I just did an A/C service on this one today, a job that can be a pain but the payoff makes it worthwhile.
Performance deteriorated somewhat over a while, and then after I checked pressures two weekends ago, the service adapter failed and puked the charge. I did a half-ass service about four years ago using that A/C repair in a can crap (I’ve come a long way since then), but this was my first legit one on this car. It had busted o-rings, still had one black R12 o-ring on the condenser, ancient accumulator that had been reused a few times, nasty and trash-filled o-tube/nasty lines/nasty evaporator. Compressor looked great inside, running very quiet for an R4 so I hope it gives me a few more years, and the condenser wasn’t bad compared to the other stuff.
New accumulator and new Ford blue orifice tube went in. I initially tried what I thought was a better low side service adapter, but it destroyed itself and the accumulator as far as the Schrader valves were concerned so I had to get new ones of both. I don’t know what happened, but I don’t like those cheap adapters. Oh well. It took about 47 ounces of refrigerant, 8 ounces of PAG 150, and .25 ounces of leak dye. The compressor is old, says Delphi-Harrison on it, but it has the later stepped manifold so I know it’s not the OEM unit. It might be one of those mid-90s real deal GM compressors that
@CorvairGeek talks about. I’d rather gamble on an old one that’s quiet and works really well still than a new Four Seasons one or have to convert to a Sanden 508 right this minute.
Discharge temp tonight was about 24* at the vents, although my gun was saying 14* deep down in there, but we’ll see how she does in the heat of the day. I’ll attach the used flush chemical and the old GM white tube. When it came out, there was no white to be seen. The debris is like silt/sand and deteriorated rubber of some kind. Likely old o-ring or old hose. The hoses were replaced at some point because they say “Goodyear R134a.” Flush liquid starts out pretty much clear, but coming back brown is typical for what I’ve seen. There’s oil and debris floating at the bottom.
This car has been a daily its whole life, and it’s A/C season here eight months out of the year, give or take. Maybe continuous use is one of the keys to having success with an R4?
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