Troubleshooting the Air Conditioner

[kyngfish]

Hi all. Thanks for all your help these past few months. So far since purchasing my car I've:

• Changed motor mounts/tranny mounts
• Oil Change to Brad Penn 20w50
• replaced rear lenses and gaskets (red)
• Fixed a loose front sway bar (thanks for the help finding the bolt!)
• Purchased 101 projects...(not received yet)

The community here has helped with all of those things either directly or through old posts. Awesome.

Now I'm trying to trouble-shoot the A/C. I'd like to know what the "current status" is before I start making changes. I've already talked to Griffiths, and have an estimate for their "stage 1" package which are updating the o-rings, barrier hoses, freon and putting a new condenser in the wheel well (1500?).

EDIT: I have an '86 Carrera Coupe

How do I test my existing system?

Is it OK to just load it up with the Freon of my choice, or do I have to identify what's already in there?

Has anyone every tried just adding a fan to the existing condenser?

Any other general advice?

[T77911S]

start with putting gauges on it to see if anything is in it.

what year is the car.
if it has screw on schreader type fitings it should have r12. if they are quick disconnect then r134.

if it is empty then you HAVE a leak. your options are:
1 charge with nitrogen and look for the leak if you have a sniffer. or add a dye
2 charge with what ever was in there, add dye and sniff/look for leak
3 replace all hoses.

3 is the best option.
remove all condensors and the evap, take them to a shop that can pressure test them.

[JRSIII]

Make sure your front condenser blower is working. Also, don't assume type of refrigerant based on fittings. Shop I got my 88 Targa from converted to 134 without changing the fittings. I had to borrow a set of R-12 gages to check. I was able to buy a set of R-12 to R-134 adapter hoses (about 6" long each) so that I could charge the system if needed with one of those "A/C Pro" type bottles you can get at autozone. But definitely check your system pressures first with the compressor off then on. That will tell you where to start.

[Discseven]

Kyngfish... system does not need a fan at rear condenser if you make sure your engine seal is in good condition and installed correctly... and you seal around the condenser and engine compartment lid---idea is for the engine's cooling fan to suck as much air through the rear condenser as it's capable of.

Also... Follow Charlie's install instructions perfectly including his proprietary evacuation & charge procedure. If the system is as it should be---no leaks, clean evaporator bottom, insulated pig & probe at TXV, good compressor---and you do everything correctly, you should see 33 degrees at the vent on an 80+ degree day.

Be patient and anticipate a learning curve. These old AC systems are finicky but when you get everything right, they do cool.

Last year I went through my entire AC system. You may find some helpful stuff here... including the mistakes I made: My AC burns me up --- Summary of fix

[kyngfish]

Thanks all for the advice. I'm actually in Miami too, so I'm trying to get ahead of this before summertime.

Cheers.