Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Air conditioner problem

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    West Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    209

    Unhappy Air conditioner problem

    I am having a problem with the Air Conditioning on one of my 95's. I lost the compressor so I replaced the compressor, accumulator, rear expansion valve (Black Death), Condenser and Flushed the lines. I added an inline filter for the rear and an inline filter with orifice tube for the front line. After running the vacuum down below 500 microns and holding for 15 minutes, I weighed in 4 # of r 134A. The low side pressure was 35# but the hi side pressure was running 350#. Outside temp was 80.

    Last weekend the outside temp was 98 and when in town I was unable to get hardly any cooling. I believe that the compressor was shutting down because of high pressure.

    Going down the road it would cool some but not where it should be. When I did all the work a few weeks ago I also installed the Kennedy custom fan clutch with the 8 bladed fan. This by the way works great. The temp gauge never went above 195 the whole day last weekend.

    On a Air Conditioning forum, the consensus is that I am not getting enough air across the condenser coil. Radiator is fairly new and clean, have Trans cooler and oil coolers in front of condenser coil and they are clean.

    Anyone have any suggestions or ideas as to my problem?

    N9Phil
    1995 Chev 4X4 1500 Suburban 6.5 TD,Phazer Gear Kit from JK, High Capacity Water Pump Kit from JK. Special Calibration fan clutch W/8 blade fan from JK
    1995 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 6.5 TD>>SOL-D (parts car)
    1999 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 454 "Gas Hog" with Hiniker C-Plow

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Aitkin, MN
    Posts
    1,986

    Default

    Good Day!

    I'd start with the "A Summer Service Reminder!!" thread in this forum.

    Blessings!
    82 6.2NA K15 4X4 pickup, 4spd man w/ OD, 335K+ "In Rust We Trust" (parked)
    95 6.5TD 2500 4X4 pickup, Gear Vendors Aux. OD, > ¼ million miles - gone
    95 6.5TD 1500 4X4 3/4T Suburban, Kennedy exhaust, > ¼ million miles
    93 6.5TD 3500 4X4 1T crew cab LB pickup, 230k miles

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Newberg Oregon
    Posts
    12,294

    Default

    You very well may have a plugged condenser.
    How bad did the compressor go away?? If it had run for a long time chewing itself up it could very well have generated a load of crud.
    The inline filter you placed up front??? where exactly did that go in the system.
    To my knowledge there is no provisions for a filter up front other than the little screen that is part of the orifice tube.
    Let us know
    RC

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    West Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    209

    Default Correct forum

    Moondoggie,
    Sorry if I posted in the wrong forum. Where do I find this forum "A Summer Service Reminder"? I usually only go to the 6.5 and 6.2 forums because that is the vehicles that I have and I understand that 6.5 Diesels are a different breed and they have their unique idiosyncrasies.


    Robyn, I installed a new condenser and I removed the original orifice tube for the front and installed the filter w/ orifice tube right after the Y.

    N9Phil
    1995 Chev 4X4 1500 Suburban 6.5 TD,Phazer Gear Kit from JK, High Capacity Water Pump Kit from JK. Special Calibration fan clutch W/8 blade fan from JK
    1995 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 6.5 TD>>SOL-D (parts car)
    1999 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 454 "Gas Hog" with Hiniker C-Plow

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    West Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    209

    Unhappy Air Conditioning Problem

    Moondoggie, Sorry that I misunderstood your comment the other day and thanks for bumping "A Summer Service Reminder" up. This however is not my problem. When I replaced the condenser I cleaned everything out (not much there) the radiator is like brand new and the two coolers are spotless. I don't know if I screwed it up when I added the oil. I added 11 ounces when I changed everything (this was the recommended amount for a new compressor, accumulater and condenser) I poured it in the compressor before installing it and it probably pushed into the condenser and stayed there. I guess that I will have to take the condenser back off and see if I can drain it out.
    The other day I pumped the Freon out and put enough back in to get head pressure of 275. The rear air works great but not the front. While I have it apart, I will change the front inline filter and check the orifice tube. This system will work right one of these days as long as my patience holds out.
    1995 Chev 4X4 1500 Suburban 6.5 TD,Phazer Gear Kit from JK, High Capacity Water Pump Kit from JK. Special Calibration fan clutch W/8 blade fan from JK
    1995 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 6.5 TD>>SOL-D (parts car)
    1999 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 454 "Gas Hog" with Hiniker C-Plow

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Newberg Oregon
    Posts
    12,294

    Default

    The pancake compressors dont hold the oil. The oil mixs with the refrigerant and circulates though the system while in operation.
    The oil will not stay in any one location.
    If your rear system is working well then the problem is obviously with the refrigerant delivery to the evaporator.
    your added filter may be the issue on the front unit.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    418

    Default

    I have a 1994 Suburban and I am having the EXACT same problem as N9Phil. Today i had NO cold A/C coming out of the vents in the front, but lots of cold A/C in the rear. Pop the hood, Line to the front evap is warm, line to the rear evap is ice cold. last year i changed the orfice tube, the filters, the accumulator and the Compressor because of this problem, after changing all that, A/C was ok and works ice cold when driving down the road but cool when i stop. This year it has been working like total garbage!!. I got cold ac in the rear and nothing in the front. I spray the condensor with cold water from the hose and still dont get cold A/C in the front. This problem is starting to drive me crazy!! but i cant figure out whats wrong here. i got all these new parts and money into this A/C system and it works like total junk!, if anyone knows help me and Phil out will ya! LOL!!!
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Anthony

