1986 Corvette AC Service…was it not done correctly?

[kenlou]

Two years ago I replaced the COMPLETE AC SYSTEM in this car with the help of this forum. I had the system charged by a nearby shop. In the following two years, the car quit cooling so I took it to another shop to get my AC back.
I explained all this to the guy doing the work and don’t understand why he did what he did. I thought I was going to get a working ac system but instead I feel he owes me a complete return of my money.

When he calls and tells me the job is complete, I was happy but when I ask him if he found where it was leaking he tells me he found no leak. I remind him that we know it leaks because the system had lost the complete charge that was put in two years ago and he agrees that it has a leak.


Why did he put in a full charge and not try a little harder fo find the leak? It pisses me off, I will tell you that.

In the meantime, I have found the leak. It is leaking from one of the seals behind the R4 compressor.

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I cleaned it all up and ran it for a short time and shut it off and I can see where the new oil is leaking back down through that seal, why did he not find the leak to begin with?

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I want to change those two seals on that r4 compressor but I don’t want to have to flush any of this. What do I need to do with this?

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It looks like I used the wrong seals initially. That red seal should have been the gold colored one.
Is there any thing I could put around those two seals on the compressor to stop a leak there?

If I disconnect that main line connected to the compressor to change those seals, can I get by with just changing the accumulator?

[Cusser]

Disclaimer: I'm NOT an AC professional. But I have a certain amount of knowledge and hands-on experience.

when I ask him if he found where it was leaking he tells me he found no leak. I remind him that we know it leaks because the system had lost the complete charge that was put in two years ago and he agrees that it has a leak. Why did he put in a full charge and not try a little harder to find the leak? It pisses me off, I will tell you that.

1. Many shops will do a charge of refrigerant and UV dye then have you come back in a week so they can find the leak with UV light. Could this be what that shop intended?
2. That shop can recover the remaining refrigerant, then install new correct seals and then recharge.

In the meantime, I have found the leak. It is leaking from one of the seals behind the R4 compressor.

Good start !!!

I want to change those two seals on that r4 compressor but I don’t want to have to flush any of this.
If I disconnect that main line connected to the compressor to change those seals, can I get by with just changing the accumulator?

If a new accumulator was installed after the car sat for 2 years and that shop then charged it, if mine I would not replace the accumulator again. I would get new correct seals in advance, have the refrigerant recovered, install correct seals, then evacuate and re-charge. The R4 compressor has the low and high lines in a combined manifold held in place with one bolt, so BOTH seals must be replaced.

If that shop did NOT replace the accumulator then, that was a huge mistake and they should process a refund or partial refund.

[kenlou]

Many shops will do a charge of refrigerant and UV dye then have you come back in a week so they can find the leak with UV light. Could this be what that shop intended?

Probably

If a new accumulator was installed after the car sat for 2 years and that shop then charged it, if mine I would not replace the accumulator again. I would get new correct seals in advance, have the refrigerant recovered, install correct seals, then evacuate and re-charge. The R4 compressor has the low and high lines in a combined manifold held in place with one bolt, so BOTH seals must be replaced.

I have the new seals and accumulator. I was planning on going back and explaining what I found and have him recover the refrigerent so that I could make the repairs at home and do the vacuum myself and once satisfied take it back for him to finish. Would I be better off him doing it himself?

I live in Washington Illinois and I am limited as to finding a really good mobile ac shop also.

[kenlou]

Another question….
When a system loses it’s complete charge how do we determine how much oil is left in the system and how much needs to be added back?

If I change only the accumulator how much oil should I add to it?