134a AC

[Drowned Rat]

Hi guys. Got a Saab with the 134a AC. I just recharged the system today. I got a guage at Auto Zone which tells you when to stop adding refrigerant so I stopped when it got to the red. The AC worked fine although about every 15 to 20 min. the AC would get warm for a few minutes and then start working again like there was an air bubble or something in the system. I hooked my guage back up and it still read well in the green near the red. Should I add more refrigerant anyway? Or does it sound like I've got another problem? Thanks for your help. It's 110 degrees and only going to get hotter.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: 134a AC

I am by no means an ac man although I have fixed my share of systems. A system will not work with too little regrig or with too much. If you have too much it will give the same symptons you are describing. It will freeze up and quit. After it thaws out it will start again. Just a thought.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 134a AC

Not to mention, they are suppose to Cycle on and off, Its normal. [To a point]! Does your drier have a window in it, watch it when the air is running, if it has bubles, you need more coolant. It does sound like it may have some air in it still.

 

[jimr]

Re: 134a AC

if you had to add to it that means you have a leak somewhere and should have fixed it before recharging the system to get it right it should have been evacuated and then recharged to get all the air out.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: 134a AC

Thanks for the help guys. LubeDude, I don't have a sight glass. All I know is this is the symptom I get before it gets worse and quits. <br /><br />KB, I definitely may have added too much coolant although I didn't let the guage get into the red so I thought it was ok.<br /><br />jimr, never buy a Saab. I wanted to have it fixed. The compressor has a leak at the main seal, unit is not serviceable and Saab is the only one who makes a new one. $1500. I'm not kidding. Then add labor and whatnot. I can refill it alot of times for $1500. I usually fill it twice a year and it does good. Is there no way to get all the air out without evacuating it? Oh well, I'll just deal with it I guess. Thanks for your reply.

 

[jimr]

Re: 134a AC

i have worked on some saabs and any car maker that puts the motor in backwards suxs.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: 134a AC

Never again!

 

[fireship1]

Re: 134a AC

Hello, You will never succeed at removing all of the air in the system as long as you have a leak. As air finds it's way into a refrigeration system it brings moisture with it. There is a filter/drier in the system to deal with this problem, but it will become more and more saturated with moisture over time until it is rendered useless. Moisture has no place in any refrigeration system and will cause corrosion, slugging of refrigerant oil and freezing of the expansion valve or metering orifice. This will cause the system to get warm until you shut it down for a few minutes. Then it thaws and works good again.....for a little while. The only way you can fix this is to fix the leak. Ultimately the compressor will eventually seize from the moisture problem and from it's lube oil venting with the refrigerant. If you don't fix the problem you will just cause more damage to the system. Sorry for the bad news.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: 134a AC

That's ok fireship. I think it's time to retire the car. Think I'll trade it in on a Honda or something. Thanks for the info though. I'm surprised the shop didn't tell me all that when they were looking at it.