    1994 K2500 4x4 Suburban
    6.5 Turbo Diesel
    Pyro,Tranny,Oil,Diff temp Gauges, Boost Gauge
    FSD Cooler from my GM dealer
    Sweet sounding JK Exhaust
    Heath Chip
    Boost Controller
    Crystal Projection headlights, Turn signals and reflectors.
    Euro Tail Lights
    Cowl Induction Hood
    2" Lift
    305/70R/16 BF Goodrich All Terrains
    11.5" FF 3.73 Posi with Rear Disc brakes
    American Eagle 16x10 chrome wheels, style 145
    Alpine Stereo,DVD,Navigation System, and Alarm
    Indigo Blue Metallic
    Pics of my truck - http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...21&uid=2685617

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Palm Beach, Florida
    Posts
    1,816

    Default You people up north

    Changing out the orfice? Go to the variable type orfice "VOV".

    A newer condensor design stacked plates far outperforms tube style. http://www.vintageair.com/

    When purchasing new parts like filter dryer from GM you'll see update information requiring more r134a in burb over what it came with stock. I used the extra r134a and I can't drive with with any setting over low, even mix some heat for more comfort. Remember, I'm in the sub-tropics, burb is flat black and it's surface gets real hot when parked.
    99 GMC SUB, 2500, 4x4, 6.5 TD (F) #H32 enhanced blk, Phaser timing set, B&D IC, 3" ATS exh, K&N w/prefilter, 4WD NVG 246, 4L80E kevlar Transgo off road/tow mods/B&M supercooler, 14 FF MagTec w/locker 3.42:1, 9.25" IFS frt/diff 3.42:1 w/ARB locker, AutoMeter Boost & pre-turbo pyro meter, 12,000 lb hydro winch, Warn classic bumper w/brushguard & diesel scoop, Max E-torq Stage 3, hi pop inj, oil bypass sys, on board air comp for front ARB locker & tire inflation, DynaView driving/auto-cornering lts, DZ nerfs, A/T 285/75/16 SilentArmor 3750 lb rated on 3750 lb rated Alcoa, 3 IP drivers 2 r spares.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    418

    Default

    OK my Sub calls for 4lbs, 0ozs. your saying i need to add more r134a? if so how much??? i installed a new orfice tube from gm last year.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    West Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    209

    Default

    Petrella, What kind of pressures do you have and what is the ambient temp? When I had just the rear air working great it was after I only put enough Freon in the system to get a head pressure of 200#. Therefore my system was under charged at the time. With a low charge like this it will feed the rear evaporator first because the rear uses an expansion valve and there will be less resistance than thru the front orifice tube. If I weigh in 4 # of Freon, my head pressure shoots up to 350#. I probably won't get a chance to pull the condenser until some time next week. If I still can't get the head pressure down after cleaning the condenser, I have another back up plan that I will try.

    As a rule of thumb, head pressure should be two to two and a half times the ambient temp. On an 80 degree day we are talking around 200#


    N9Phil
    1995 Chev 4X4 1500 Suburban 6.5 TD,Phazer Gear Kit from JK, High Capacity Water Pump Kit from JK. Special Calibration fan clutch W/8 blade fan from JK
    1995 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 6.5 TD>>SOL-D (parts car)
    1999 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 454 "Gas Hog" with Hiniker C-Plow

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    418

    Default

    Ok it was 85 degrees, and i was getting 40 on the low side and 350 on the high side.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    West Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    209

    Default

    Have you tried running water over the condenser with a hose while watching the head pressure?

    N9Phil
    1995 Chev 4X4 1500 Suburban 6.5 TD,Phazer Gear Kit from JK, High Capacity Water Pump Kit from JK. Special Calibration fan clutch W/8 blade fan from JK
    1995 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 6.5 TD>>SOL-D (parts car)
    1999 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 454 "Gas Hog" with Hiniker C-Plow

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    418

    Default

    i havent tried that, but I definatly will! that will give me a good idea if its a condensor problem

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    West Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    209

    Thumbs up Follow up

    I think that I might have solved my problem today. I decided to pull the new condenser and check to see if it might be loaded up with oil. What a surprise. Inside the lower outlet tube was an orifice tube. When I ordered the condenser I specified for a 95 diesel with rear air. If you have a front air only you won't have the Y (this is where the orifice tube is located on my 95's) and the orifice tube must be in the condenser outlet tube. I pulled the new found orifice tube and reinstalled everything, ran a vacuum and weighed in the 4# charge. Head pressure was 225# instead of the 350 I had before. The inside temp got down to 59 degrees. After idling for about 45 minutes head got up to 325 and low pressure was 50. Inside temp went up to 65 degrees. Outside temp was 85 and 60% humidity. Everything looks great.

    N9Phil
    1995 Chev 4X4 1500 Suburban 6.5 TD,Phazer Gear Kit from JK, High Capacity Water Pump Kit from JK. Special Calibration fan clutch W/8 blade fan from JK
    1995 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 6.5 TD>>SOL-D (parts car)
    1999 Chev 4X4 2500 Suburban 454 "Gas Hog" with Hiniker C-Plow

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •