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New accumulator...cap off before install. Desiccant ok ?

y2k600f4 on Thu April 17, 2008 3:58 PM User is offline

Just curious; just noticed with a newly purchased accumulator that one of the caps was off and must of come off during shipment. Should I be concerned with moisture being absorbed by the desiccant material ? I would think that the desiccant would not of gotten saturated with moisture but just wanted to check and be on the safe side before I completed the install. Thanks.

TRB on Thu April 17, 2008 4:09 PM User is offlineView users profile

You will be fine.

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robocam on Tue August 04, 2009 12:34 PM User is offline

I encountered the same thing. Why will he be fine? Air usually is at 50% humidity or higher. Since the box isn't sealed, there's an unlimited amount of moisture present. He also doesn't know how long the cap had been off.

TRB on Tue August 04, 2009 12:47 PM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: robocam
I encountered the same thing. Why will he be fine? Air usually is at 50% humidity or higher. Since the box isn't sealed, there's an unlimited amount of moisture present. He also doesn't know how long the cap had been off.

We can play how long games all day. Do you know it was not knocked off other than what the poster stated, in shipping. So you would feel fine if a sales rep pulled a drier off the shelf and capped it on the way to the counter. Pull a good vacuum and 99 percent of the time you will be fine. Now if the sprinklers went off do to a fire that would effect the 99 percent rule!

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When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com


Edited: Tue August 04, 2009 at 12:48 PM by TRB

robocam on Tue August 04, 2009 4:55 PM User is offline

The likely reason the sales rep would cap it on the way to the counter would be to lie. Why would they open the package? I'm hoping most people are moral enough not to do such a thing. There are posts here that say that the desiccant cannot be dried. Since no one seems to know, I'm going to play it safe. I went back, and picked up the replacement accumulator. This one had red caps on it and looked very clean (the first one had black caps). I'm glad the sales rep at the NAPA autoparts store didn't just give me back the one I returned. And I should have put a mark on the first accumulator so that I could tell for sure, but this one definitely looked different.

And why would it matter if the sprinklers went off or if moisture from the air got into the can? Since we do not know how long the cap was off, it wouldn't matter. It could have fallen off 10 years ago. My accumulator was made in May of 2001.

Edited: Tue August 04, 2009 at 4:57 PM by robocam

Prospeeder on Tue August 04, 2009 6:46 PM User is offlineView users profile

The ones i have bought usually are under a vacuum, and hiss when you pull the plugs. So thad be a good indicator.

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1990 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix
1990 Pontiac 6000 LE V6
Both have R12 A/C

TRB on Tue August 04, 2009 6:54 PM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: Prospeeder
The ones i have bought usually are under a vacuum, and hiss when you pull the plugs. So thad be a good indicator.

Agreed for the most part. But a cap can get knocked off now and then. My point is they I can place good money down that major parts houses just pop on the cap and a customer does not know the difference! IS the part defective at that point? I highly doubt there will be an issue with said accumulator/drier if a proper vacuum is pulled before charging.



-------------------------
When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

robocam on Wed August 05, 2009 12:31 PM User is offline

It says here that pulling a vacuum won't dry it. I think cap-off = defective.

http://www.autoacforum.com/messageview.cfm?catid=2&threadid=9278&STARTPAGE=1

TRB on Wed August 05, 2009 1:07 PM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: robocam
It says here that pulling a vacuum won't dry it. I think cap-off = defective.

My opinion this is to generic of a comment to be factual. One needs to know how long a cap was removed before one can determine the nature of the desiccant. I also have no issue with one replacing a accumulator/drier when ever they see fit. There are also a lot of other factors in a a/c repair which could cause a lot more issues then a cap off a drier for a short time.



-------------------------
When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com


Edited: Wed August 05, 2009 at 1:07 PM by TRB

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