A/C: Remove or Keep Installed?
- Thread starter azmusclecar
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August 11th 2018 in Phoenix it was 119°F AC Here is a must have. I'm lucky I was a tech at a GM dealer for years. I bought a 30.lb can of R-12 back when it was cheap . I also have a few cases of 12 oz. cans. I have managed to keep the AC in the El Camino.
I'm not sure I understand your reasoning. I agree that safety should be first priority. However, it would seem to me that being able to drive the car no matter what the weather would be my second priority. Very often, the issues with old A/C systems can be narrowed down to leaking o'rings or dried seals.
I bought a car once that the owner said had a bad A/C system. He discounted the car an additional $400 because of it. When I got to diagnosing the A/C issues (I live in Louisiana and it gets hot down here) I found the problem to be a loose schrader valve. I tightened the schrader, pressured it up with air to find that it didn't leak. Blew it down, replaced the accumulator/drier and Pag oil in the compressor, pulled a vacuum, charged it up and had A/C the entire time I drove the car. In three years I put additional gas in it one time.
The point I'm trying to make is that it won't cost you any money to pressure the system up with air to see if, and how bad it leaks. I'm pretty sure you could even see if the compressor will come on using the air pressure. Don't let it run any longer than it takes to see the compressor engage & turn. If it engages and turns, a new accumulator/dryer, new Pag oil, 134a o-rings, long system evac and some 134a could put you in air conditioning.
This is not how it should be done but it is probably the least expensive way to diagnose what you have. Since the system is has been empty for 26 years, you really don't have anything to lose.
I bought a car once that the owner said had a bad A/C system. He discounted the car an additional $400 because of it. When I got to diagnosing the A/C issues (I live in Louisiana and it gets hot down here) I found the problem to be a loose schrader valve. I tightened the schrader, pressured it up with air to find that it didn't leak. Blew it down, replaced the accumulator/drier and Pag oil in the compressor, pulled a vacuum, charged it up and had A/C the entire time I drove the car. In three years I put additional gas in it one time.
The point I'm trying to make is that it won't cost you any money to pressure the system up with air to see if, and how bad it leaks. I'm pretty sure you could even see if the compressor will come on using the air pressure. Don't let it run any longer than it takes to see the compressor engage & turn. If it engages and turns, a new accumulator/dryer, new Pag oil, 134a o-rings, long system evac and some 134a could put you in air conditioning.
This is not how it should be done but it is probably the least expensive way to diagnose what you have. Since the system is has been empty for 26 years, you really don't have anything to lose.
I don't recommend this method. Sorry, but you're asking for trouble if you don't know if it's got R12 or 134 in the system or not.
If it's been sitting for 26 years, it's not likely going to matter. Hoses are probably dry rotted anyway. I wouldn't trust it for as far as you can throw the compressor. Peace of mind is worth more than trusting crusty old rubber and seals.
You won't just throw some PAG oil in it and 134 because you have to evacuate whatever's in there first. Without knowing, you're running a fool's errand while wasting time and money. You're restoring the car, then restore the system. You're going to have to break into it anyway if you change it over because you probably have no earthly idea what refrigerant was last in it. R12 I'm betting. Always gotta know what your starting with. You're just f'ing yourself AND your car if you don't have a plan first.
Well the last two posts are exactly the conundrum I felt in that to really FIX the A/C.....which means it does need to be checked...
there ARE parts to replace regardless.
Just to fill it with a few cans from Walmart and drive it, that's not my style. I understand your point but I am the guy that wants things
to work and work right.
The money I throw at the A/C now...is money I can use to upgrade to better brakes, Or to repair faulty wiring rather than drive with no turn
signals. The decisions for the car will primarily be made to satisfy MY WANTS AND NEEDS. When I can't have faith and trust in a car
going up and down the mountains here to stop and to stay running when I am on 7% hills........the A/C working or not doesn't help me
a bit when I can't stop the car or keep the car up to speed to safely climb the hills.
So my order of repairs helps me sleep at night, and helps me trust the car will get me out and get me back home. The A/C is just for
comfort.......and if I am already uncomfortable mentally driving an unsafe vehicle, I don't think the A/C will make my gut feel better
as I head down a hill with warning signs and a runaway ramp for vehicles that may have great A/C they just forgot to spend their money wisely.
