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I have a 1998 S-10 Blazer 4.3L 2WD that has the automatic climate control. I took it into the dealership to do a A/C system check because it was blowing hot air. They came back and said it was leaking in the compressor and that it needed to be replaced.
Not wanting to spend the $1,500 they wanted to fix it, I decided to do it myself. I replaced the compressor, accumulator, oriface tube and o-rings. I cleaned the condenser and hoses with an A/C flush. I added 1oz PAG 150 oil to accumulator, 5oz to compressor, and reassembled. I then added a small can of 2oz R134a, 2oz PAG oil, stop leak, and red dye to check for leaks. I followed this up with about 50oz of R134a, which I was surprised it took this much to get it to 47psi on the low pressure side.
It still blows hot air with the A/C on, fan set to Auto, Temp set to coldest setting (66 degrees I think), and diverter set to Auto. I'm wondering if there is another problem in the condenser area or diverters.
The accumulator gets cold and condensation forms on it. I don't have a high pressure gauge to measure it, but could get one quickly if that information is required.
Thanks,
Mike
Answer -
Mike,
I did not see anywhere in your question that you used a vacuum pump to evactuate all of the atmospheric air from the system once you got the system all re-assembled.
Look on the blue sticker either on the A/C compressor or on the blower motor housing on the firewall or possibly on the underside of the hood.
There should be a sticker telling you the maximum amount of refrigerant oil and refrigerant (freon) that you install into the system.
Let me know.
autohelp
You're right! It was so late last night that I completely forgot do hook up the vacuum pump. I'll do that this evening and refill. I guess I was just in a hurry to get it running :).
I hope this didn't ruin any of the components. Can you tell me if not vacuuming out the system will damage anything if only run for a short time (5mins or less)? Also, will this cause the airflow to still be extremely hot at the vents?
Thanks,
Mike
Answer -
No it will not cause any damage. What is happening is that the atmospheric air is freezing at the orfice tube thus hot air at the vents.
Are you sure that you did not install the orfice tube backwards ?. You might want to take a second look just to be sure.
Check on the maximum quantities of refrigerant oila nd refrigerant (freon) that goes into the system.
When you have to replace a compressor, You always empty out the old oil from the compressor and put it into a measuring cup to see exactly how much was in the old compressor. Let's say that it measured 3 ounces as an example.
When you buy a nEW compressor sometimes it comes with a full charge of refrigerant and some times it comes with very little.
You empty out the oil from the new compressor and add the same amount of NEW oil into the new compressor that you removed from the old compressor.
If you installed the new compressor without emptying out the oil there is the possibility that the new compressor had a full systems charge of oil thus your system has to much oil in it and this will also cause insufficient cooling.
autohelp
Thanks for all the info. Here's the answers to your questions:
I replaced the orifice tube the same way it came out. I was very careful in noticing the direction it was installed. The tube is about 3" long with the o-ring offset to one end. The longer end was facing the direction of flow coming to it and the shorter end was facing the direction of flow going away. I don't think it's ever been replaced/serviced, so that should have been the factory setup. (I've owned the vehicle since purchased from dealership)
The owners manual says 36oz of R134a. No information on oil. Autozone did a lookup and there documentation said 8oz of oil.
I tried to empty out the old compressor, but no oil came out! There was a tag on the remanufactured compressor that said it had no oil, other than the minimal oil required to assemble and test.
It sounds like it is probably the fact that I didn't vacuum out the system.
Thanks again,
Mike
Answer -
If there is NO oil in the compressor you had better add some.
autohelp
Sorry, I didn't answer that question fully in my reply.
Yes, I did add 1oz oil to accumulator, 5oz oil to the low pressure side of compressor, and then added 2oz oil through low pressure service valve.
Mike
AnswerOK, That's better,
I do not have a staff of people helping me answer your questions, I do it all by my self, Therefore, Due to being retired and a 15 year old computer on a dial-up connection, I do my best to respond to questions within 3 to 4 hours due to the volume of questions I receive on a daily basis.
autohelp
