Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2017 21:02:14 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: '91 Carat AC Inoperative.
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk3TnUsyoHp2Lg_knZ6bzfKzDUzC7Aa=pgcCF=+TZ4LHFA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Jim, thanks.
Before get to the jumpering part, there is another problem. On ol Rd, the
'88 GL, with engine of, but with ignition on, if the AC switch is turned
on, the radiator/condensor turns on. This is as it should be. On the Carat,
with the same operation, the fan DOES NOT turn on. I believe it should,
therefore I think there is a fault. I think that fan has to be running for
the AC to turn on. I jumpered the clutch so I know it works.
On the GL, with engine running, and the AC in condensor fan mode, I had to
add a whole csn of refrigerant at which time the clutch engaged and the
compressor came on. Not so with the carat. I think that condensor fan not
running had something to do with it. Haven't deciphered all the switch and
relay circuits yet.
John
On Apr 26, 2017 19:31, "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> John, I hope the following advice is applicable. If a system goes to zero
> pressure, you will have to jumper the compressor to make it start to get a
> certain amount of refrigerant in the system. After that it will start
> working by itself but not until. As I recall you just find the connection
> and run a jumper wire to ground. I have done it, can't quite visualize it.
> It has been a long time.
>
> Jim
>
> On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 7:21 PM John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> With the summer heat coming on, I'm back on this.
>>
>> The story: I had never even turned this AC on the years I have had it, rut
>> set about to resurrect it. When I first turned it on, I did so with
>> ignition in accessory mode, not actually starting the engine. The AC
>> condensor fan did not turn on as it should. I figured the refigerant
>> pressure was so low or non existent, that the system was in automatic shut
>> off mode and would require enoungh refrogerant pressure to trigger the
>> relay to turn the system on. The car had been in mothballs for several
>> years, but to my surprise the system still had some R12 in it. I was
>> running down the road, whe I heard a kapow in the back of the van. I
>> could
>> hear a whistling sound, an on checking, I discovered that the trinary
>> switch which is essentially the high/low pressure switch, had blown out
>> and
>> dumped the refrigerant. Replacing the switch, which is ni the left
>> D-pillar, was no big deal, but I doing so, I discovered the real culprit.
>> The schrader valve port to which the trinary switch mounts had given up
>> the
>> ghost. The 'O' ring in the valve had dry rotted letting the pressure out
>> into the trinary switchsince I would be adding newer refrigerant I had the
>> system evacuated and that blew out the trinary switch rubber seal. Since I
>> was going to convert the system and run H152a in it, i had it vacuum
>> checked. It held at 29 in. Hg. I started the engine, turned on the AC, and
>> started adding the 152a. The compressor did not start. I am at a loss
>> where
>> to go next. A new receiver/drying was installed. I did not install an
>> expansionvalve. Just hoping to get by.
>>
>> Suggestions!!
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> John Rodgers
>>
>
| 
