Hey all,

I noticed lately that either my ac is not as cold as it used to be, or I just hadn't ever used it when it was really hot (I normally use windows when my wife isn't with). Its still cool, just not ice cold. I have also noticed in the past that at idle my ac compressor will lock and unlock regularly. I was reading about ac issues now to try and see whats up and discovered that the locking and unlocking probably means my system is low on pressure. Now I'm looking for advice on how to deal with this. Should I try a do-it-yourself can from autozone? Ive been told in the past they are dangerous and not the correct way to service the system, but I've been reading and a lot of guys say they use them with great success. Is it worth a try or not?

Now you know what I've got hardware mesh zip tied to the grill on the inside and then tuck hardware mesh in the bumper holes. This is to possible prevent object like stones and large bugs like beetles hitting the condenser and bending the fins over. Yeah simple things like this can make huge improvement. For the cheap fix would be to do like @leathermaneod did and carefully straighten out all the fins or the quick way is to just replace the entire condenser for around $100 bucks. 

Mine was banged up too but mainly at the bumper. Took a HF fin comb to it and it looks better but not as good as yours @leathermaneod. That took a lot of patience.

Now if you replace the condenser, can you recharge the system yourself with cans from an auto store, or do you need a professional machine? Also, when you say mesh, I assume your talking about like window screen material? or something else? That does sound like a really good idea though, there were and still are quite a lot of little stones in there!

 

@dripley thanks for the compliment! yes it did take a few hours. I also bought the HF fin comb. Having never used one before, I assumed that getting things cleaned up would be a breeze, especially after watching a vid on youtube. Not so at all! Anything that is bent over more than a little bit will not straighten with the comb. Sometimes the comb even damages them. I basically had to get them all stood up by hand, then just used the comb to clean it up. I also found that the comb works better without the handle 

Edited August 8, 20168 yr by leathermaneod

This is all I'm using is 1/4" x 1/4" hardware mesh. Little stiffer than window screen and easy to work with. Do not attach any screen to the condenser itself. This will in fact rub holes in the tubing and later cause  leaks in the system. It best to attach the screen to the grill this way it never makes contact to the condenser or tubing.

 

 

Yes you can recharge the system yourself after replacing any A/C parts but you'll need a vacuum pump and manifold gauge set. The vacuum pump is to draw a vacuum on the system to remove all moisture from the A/C system before charging. The the manifold gauge set always you to monitor your hi and lo pressures while charging.  This is really close to what I current use to charge A/C systems gauges are bit more fancy than mine are...

 

You wont have to pull a vacuum on it unless you opened the system unless you are worried about a leak. Cant remember whether you did or not.  It is still not a bad idea if you want to start all over. I had to with mine since it had been open for a good while. Unfortunately I had a leak and could not find it without pressurizing the system and then after finding the leak I started over again. 

2 minutes ago, dripley said:

You wont have to pull a vacuum on it unless you opened the system unless you are worried about a leak. Cant remember whether you did or not.  It is still not a bad idea if you want to start all over. I had to with mine since it had been open for a good while. Unfortunately I had a leak and could not find it without pressurizing the system and then after finding the leak I started over again. 

I was just asking hypothetically because Mike mentioned replacing the condenser. I didn't know if it was possible to recharge and open system yourself or if you needed one of the professional grade machines. 

If it is full of freon you do need a recovery machine and they are pricey or have someone do it. Mine had leaked down so I just opened it up. The recharging equipment is not as bad price wise. I have $200 in the vacuum pump and gages.

Doesn't all the freon just escape out when you open the system?

Well thats the rub. The EPA frowns upon that. Not to mention if your system is pretty full just popping something open is going to release a lot of pressure quickly. 

16 minutes ago, dripley said:

Well thats the rub. The EPA frowns upon that. Not to mention if your system is pretty full just popping something open is going to release a lot of pressure quickly. 

 

Yeah, Yeah, EPA this, EPA that... I'm sorry but if I was to hit a deer tonight my entire load of freon will be dumped into the atmosphere. If I T-bone another vehicle again freon is lost. So why create material that common to buy in part store, no license or training required to use. Think of all the older vehicles with slow leaks and everyone pumping cans of freon into there systems. Where is that leaking freon going? You got it... Into the atmosphere.  You might want to look at what it used for...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane

 

 

 Easy now big fella. I dont disagree with you today anymore than we talked about it a couple days ago. Just dont want to tell some one to do something that might have repercussions. Just want them to be able to make their own decisions.

Just looking over the price on reclaiming machines which is outrageous. Like this little guy is nearly $500 and prices go as high as $6,000 for the fancy computer device ones. Most of the machines are not very portable with weights as high as 200 pounds. 

 

 

Even the simpler one are nothing more that compressor than pumps freon from the system back into a storage vessel. So... Say for example your compressor was low on oil and created a bit "black death" (wear debris) in the system.

 

 

So now if your hook up and reclaim that without knowing you've just contaminated your storage vessel. So now all you freon in your storage vessel has wear debris in the freon. Now it unusable. I would much rather vent to the freon of and use fresh "clean"  freon back in a vehicle knowing there is absolutely no contaminates in the freon being used in the system.

Edited August 8, 20168 yr by Mopar1973Man

As suggested....

its almost impossible to see behind the grill, but it's there! The ones over the holes in the bumper couldn't be secured too well but I'm hoping they will be good enough. My only concern is rust since the wire is galvanized steel....hopefully it doesn't rust too bad at the cuts....at least it was cheap....

Well I tested the air temp out the center vent today and unfortunately it's about 48° at the coolest....so I'm guessing it either still leaks, or needs more freon. :-(

Edited August 9, 20168 yr by leathermaneod

Check your pressures again then do like @IBMobile suggested too.

Were just idling or did you have the rpm up? I agree with what Mike says. Even if you are a bit shy is not cooling you off? I guess I have done with out mine so long that 60* air tickled the crap out me. 

I was driving. It cools off eventually but if it's really hot it takes a good while. I just figured if the pressure was only at 40 psi, and for the temp it was the fsm said it could have been 60 psi, there is some room for improvement... 

Out of curiosity how were you checking pressure while riding down the road? With out me looking in the FSM what ambient temp do you need to see for 60 psi on the low side?

Sorry I must have worded that badly. I was not checking pressure while driving, just temp. I checked pressure before when charging, and then again over the weekend with my father-in-law's manifold gauge set. I believe the fsm says with an ambient temp of 90° you can have a max of 60 psi on the low side. So far when charging and checking it's been mid 80°s and I've seen a max of 39 psi.

The max might 60 psi but there is range to work and you dont have to see the max. You can be at the low side and still be good. I am going to check mine again when I get home. My low pressures were near the low side and the high pressure was near the high side. It did seem to vary on me some. The pressures are in a range and not just a dead specific number. I dont think you are going to see 60 psi on the low side unless its 110* out side.