Seized A/C Compressor

[abizzle]

I finally completed this project, but I just need to get the pressures right on the high and low side. I had some trouble with the Freon tap and some of it leaked out. I bought another 8 oz can and now I think I have too much Freon in the system.

I can say that the AC system is super quiet now and I can barely hear the compressor kick on. Before this project it was annoyingly loud. It cools great in the evening and at night, but it’s struggling during the day. I may take it to a local shop since they usually evacuate the Freon for free.

 

[gprcomputer]

I'd pump it back down into vacuum and start again. You only need 1.6 (Exactly) cans of 12oz R1234yf to charge this car. You can measure it pretty accurately with a small scale. I've gotten pretty darn good at guessing by "hand weight" but don't do that if you're not familiar. Use a small letter scale to weigh the cans, you an do the math. You'll need 7.2ozs from the second can after charging with the first. Once you charge your first can you can weigh the empty to get your can weight, even. Good luck. You're bleeding the charge hose after connecting each can, I assume, right?

 

[ulycyc]

I would put the gauges back on and check the pressure readings (engine cold). If overcharged both high and low side will be high. You also could have a leak and lost the charge you think is still there.

 

[abizzle]

I'd pump it back down into vacuum and start again. You only need 1.6 (Exactly) cans of 12oz R1234yf to charge this car. You can measure it pretty accurately with a small scale. I've gotten pretty darn good at guessing by "hand weight" but don't do that if you're not familiar. Use a small letter scale to weigh the cans, you an do the math. You'll need 7.2ozs from the second can after charging with the first. Once you charge your first can you can weigh the empty to get your can weight, even. Good luck. You're bleeding the charge hose after connecting each can, I assume, right?

I bought a 12oz can at Harbor Freight and then an 8oz can at Autozone, which should be just about right since the Freon capacity is 19.87oz. I hate to start over cause you’re talking about $105 worth of Freon at that point.

After adding the first two cans and accounting for what was lost with the tap problems, I probably added about 2oz too much. I figured I would discharge a little and see what happens with the pressure and go from there. And yes, I purged the charge line in between can swaps.

 

[abizzle]

I would put the gauges back on and check the pressure readings (engine cold). If overcharged both high and low side will be high. You also could have a leak and lost the charge you think is still there.

I pulled a vacuum for 12 hours and then let it sit for another 6 hours with no increase in pressure. Pretty sure there’s no leaks.

 

[ulycyc]

OK so no leaks. How about pressure readings when running from a cold start.

 

[abizzle]

OK so no leaks. How about pressure readings when running from a cold start.

I’ll have to check it maybe later this weekend. It seems my alternator decided to go out, so I need to tend to that first.

This car is a freakin money pit!

 

[Chef jpd]

You realize that you now own a 7 year old European car.........

 

[abizzle]

You realize that you now own a 7 year old European car.........

Ended up buying a used alternator at the local LKQ for $60 and it came with a 12-month warranty. Also had to replace my two-year old battery, which thankfully had another year of free replacement warranty left. The new battery is exactly the same, but now comes with a four-year replacement period.

In three months I’ve had to perform a major AC system repair, replace the RR tire after a pothole blew out the sidewall, replace a battery and an alternator, and I still have two front strut mounts to install. It would be really nice if I could drive the car for at least 25K more miles without the need for a major repair.

On a happy note, my AC works great and the alternator keeps the battery operating between 13.7 and 14.4 volts!