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failed attempt ac repair

turbochargedv8 on Tue April 22, 2008 8:24 PM User is offline

Year: 1987
Make: bmw
Model: 325es
Engine Size: i6
Refrigerant Type: r12

well last weekend i tried to fix my ac it hasnt been working in 5 years the car was flooded once also

well i took most of the ac lines off to change the o rings and theres was rust build up in the lines i blew the lines and condenser out with the air compressor the best i could i changed the dryer and vacumed out the system i then charged with r12 freon the compressor wouldnt come on so i jumped it and charged the system

didnt work though the ac lines low side didnt even sweat

any thought what should i do????

mk378 on Wed April 23, 2008 12:05 AM User is offline

Measure the pressures. Your R-12 might have leaked out as fast as you were putting it in.

If you have proper pressure, check for the pressure switches not closing at the right time or other electrical issue. A car which has been flooded will have all kinds of electrical problems.

If you had flood water in the lines the whole system is likely shot. Definitely will need to replace the expansion valve.

rmmagow on Fri April 25, 2008 3:59 PM User is offline

Did you pull a vacuum first? Can't charge correctly otherwise.

SORRY I see you did. I had a problem with a car that wouldn't get cold because I didn't pull a strong enough vacuum.

Edited: Fri April 25, 2008 at 4:00 PM by rmmagow

TRB on Fri April 25, 2008 6:33 PM User is offlineView users profile

Need more data to help determine the issue. How much oil is in the system/ How much refrigerant was installed? What are the low & high side pressure readings at idle and 1500RPM?

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turbochargedv8 on Sun April 27, 2008 5:37 PM User is offline

i just checked the readings again low side is at 5psi and high side is at 0psi
i changed the dryer and some o rings pulled a vac and charged with about 33 ounces of r12 i added a little oil to the dryer and compressor before charging so oil should be good i didnt change the expansion valve yet so im leaning towards that?

what do you all think

TRB on Sun April 27, 2008 6:30 PM User is offlineView users profile

Something is not adding up here. If you have 33 ounces of refrigerant in the systems. You would see higher pressures even with a blockage. Have to think about this one for a bit as the data is not adding up to me.

-------------------------

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

turbochargedv8 on Sun April 27, 2008 6:34 PM User is offline

well the last reading i just gave you was false because the gauges were open with the gauges closed the readings were low side -30psi vac and high side the needle just got off the peg so about 5psi
when i charged the system the first time i beleive the readings were low side 45psi and high side 150 but the suction line did not sweat at all and the ac did not blow cold
?

bohica2xo on Sun April 27, 2008 6:59 PM User is offline

Visible rust in the lines? Not a good thing.

I show both the 10P15E compressor & the Bosch vane type compressor on that vehicle in 1987.

The Vane type will not tolerate much trash, and is more expensive to replace.

The evaporator in that car does not flush well or easily, and it is worth the 140 bucks not to try flushing. The expansion valve is only $45, so replace it too.

The suction & discharge hose should be less than $200, and if they have visible rust inside they are trash.

That leaves the condensor, and again if it has trash in it to feed to the compressor... more scrap for the trash can.


The fact that your vane pump will pull down to vacuum on the low side says it may be ok. Stop now while you can save a 600 buck compressor. Tear the system down, and really clean it.

B.

-------------------------
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

turbochargedv8 on Tue April 29, 2008 7:47 PM User is offline

why am i getting a vacuum reading on the low side and no pressure or little to none on the high side???

can i try and clean the lines/parts i was thinking about taking them to work theres this mild acid in a pump spray container i could flush them out with then rinse them out with water and blow out with air??? or is this no good????

TRB on Tue April 29, 2008 10:50 PM User is offlineView users profile

I would not use any acid on rubber lines. Matter of fact without knowing what it is I would not use it period. Pulling into a vacuum normally means a restriction in the system on the low side. bohica2xo gave some pretty good suggestions in my opinion.


-------------------------

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

turbochargedv8 on Sun May 04, 2008 6:41 PM User is offline

i took the expansion valve off today packed with rust debris blew the evaporator out with air had rust debris also couldn't install the new expansion valve yet because im waiting on the o ring

i plan on blowing out the whole system before trying to charge again

should i try and flush the compressor out??? whats the best way to do this???

should i install a new dryer again????

thanks

bohica2xo on Sun May 04, 2008 7:52 PM User is offline

This system is headed for a TSR quickly.

TXV "packed with rust debris"? Straight in the trash can.

EVAPORATOR has rusty debris? You will never get it all out. As soon as you think you have, a piece big enough to kill the compressor will magically appear. Replace the evaporator.

Given the level of corrosion in this system, the compressor is the only part that may be salvagable. The compressor can be flushed with refrigeration oil. It must be turned by hand, not under power to do this. Check the FAQ's for more info on that.

Get a replacment hose set, and a new condensor. Basically everything except the compressor will be new.

B.

-------------------------
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

mk378 on Mon May 05, 2008 11:42 AM User is offline

I agree with bohica. Take the compressor off of the car and crank a bunch of new refrigeration oil thru it, you must get all the rust out of it.

Replace everything else. The evaporator and condenser will never come clean enough. There is basically no filter in an A/C system so any debris will come around and eventually destroy your compressor.

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