Thanks! I'm freezing!

[David.Ullrich at ferguson.com]

I SPENT WAY TOO MUCH! But in the long run it will be worth it as I plan on keeping this car until there is no way to keep it running due to lack of parts availability.
Here's what was done:

Shop #1: Full conversiondrain/flush out old oil
replace leaking high pressure flex hose (ouch: $200 by itself)
Install new receiver/dryer
Flush system
Install all new o-rings/seals
Install new R134a service fittings
Evacuate system for 6 hours
Charge with R134a & Ester oil
Total = $750 including the hose and all taxes
Took almost a full month to get done.

Not cooling well, vent temps of only 63*F. Not acceptable, brought it back to them for further diagnosis. After another 2 months of fooling with it off and on and blaming everything from poor system design to missing parts like the radiator cowls (that I got and put on, making no difference) they finally come to the conclusion that the expansion valve is bad:
R&R expansion valve = $150 including taxes

Total is now up to $900! But system is now cooling down to 50*F I talked to many people, all seemed to agree that something still isn't right, it should be cooling to around 40-45*F (at at least). At this point I have zero confidence in shop #1, so I take it to Merchants Tire & Auto (shop #2):

System diagnosis: $50
They determine that the system is grossly overcharged with BOTH oil and R134a. The conversion sticker says 36oz R134a and 11oz oil. The system capacity (according to Merchants) for the system when filled with R12 is 32oz R12 & 8oz oil. And when converting to R134 you put in 80% of the R12 capacity. So, it should have had 27oz R134 & 8 oz oil!
Evacuate and properly recharge with R134a: $125
Total at Merchants: ~$175 but system is finally COLD! The pressures are where they belong. At idle low side is 40, high side is 175. At 2000 RPM low side is 28 and high side 200-225. Not too shabby for a system that is converted to R134a...

Total for all AC related work: ~$1,075 and lots of frustration & aggravation. I called shop #1 to complain. They said they were given bad info from the AC parts & info service they use. They also agree that it appears I'm due back some money and are going to seek reimbursement from the AC parts and info service both for me and for themselves since they put in a LOT of man hours working on a system that was just over charged. So we'll just how much I get back (not expecting anything)...

The system still has too much oil in it, but merchants said to test if for a while to see whether it still cools well once it gets hot & humid again (it's been in the upper 70s/low 80s all week). If not cooling right once it's hot and humid, we'll will have to do a complete system flush and replace the receiver/dryer again. But they won't charge me again for the evac & recharge, just the flush and dryer/dryer. EVEN MORE MONEY! But I can't stand driving a car with no AC...and R134 will make future repairs and recharges much less troublesome and expensive.

Dave

Too Many Toys:
2002 VW Jetta GLS 1.8T Tiptronic
1993 RX-7 R1
1987.5 Audi Coupe GT "Special Build" 2.3 - Anthracite Black
1985 Chevy Impala Interceptor


-----Original Message-----
From: David Head [mailto:v8q at bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 11:08 AM
To: David Ullrich - 0018 HQ
Subject: Re: Thanks! I'm freezing!


So can you kinda list all the things you checked and fixed? My son just bought a Coupe and the AC blows 'ok', but not real cold...

David.Ullrich at ferguson.com wrote:

> Just wanted to send a quick thanks to all on the list who helped me with my AC issues. I can thankfully say that I'm freezing in my CGT now. Evaporator temp is now at 35*F, temps at the far back of the center vent range from 35*-38*F as measured with one of those laser thermometers and the air blowing out of the front of the center vents with my digital thermometer on a high blow are at 40-42*F! Not too shabby for a system that is converted to R134a...
>
> Dave
>
> Too Many Toys:
> 2002 VW Jetta GLS 1.8T Tiptronic
> 1993 RX-7 R1
> 1987.5 Audi Coupe GT "Special Build" 2.3 - Anthracite Black
> 1985 Chevy Impala Interceptor