[urq] '83 A/C, burnt wiring smell

Tue Jul 18 10:34:25 EDT 2006

Ingo,
I'd suggest thinking twice about an 134 conversion.  These days, R134 is selling for $10.67 per pound, and R12 is selling for $19.16.  Considering the urq uses 34ozs of refrigerant, is it really worth the effort to save $18.05?  Also, when you convert to 134, you end up with a significantly less effective system.  The whole system is designed around the points at which R12 changes phase from liquid to gas.  The phase change points for 134 are different, and unless you change the compressor and expansion valve with those designed around 134, you will see a loss of performance.

If you can't/don't want to use R12, you can use a drop-in replacement such as R406a (Autofrost), which I have now put in 3 cars this summer.  It seems to perform great, with very cold outlet temps at the vents.

Worth considering...

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: i.rautenberg at waratap.com
To: djdawson2 at aol.com
Cc: james.pasqualoni at gs.com; urq at audifans.com
Sent: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 7:55 AM
Subject: Re: [urq] '83 A/C, burnt wiring smell

Well, these humid 94 degree days in Michigan certainly make AC more desirable IMO.  I'll likely try the 134 conversion on the '84.  Last time I charged it with R12 and found out the schraeder valve was bad :-(  At least it held vacuum until we filled it. 

Ingo

On Jul 18, 2006, at 9:25 AM, djdawson2 at aol.com wrote:

Yeah... somehow it almost seems "wrong" to have A/C in an urq, as I've never had it before.  My first attempt at reviving the A/C in an '85 worked for about 2 weeks, then the York unloaded.  My second '85 has had the system removed, but I'll reinstall it at some point.  The system in this '83 works very well... hopefully the compressor will last a while.

Dave (the older I get, the more I want A/C)

-----Original Message-----
From: james.pasqualoni at gs.com
To: i.rautenberg at waratap.com; djdawson2 at aol.com
Cc: urq at audifans.com
Sent: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 4:52 AM
Subject: RE: [urq] '83 A/C, burnt wiring smell

Same here-I never even tried to get the AC running due to the empty, melted relay socket in the glove box.  Whoops.  -----Original Message----- From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Ingo Rautenberg Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 11:26 PM To: djdawson2 at aol.comCc: urq at audifans.comSubject: Re: [urq] '83 A/C, burnt wiring smell Yes.  There is a relay behind the fusebox that gets really, really hot. Can't say exactly which, but I seem to recall it's the 2nd or 3rd from the left with the glovebox removed.  Not sure whether the relay in my case was defective, but I DO KNOW it was melting its socket.  In my case when I slowed down the whole interior of the car filled with smoke and I quickly removed the relay (which was useless in a car with AC system removed).  Don't have the IST documents in front of me, so I'll let someone else chime in... Ingo On Jul 17, 2006, at 7:34 PM, djdawson2 at aol.com wrote: > Again, on my "new" '83... > > After a few hours of chasing wire routing, and after evacuating and  > recharging the system (R406a, BTW), I now have an excellent performing > A/C system in this '83.  However, now that the A/C is working well, I  > am getting the familiar early car stink of hot/ burning plastic wire  > insulation inside the car after the A/C has been on for about a half  > hour.  Turn the A/C off, and the stink quickly goes away. > > My thoughts... > > When the A/C is on, the cooling fan on this car runs at a moderate  > speed... full time.  This is the only additional electrical accessory  > that operates when the A/C is on, except for power to the compressor  > clutch itself, which is a fairly low current.  My thought is that the  > source of the hot wires must be something linked to the cooling fan  > system, but as yet, have been unable to actually locate the hot wires. > My other thought is that maybe the fan itself is drawing too much  > current due to its age, even though it spins pretty freely by hand. > > Any '83 gurus have any suggestions on where to start looking? > Thanks, > Dave > ______________________________________________________________________ > __ > Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email  > and IM. All on demand. Always Free. > _______________________________________________ > Audifans urq mailing list > Send posts to: mailto:urq at audifans.com Manage your list connection:  > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/ listinfo/urq Have an urq question?   > Check the Audifans Knowledgebase! > http://www.audifans.com/twiki/bin/view/Audi/UrQuattro> Have an urq answer? ... Please help others by adding to the KB ...   > all contributions welcome! _______________________________________________ Audifans urq mailing list Send posts to: mailto:urq at audifans.comManage your list connection:http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/urqHave an urq question?  Check the Audifans Knowledgebase!http://www.audifans.com/twiki/bin/view/Audi/UrQuattroHave an urq answer? ... Please help others by adding to the KB ... all contributions welcome!

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