2TONE82

The A/C on my '82 works (checked yesterday afternoon: air at the center vent is at 52-54 degrees) but the compressor cycles on and off about every 10 seconds for the first minute or so. Happens when I'm at idle or under a load. After five minutes or so the compressor cycles normally. The system has been converted to 134. Any thoughts?

zwede

Sounds like a low charge to me.

m and t's77

also can be overcharged,r-134 systems are not nearly as foregiving as r-12's
btw we're new here is there a new members section

maint1

Just got the air in my 82 running and it does the same thing. Switched everything to 134 also. Maybe I'll take it back where I got it charged and let them take some pressure readings. It was in the 50's the day I had it done and now it's over 100.

comp

onr member advised to change the low pressure switch, i think to a adjustable one

Aflac

That's what I would think but check the servicing first... go with the easiest thing.

mooneyd

9 times out of 10 it means you need a charge. I you had it charged lately, check for leaks. Good luck.

Master Ho

My r134a-converted, '81 was cycling on/off every few seconds and the pressure was low. I added freon and stopleak and repressured to 45lbs. With 23 year old seals, though, it's more of a stopgap measure, but cheaper than tearing out/replacing everything right now.

2TONE82

Thanks for the help. Can anyone recommend a user friendly gauge that I can test the system pressure myself with? I've seen some simple ones at Wally World and AutoZone but have not looked at them very close. I have the re-charge kit from when I converted my Jeep to 134 so I have the fill hose....don't recall how I knew it was "full". Guess I just followed the instructions in the kit.

markdtn

You really need a gauge set to see where you are at. If you just use the "suicide kit" you don't know anything, with just the low-side injection kit (with gauge) you don't know if the high-side pressure is high or low. Try pawn shops or Ebay. Might even try a rental shop.


[Modified by markdtn, 11:50 AM 6/21/2004]

zwede

Harbour freight has the gauge kit for $49:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=2435

BSeery

While I was at my local Autozone yesterday, they had a full gage manifold kit there, with full instructions and everything. The gages, manifold, hoses and all came in a black plastic box to keep it all safe.
It looked like the most comprehensive over the counter R134 kit I have ever seen. If you are still on R12, then that is a different story. If you are on R12, I would go get it serviced and have them just add some more R12 (still available in some places). The price of just getting some more R12 will be way less than the price to convert the system to R134.

To determine if yours has been converted, look for the schrader valves in the A/C lines. If they look like regular sized schrader valves (like tire valve stems) then the system is still running on R12. If they are larger with a blue / red cap on them then someone has done a R134 conversion to it. R12 and R134 use different sized valves to install the material. Once you screw a R134 valve onto the old R12 valve it won't come back off.

Corvette ED

I just rebuilt my system on my 75. I replaced the compressor, hose, switch, VIR, and all of the Orings. I had it charged with 134a and it blows 38o at the center vents.

2TONE82

Update: I picked up a kit at Wally-World (hate that place but the $21 works for my budget). Low pressure gage with a bottle of 134 (charge, oil and leak seal). She blows at 40 degrees now.

Thanks everyone