Hey guys, I converted my A/C to R-134a 2 years ago, and it went out recently. I was told its the evap core. I'm replacing my evap core and while it's out, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to repalce as much of the O-rings as possible. Regardless, I would replace the evap and accumulator O-rings, but should i go ahead and replace the other O-rings at the condensor pipes? Seems like a chore but is it better to do since I converted to R-134a? The other O-rings are all original from 1989.

Thanks in advance!

 

19 years is a long time for an O-ring's life. It will save you money and time in the long run if you do replace them.

 

Yes.

It's not much of a "chore" at all. It only takes a few seconds to change each one. There's only 7 in the whole system; 2 at the back of the compressor, 2 at the condenser, 1 where the line hooks to the accumulator, and 2 at the evaporator.

Evaporator cores RARELY fail. They're just a length of tubing all wadded up. Nothing to "go out". Whoever told you that, in all likelihood basically just didn't want to work on your car.

What is the system doing?

 

Thanks for the reply guys. Actually whats going on is that the compressor and accumulator were changed a while back when it was converted, and it never really blew cold, just cool. Then it got pretty warm and I put in some of the canned stuff from a parts store and it got really cold, but then it got warm within a week or so. Then I put in more of the canned stuff, it got really cold, but again it went bad within a week.

I'm pretty sure that when I took it to the A/C place, they didn;t want to work on it anyway given their responses, but I just removed the evap and it does look a bit oily. But its not incredibly oily, and I don't think it would justify the refrigerant leaking out within such a short time.

I'm guessing the evap is indeed bad given the very light amount of oil, but every other place looks perfectly fine...no oil or anything. Regardless I'm going to go ahead and replace all the O-rings though. Like you guys said it doesn't look to bad to do.
Do you guys have any insight as to whats going on? Hopefully its just the evap and O-rings!

 

About 90% of all A/C problems that aren't due to either the compressor locked up or the orifice tube plugged (you DID change that out, right?) are due to leaks. The other 10% are due to the refrigerant escaping from unknown locations.

Yes the O-rings would be a great place to start on fixing either of the above problems. Make sure you get the right ones for 134A. They ARE different.

 

Make sure you get the right ones for 134A. They ARE different


hmm, I'm not to sure if the orifice tube was replaced when it was converted, and i don't recall it being on the bill back then (shouldn't have gone to that cheap shop.....*sighs*). Where is it on these cars? It does blow cold when it has a charge though, but it all leaks out fast.


"Make sure you get the right ones for 134A. They ARE different"


All the O-rings are the original R-12 O-rings. Could that be a factor as well which would make the refrigirant leak out?

 

The orifice tube is in the same place on these cars that it always is; where the high-pressure line hooks up to the evaporator. When you take that line off, you can grab the tube with a pair of needlenose or something. Looks like a long skinny plastic strainer. Costs about $20. Should be on the "must replace" list every time an A/C system is busted open.

Yes the R-12 O-rings not being replaced could be the problem. The 134A may well have eaten them. Some of the rubber compounds used way back when are not compatile with 134A.

 

wow this info is gold guys! Thanks so much! I'm gonan go do this ASAP and try to get soem nice cold air out of my vents!

 

little update. I'm working on it...slowly. Seems the guys who did the conversion re-used the R-12 O-rings on the accumulator.....I assume they did the same on the compressor....and it looks liek they REUSED the old ones...not put in new R-12 O-rings.....*sighs* good help is hard to find isn't it?? lol

 

Good help isn't hard to find, it's just painful to pay for!