Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

Provided by www.ACkits.com

We've updated our forums!
Click here to visit the new forum

Archive Home

Search Auto AC Forum Archives

Corvette loses cooling

jdhill on Fri February 08, 2008 8:03 PM User is offline

Year: 1979
Make: Chevy
Model: Corvette
Engine Size: 350
Refrigerant Type: 134
Country of Origin: United States

I have a 1979 corvette. I had three different garages charge my air conditioning this past summer. Temperature in the car was about 55 degrees. It would stay cool until I got onto the Interstate. Traveling at 60-70, I could see the temp rising past the 190 mark and going higher. When this happens, I loose cooling and it does not come back. This is all after I replaced the compressor, drier accumulator. The radiator is always full. I had the evaporator core changed out. I did purchase a new condenser, but have not installed it yet. I do not have the readings on the low / high side when the work was being done. They say the system is not leaking. I need help.

Chick on Fri February 08, 2008 8:10 PM User is offlineView users profile

Stock engine? or a newer like an LT1? Airflow seems to come to mind. How is the clutch fan, have you cleaned the "outside" of the radiator and condenser, and the area between both? Clutch fan new? fan blades turning right direction? Have seen people change the fan clutch and put the fan on backwards... Did you ever change the water pump? Get the right one, as V belt pumps turn one way, serpentine are reverse impeller.. Just a few things to check..Also when they say you don't have a leak, are they recovering and weighing the charge? If topping it off, it has to be going somewhere...

-------------------------
Chick
Email: Chick

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

Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

bohica2xo on Sat February 09, 2008 12:33 AM User is offline

In addition to what Chick has already covered regarding airflow, be sure that all of the stock air dams, seals & shroud are in place, or the air does not go through the radiator.

Since this is a 134 conversion, and three shops have charged it - you need to flush to bare metal & start over. It may have 2 or 3 oil charges in it, which just makes things worse.

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.

iceman2555 on Sat February 09, 2008 9:01 PM User is offlineView users profile

Agreement with the other post...but one thing caught my eye....the water temp rising above 190 and going higher at highway speeds. Since the thermo in this vehicle (stock) was a 192degree unit...this would equate to water temps of about 200-210 degree at the cylinder head, at normal operating conditions. Is the vehicle currently equipped with a thermostat? If not, it should be replaced with the correct unit..or at least a 180 degree unit. Operation of a system without a thermo and a rad with good flo will result in excessive engine temps. If the water is not allowed to be properly cooled and excessive water temps are encountered...this will equate to excessive high side pressures....and 134a does not help this matter.....the result could be a possible purging of refrigerant from the system. If the system has dye, check the back of the compressor for indications of this event.
As Chick states...it has be be going somewhere...if no leaks... then check the system very thoroughly.

-------------------------
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

Back to Automotive Air Conditioning Forum

We've updated our forums!
Click here to visit the new forum

Archive Home

Copyright © 2016 Arizona Mobile Air Inc.