something else wrong in the system that won't allow me to add the refrigerant..... Brad ---------------------------- 1999 Deville Concours [sOLD] Blk/Blk w/gold package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Ok guys. Got the AC recharge kit and a few cans of R134a refrigerant and was ready to charge up my Dad's 96 Deville. Followed all instructions on kit and guidelines I have seen before on this site, but no luck. The directions say to start car, put AC on high and then release the refrigerant. Trouble here is the AC is not sucking the refrigerant into the car. What is the trick here? The can has been punctured, the valve is open, car is running, but the can remains full. Any ideas here? Thanks Usually the instruction say to hold the can in the upright position and charge as a gas. That will take forever. I have found it MUCH faster to hold the can upside down and charge as a liquid. Which way were you holding the can? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Usually the instruction say to hold the can in the upright position and charge as a gas. That will take forever. I have found it MUCH faster to hold the can upside down and charge as a liquid. Which way were you holding the can? Silly me, I followed the directions and had the can sitting upright. LOL Maybe upside down will work. So much for easy jobs! Brad ---------------------------- 1999 Deville Concours [sOLD] Blk/Blk w/gold package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 "Real men don't read directions" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 I have found it MUCH faster to hold the can upside down and charge as a liquid. Larry, thanks for the tip. Had one can left (after shooting two all over the yard!) to try out. Holding upside down did the trick - many thanks. Now I am off to the auto parts store to get a couple more cans so I can finish the job. --Brad Brad ---------------------------- 1999 Deville Concours [sOLD] Blk/Blk w/gold package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDK Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 Liquid refrigerant into the compressor will not be a good thing. I would assume that the low pressure, suction side charge port is upstream of a filter/drier canister. This small vessel should help to drop out the liquid until it is vaporized by the heat. Still, the can's directions are there to protect the refrigerant maker from buying compressors. Did you consider checking for leaks before adding refrigerant? Good luck ! Add power to leave problems behind. Most braking is just - poor planning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 Liquid refrigerant into the compressor will not be a good thing. I would assume that the low pressure, suction side charge port is upstream of a filter/drier canister. This small vessel should help to drop out the liquid until it is vaporized by the heat. Still, the can's directions are there to protect the refrigerant maker from buying compressors. Did you consider checking for leaks before adding refrigerant? Good luck ! The liquid refrigerant vaporizes immediately after entering the system at the accumulator. As long as the liquid is charged through the low side port, the compressor will not be damaged. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinW Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 Even if all the refrigerant doesn't flash to vapour upon entering the system, the accumulator helps to control the rate of liquid return to the compressor. ___________________________________________________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 In the future put the can in a bucket of warm to hot water. The warmer it is the faster it comes out. Just not so hot you can't hold your hand in it. I usually do this first without the engine running until it won't take anymore. You can fill with liquid as long as the car is not running. Sometimes it will fill without even running the engine. If not start the motor to finish it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 In the future put the can in a bucket of warm to hot water. The warmer it is the faster it comes out. Just not so hot you can't hold your hand in it.I usually do this first without the engine running until it won't take anymore. You can fill with liquid as long as the car is not running. Sometimes it will fill without even running the engine. If not start the motor to finish it off. As long as you charge as a liquid through the LOW side port, you can have the engine running. NEVER charge as a liquid through the high side port with the engine running as the can of refrigerant can explode. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 Kevin, Is it even possible to charge from the high pressure side? I thought there were 2 different size fittings to prevent that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 If you use a charging manifild (with high and low pressure gages) you can add refrigerant to the high side. If a $10 charging hose is used, it will only be possible to charge to the low side. I always charge as a liquid through the low side port - the refrigerant will vaporize immediately upon entering the system through the low side port in the accumulator. Charging as a liquid is faster and you don't need to mess with pans of hot water, etc. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinW Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Is it even possible to charge from the high pressure side? On an evacuated system, it is preferrable to charge liquid into the high side. ___________________________________________________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caddyman Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 just get it evacuated, and recharged with correct ammount of oil & 134, much safer way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinW Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 just get it evacuated, and recharged with correct ammount of oil & 134, much safer way to go. Evaporating A/C lubricant is theoretically possible, however, it'd take a laboratory grade vacuum pump, a really tight system, and possibly several days. Usually, lubricant is added after a part has been replaced (assuming it was shipped dry), the system is flushed to remove contamination, or there has been a rapid discharge of the system (such as a ruptured hose). Maintaining the correct amount of lubricant is critical to longevity and performance. ___________________________________________________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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