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Topic: Finally fixed my dash A/C (Read 1443 times) previous topic - next topic

Finally fixed my dash A/C

Wow, been wanting to do that for a long time now.  I had freon added shortly after I got it 1.5 yrs ago, but it never blew cold.  I appreciate all the previous threads on here about your experiences, they helped me tremendously! 

Turned out the dryer let the dessicant go and plugged the line at the TXV in the dash.  I have a great friend who is also a great A/C guy who didn't want to give up either.  We ended up replacing the filter/dryer and the TXV and cleaning out the line between them.  The line was the fun part.  Others have mentioned giving up on that, but I would encourage you that if your air isn't working because of that line, it can be cleaned. 

Once we found that line was the restriction we used a small pick (kind of like a dentists tool) and cleaned as much as we could out of the end at the TXV and then we added an aerosol like WD-40 to help loosen the obstruction.  We also used bailing wire to chip away at it.  The aerosol was key.  We put an air hose on the dryer end of the line and finally began to see the liquid begin to slowly bubble at the TXV end.  After we had a small amount of flow, we moved the air hose to the TXV end and blew a decent amount of dessicant out the dryer end. 

We put it back together, and charged it up, after drawing a very good vacuum to evacuate the aerosol and any fluid from the air line.    Next, it proceeded to do the same thing, clogged again!  We recovered the freon again, pulled the line loose and it wasn't totally plugged but close.  We repeated the cleaning but with new fervor :)  We put our bailing wire further in and pushed a wired rope several feet into the TXV side and worked it with the aerosol too.  Then when we put the air hose on either side we got equal pressure back out the same, before we didn't get quite as much pressure out the TXV side.  This time it was nice and open. 

We ended up putting in 8 lbs (I noticed many others had to exceed the 5.5 recommended also).  My friend said we will recheck when it is hotter outside and make sure it is still happy.  Now it is blowing 46 degrees out the dash and I'm a very happy driver!

I hope this helps someone else, I'm ecstatic to finally have good dash air, I thought it was a lost cause for a while.....I left off many A/C steps (pressuring with nitrogen to check for leaks at joints etc.) that are important if you aren't familiar with A/C work.  Always be very careful and make sure you have the right tools or friends before you dive into your A/C.

......enjoying icicles on my knees...........

Steven

Re: Finally fixed my dash A/C

Reply #1 –
My dash air is also not working. Last year we had to run the gen on the road and use the roof ac, or drive with the windows open. But you give me new hope. Good job ,thanks Gam

Re: Finally fixed my dash A/C

Reply #2 –
Great work, Steven.

I suffered with the leaks and lack of performance for years until I found a good shop here in Cincinnati to do the work.  I don't have the equipment to recover and pump the refrigerant.

Peter

Re: Finally fixed my dash A/C

Reply #3 –
I had a weird one. My dash air seemed to not be performing as good as it had in the past so I asked Foretravel to check the system. They found that it had too much Freon so they took out a little. It is now freezing us out again. I added some Freon last fall just as a preventative measure without the benefit of a good set of gauges. I won't do that again.

At least I know I don't have any leaks. Not bad for a 1993.

Re: Finally fixed my dash A/C

Reply #4 –
Way to go :)  Sometimes you just have to be tenacious to solve problems.  Me? Not so much... but I need to be.  hehehe

Re: Finally fixed my dash A/C

Reply #5 –
Well good subject for me ...Mine is a 96 u270, replaced my condenser 2 years ago(Do to a hole) and it was good and cold till I lost all freon on our last trip. After some investigating I found that my low psi hose dry rotted at a crimp near the ac compressor.
I talked with a local ac tech and was told the hose can not be cut and re crimped Without pulling the 30 something foot hose out and crimping it at the AC shop on a table..Is this true???
If I have to pull the hose out I'm just gonna replace it

Re: Finally fixed my dash A/C

Reply #6 –
Both A/C rubber hoses from engine compressor to filter dryer, condenser in rear & evaporator in dash can be easily repaired and new fittings crimped on.

It takes a shop that has a portable crimper and the correct fittings, knowledge and experience.

Often a hydraulic hose shop may have the needed stuff, but they probably will not do refrigerant replacement.

We had our long-time leaking fitting repaired with a portable crimper in Santa Fe NM.

Call around and find a shop that can do it if they have the correct fittings.

Our dash air is working GREAT for the last 4 years since the crimp. We did take our coach to an A/C shop to evacuate and recharge after the crimp repair.
 

Re: Finally fixed my dash A/C

Reply #7 –
So that's good news.. I'm going to start calling around tomorrow,Thanks for the input