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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / May 2006

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A/C recharge on 01 TD 2500?

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Charles - 06 May 2006 22:34 GMT
I have a 2001 2500 Cummins td with 6-speed manual. A/C worked last fall,
now it does not.

Clutch did not engage, indicating low pressure.

I have the manifold guages and an adapter to tap the can of R-134a. I
connected it up and the pressure was low and the same on high and low
side. I tried to charge with a can of refrigerant and the clutch on the
compressor now engages for very short periods - a few seconds, but it
does not seem to want to take a charge.

The R-134a can is upright - correct?

Do I need to evacuate the system before charging? I looked at a vacuum
pump (pneumatic) at Harbor Freight last week, but it had an R-12
connector on it, so it did not seem as if that would do much good.

Maybe they rent these at Checker Auto?

I have had good luck charging the older R-12 systems with hydrocarbon
(alcane) refrigerants. In this case you do not evacuate the system and
you hold the can upside down. I can use the same refrigerant on this
truck but since it is designed for R-134a and I can buy this readily, I
would like to stick with the right stuff.

Any advice on stop-leak?

Thanks for any advice,

Charles
SnoMan - 07 May 2006 00:46 GMT
>I have a 2001 2500 Cummins td with 6-speed manual. A/C worked last fall,
>now it does not.
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
>Charles

A couple of pointer here. First the pressure will be the same on the
high and low side when the system is not running. The fact that it is
cycling, tells me it is still low on R134a. If it was low enough not
to run, it will likely take around two cans (give or take). ALso as
you add it in upright possition the can will chill quickly and lower
the internal pressure and greatly slow down the rate of charge. Try
placing the can in a pan of hot water as you charge it as it will slow
the cooling of the can and speed the charging. (it will not exploded
and the water will be quite cool when can is empty from its cooling
effect). While it is hard to say what your exact pressure should be
(it varies with  temp and humidity) It should be around 30 to 40 PSI
on low side and about 160 to 200 on high side when running at a idle
with AIR on full.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
aarcuda69062 - 07 May 2006 01:02 GMT
> I have a 2001 2500 Cummins td with 6-speed manual. A/C worked last fall,
> now it does not.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> The R-134a can is upright - correct?

Correct for a 12oz. can, incorrect for a 30lb. jug.

> Do I need to evacuate the system before charging? I looked at a vacuum
> pump (pneumatic) at Harbor Freight last week, but it had an R-12
> connector on it, so it did not seem as if that would do much good.

Evacuation has nothing to do with whether or not refrigerant will
charge back into the system and everything to do with removal of
contaminants from the system.

> Maybe they rent these at Checker Auto?

I gotta wonder if the droids at Checker even know what a Micron
gauge actually is?  ;-)

> I have had good luck charging the older R-12 systems with hydrocarbon
> (alcane) refrigerants. In this case you do not evacuate the system and
> you hold the can upside down. I can use the same refrigerant on this
> truck but since it is designed for R-134a and I can buy this readily, I
> would like to stick with the right stuff.

What country are you located in?

> Any advice on stop-leak?

Great for totally destroying many things including;
Vehicle AC systems
Recovery and recycling equipment.

> Thanks for any advice,

Advice would be to pay someone with the proper schooling to fix
your AC.
Something tells me that the unasked question is; how do I get the
R-134a from the can into the trucks system?

No?
SnoMan - 07 May 2006 04:37 GMT
>Correct for a 12oz. can, incorrect for a 30lb. jug.

Now this is silly for two reasons Fiest the 30lb bottle has more mass
and would cool slower so it would maintain pressure longer vs a can
and inverted it would inject liquid like a can would which has to be
done carefully and not for the inexperianced.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
aarcuda69062 - 07 May 2006 05:54 GMT
> >Correct for a 12oz. can, incorrect for a 30lb. jug.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> The SnoMan
> www.thesnoman.com

You should probably go look at a 30lb. jug of R-134a, they are
clearly labeled as to which end should be up for vapor versus
liquid. (IOWs, you're dead wrong)

Otherwise, totally agree on the part about inexperienced.
Greg O - 07 May 2006 17:06 GMT
>> >Correct for a 12oz. can, incorrect for a 30lb. jug.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Otherwise, totally agree on the part about inexperienced.

Last I saw they quit manufacturing 30 pound cans with a dip tube so you
could draw liquid with the can upright, too much confusion. R410A was
configured like this also, but no longer.
No problems charging liquid, IF you know what you are doing! I almost always
charge liquid, but then I do it on a daily basis!
As for the OP, he has  a leak, and it should be repaired before adding
refrigerant. I don't feel this is a DIY job in this case.
Greg
TBone - 07 May 2006 21:27 GMT
> >> >Correct for a 12oz. can, incorrect for a 30lb. jug.
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> refrigerant. I don't feel this is a DIY job in this case.
> Greg

By this point, it is never a DIY job as the only way for it to be low is for
there to be a leak.

