Hello, the wife has a 94 dodge caravan with a 3.3. I am no expert on air conditioning and I am having problems with it. Last summer it stopped working so I recharged it with some stuff called envirosafe, it some stuff I can get in Wisconsin without a lisence. It has been working great in my old Suburban. It is easy to use, anyway I recharged the caravan and it worked about a week and the compressor broke inside. This year I found a good used compressor [new one is close to $500 here] changed it and recharged it with 8oz of oil, a can of sealer, and the right amount of the envirosafe stuff. It says you are not supost to have system under vacuum when recharging or it will over charge and a little moisture will not affect it. So I got every thing going again and it worked great for about a week and now it looks like another compressor bit the dust. Anyone have any ideas what is going on with this thing? I had about 40lbs on the low side at idle on a hot day. The clutch is kicking in but blows hot air and pipe on compressor stays warm and low side presure don't drop when you turn on the air. The clutch turns easy by hand like there nothing happening inside compressor. Are these compessors known to be a problem? Tom
It may be this new chemical stuff. You said the compressor craps out like a week after you put this stuff in in 2 different cars. There's someone on this board who's a certified car air conditioner (thingy, I really don't know what they're called). He'll probably see this post sometime and completely answer everything for you.
Hi, It was in the same van, but now 2 comperssors have died. I have had the same stuff in my old suburban for about 4 years now with no problems at all in there. Tom
I know there's different types of compressors and gases that work excellent in one will corrode the crap out of another. Maybe that's the problem. I did a search and if you check these posts, you'll probably find some help. http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46730 http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46188 http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45962
If you had one compressor go bad, did you completely flush the system and replace the dryer? If not, all the debris from the first blown compressor is still in the system and will blow through to the new compressor and kill that one very quickly. If you have access to a set of gauges, you might want to see what the high side pressure is while the compressor is running. If it is below 100, then it might just be a problem with a stuck expansion valve. Either way...... DO pull a vacuum on the system before recharging or you will overcharge it and it won't work for long due to the moisture. 30Hg vac for 45 minutes. Mike
I just email envirosafe about it. I will see what they have to say. Envirosafe says to not refill with a vacuum in the system and that a little moisture won't hurt anything. I am not a air conditioning guy so I don't know much about it, so I am not trying to say anyone is wrong by any means. I am just saying what it says on there website and on the cans. I recharged my old suburban with the stuff 4 years ago after it had been run with a hose unhooked for I don't know how long, It was apart when I got it, anyway it has been working great since. I just screwed the line back together and recharged it. I was wondering if a piece of the first compressor got in the second one, but that don't explain why the first one broke in a week with this stuff in it. The first one sounded like the rod bearings were out of the motor, the one on it now don't make any noise but it quit working. Tom
I got a responce from envirosafe, it was not much help. He seemed to be all upset that I asked why 2 compressors died in the sme van with the same stuff in them both. Tom
We don't see alot of the "odd" gases here ...... yet. There are guys that don't like the 134A stuff, but I have done alot of them and only had one car that had a problem...... the car was a pile of chit to begin with though. You might see if you can rent a set of guages and a vac pump and do it with R134 or freeze12. You will still need to flush the system and replace the receiver-dryer and orifice/expansion valve. I won't charge an opened system until it I pull a vacuum on it for 45 minutes and then hold that for at least 20 minutes to make sure I don't have a gross leak........ Mike
I am not sure but I don't think I can't get 134 here in wisconsin without a lisence to work on AC. Thats why I tried the envirosafe because I can order it off the computer. I emailed them back and now they are at least trying to help me. Tom