The world is full of opinions and I appreciate hearing them but when it comes to justifying one over another.....the final decision lies with me.
Thanks to all that post and reply and send their ideas and opinions and thoughts.
there ARE parts to replace regardless.
Just to fill it with a few cans from Walmart and drive it, that's not my style. I understand your point but I am the guy that wants things
to work and work right.
The money I throw at the A/C now...is money I can use to upgrade to better brakes, Or to repair faulty wiring rather than drive with no turn
signals. The decisions for the car will primarily be made to satisfy MY WANTS AND NEEDS. When I can't have faith and trust in a car
going up and down the mountains here to stop and to stay running when I am on 7% hills........the A/C working or not doesn't help me
a bit when I can't stop the car or keep the car up to speed to safely climb the hills.
So my order of repairs helps me sleep at night, and helps me trust the car will get me out and get me back home. The A/C is just for
comfort.......and if I am already uncomfortable mentally driving an unsafe vehicle, I don't think the A/C will make my gut feel better
as I head down a hill with warning signs and a runaway ramp for vehicles that may have great A/C they just forgot to spend their money wisely.
The world is full of opinions and I appreciate hearing them but when it comes to justifying one over another.....the final decision lies with me.
Thanks to all that post and reply and send their ideas and opinions and thoughts.
I bought my Regal project pretty cheap and since the plan is to keep it I started first replacing the entire brake system, then the entire suspension, next was body mounts and frame repair then some things like the new interior needed to be done in a specific order like installing new doors and doing rear floorboards repairs first.
The ac reinstall will be last on the mechanical side of my list but I bought everything new and got some really great deals by shopping around and I used Rockauto to get the parts numbers but sourced everything from other vendors.
The ac reinstall will be last on the mechanical side of my list but I bought everything new and got some really great deals by shopping around and I used Rockauto to get the parts numbers but sourced everything from other vendors.
Bought my Cutlass guy said he could never get the AC to work.
Disconnect a hose reconnected it and then pressure tested it with my air compressor.
Bad schrader valve as well.
Replaced it pressure tested it with air problem solved
Fixing a car "right" doesn't mean replacing everything for no reason
Disconnect a hose reconnected it and then pressure tested it with my air compressor.
Bad schrader valve as well.
Replaced it pressure tested it with air problem solved
Fixing a car "right" doesn't mean replacing everything for no reason
It seems the jury is divided...........40 year old hoses in Arizona's desert heat doesn't make for what I consider a smart move to
continue to use or try to use. I believe some have posted without thinking of that. Just like those that run on expired tires.
I used to be one that tried to get ALL his money's worth out of something. But at what cost? My 1977 Chevy pickup, expired tires,
tire came apart and wrapped the tire carcass up in to the rear fender bending the brace and the fender.😱 Was it worth it?🤔
We can agree to disagree all day regarding this "use as is" or leave well enough alone or if it ain't broke don't fix it. Well it is broke,
and if I want it to perform correctly and safely and efficiently and reliably, then that is my choice. 🙂 I don't see it as wasted money,
it's money invested in to my peace of mind. 🤔🙂 AT my old age I need to keep my mind as peaceful as I can since there isn't a lot left.😆
continue to use or try to use. I believe some have posted without thinking of that. Just like those that run on expired tires.
I used to be one that tried to get ALL his money's worth out of something. But at what cost? My 1977 Chevy pickup, expired tires,
tire came apart and wrapped the tire carcass up in to the rear fender bending the brace and the fender.😱 Was it worth it?🤔
We can agree to disagree all day regarding this "use as is" or leave well enough alone or if it ain't broke don't fix it. Well it is broke,
and if I want it to perform correctly and safely and efficiently and reliably, then that is my choice. 🙂 I don't see it as wasted money,
it's money invested in to my peace of mind. 🤔🙂 AT my old age I need to keep my mind as peaceful as I can since there isn't a lot left.😆
Leave it on the car. The other thing to consider is if it needs everything it would be a good time to convert to a serpentine belt. I did that on my 82 El C and the donor was a 94 S body blazer with a 4.3l throttle body. Very nice clean swap
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