Signature

If at first you don't succeed,  you're not cut out for skydiving

SnoMan - 08 May 2006 01:18 GMT
>No problems charging liquid, IF you know what you are doing! I almost always
>charge liquid,

As do I and have for many years but I would not recommand it to a
novice.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
Christopher  Thompson - 08 May 2006 02:48 GMT
but point still is. this guy seems to be in experianced with a/c systems.
not only is it nessasary to know what you are doing, but it can also be
dangerous not only to the vehicle but to yourself also if you do not know
what you are doing. i highly reccomend taking it to a qualified service
center.

Signature

-Chris
05 CTD
06 Liberty CRD

> >No problems charging liquid, IF you know what you are doing! I almost always
> >charge liquid,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> The SnoMan
> www.thesnoman.com
SnoMan - 08 May 2006 01:16 GMT
>> >Correct for a 12oz. can, incorrect for a 30lb. jug.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>Otherwise, totally agree on the part about inexperienced.

Last jug I saw side right side up for vapor, upside down for liquid.
(BTW, I have a few refigerant jug here too and I have only been
messing with them for 30 years too)
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
ds549@webtv.net - 07 May 2006 01:17 GMT
 you only got maybe 8-10 oz in those little 12oz cans,, put in some
more.. if a system is empty i usually run a vacume on it and be sure it
holds it for 15 minutes ,then fill. those pumps you hook to a compressor
work well . lucas

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm
sqdancerLynn - 07 May 2006 08:55 GMT
If you have stop leak Through it in the trash DO NOT USE IT it stops the
leak maybe but it plugs everything else up too.  Don't go anywhere near
the 134 system with R12
Coasty - 07 May 2006 14:05 GMT
>I have a 2001 2500 Cummins td with 6-speed manual. A/C worked last fall,
> now it does not.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> compressor now engages for very short periods - a few seconds, but it
> does not seem to want to take a charge.

* What were the Hi and Lo pressure readings before you started, what was the
ambient temperature and what type of fan was installed in front of the
condenser while filling?

> The R-134a can is upright - correct?

* Never ever invert the can to shoot liquid in the system it will destroy
the compressor

> Do I need to evacuate the system before charging? I looked at a vacuum
> pump (pneumatic) at Harbor Freight last week, but it had an R-12
> connector on it, so it did not seem as if that would do much good.

* If you buy a Vac pump new it does not matter which fitting is on it
because you use the fill fitting (standard schreader) on your guages to evac
the system to 500 microns.

> Maybe they rent these at Checker Auto?
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> truck but since it is designed for R-134a and I can buy this readily, I
> would like to stick with the right stuff.

* If you have a leak more than likely it is the O-rings at the connectors
between the fire wall and condensor or any place thet are located on the
connections.  You should have the system evacuated all o-rings replaced and
then refilled with the exact r-134a as per MFGR.

> Any advice on stop-leak?

* Not in any life time should you ever use that crap, the only thing other
than refrigerant used in the system is a refrigerant dye to look for leaks
under a black light.

> Thanks for any advice,

* It sounds like you are just trying to save a buck like all of us, however
it would be prudent to get some good books and do some serious reading on
AC&R especially automotive and it would be advisable to get your EPA cert as
required by Federal Law to work on the system.
http://experts.about.com/q/Auto-Air-Conditioning-1591/index.htm  and
http://www.keep-it-kool.com/  good luck

> Charles

Coasty
Greg O - 07 May 2006 17:11 GMT
>>I have a 2001 2500 Cummins td with 6-speed manual. A/C worked last fall,
>> now it does not.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> * Never ever invert the can to shoot liquid in the system it will destroy
> the compressor

Never?
Maybe never for the DIY guy, but I rarely charge with vapor.
It depends on the system, and where the ports are. On a automotive system,
if the ports are at the compressor then I probably would not venture to try
charge liquid. If the port is Back at the evaporator coil the liquid will
flash to a gas before it gets to the compressor, unless you are really
pounding it in!
Greg
Coasty - 07 May 2006 20:50 GMT
>>>I have a 2001 2500 Cummins td with 6-speed manual. A/C worked last fall,
>>> now it does not.
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> really pounding it in!
> Greg

It is better to be safe than sorry especially in auto ac systems.  On the
other hand when filling a 400ton low pressure chiller with R123 liquid is
the only way to go when the thing holds 350 lbs.
Coasty
 
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