OPPO A/C question

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux)
06/19/2014 at 15:54 • Filed to: None

ok I know quite a bit about a/c systems, but I hate them. I have zero charge on a friends 06 Nissan. Put a gauge on it and nothing, stuck a key into the low side port to check there wasnt anything left. I sort of want to try to juice it with a couple of cans and see if it just all ran out over the winter on a slow leak, something the "stop leak" may swell up and fix. Should I attempt a DIY charge and possibly waste time/money, or just tell him we live in Maine and leave the a/c be like the rest of us do? More of an opinion. Would you toss 20 bucks worth in there to see if it works magic?

DISCUSSION (19)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 15:55

stop leak or just a DIY freon fill?

Stop leak - no

DIY fill - yes

bob and john > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 15:56

what nissan? if its a Z or something a little nicer, id toss in $20. if not, fuck it, rip out the AC for weight savings

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/19/2014 at 15:57

is there something to be wary about with the 134 cans that have "stop leak" in them?

505Turbeaux > bob and john
06/19/2014 at 15:58

3.5 SE altima, 60K miles

The Gray Adder > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 15:58

Make him buy a AC refill kit if he wants to see if it's leaking. They're not that expensive, but it's not your car, right? If it's an '06, I bet its leaking like Chelsea Manning, but who knows?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 15:59

I'd say send it in to a professional shop. They have tools that can detect leaks easier than we can. it could be a variety of things causing the leak, but you can try tightening the schrader valves first on the charge ports. If any water gets in the compressor, it hydro-locks and gets useless.

505Turbeaux > The Gray Adder
06/19/2014 at 16:00

I have the hose, all he needs is the cans. I guess I will make sure it has some dye in it

bob and john > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 16:00

sure, why the hell not.
and if he decided to scrap the car, u have a bitching 3.5L v6 to toy with.

The Gray Adder > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 16:01

Well, I did my son's '00 Focus a number of years ago, and I could hear the stuff leaking. Damn Fords.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 16:06

I'd refill first partway with a leak-dye can of R134A. That way, if there's a huge leak, you can spot it easier. Possibly in a mix with a can of stop leak variety, because if it's leaking badly, you may not know until it's up to charge, but if it's not, you'll have missed your chance to stop-leak it otherwise.

If it starts to blow somewhere right off, then, well, that's what you fix, if possible. Might just be a bad o-ring or the like.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 16:08

I've never used it on an AC system, but anything that has anything to do with any kind of stop leak tends to do more damage than good. And my father who's been an ASE Master Mechanic for since.. I dunno before I was born? almost 30 years? says to keep any and all stop leak away from any car you care about (even remotely)

they gunk the hell out of all systems and then you're paying more money to get it cleaned out/redone than it would have cost to get it fixed right the first time.

You can do the dye test if you can buy them with dye. You need the UV light and glasses I think though.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > The Gray Adder
06/19/2014 at 16:08

please don't judge all fords on that crappy old focus....please...

man those things were....

yeah they just kind of were...

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/19/2014 at 16:11

I typically agree, But you drive old stuff. Ever use a little white pepper in the radiator to get you home from somewhere in the middle of the night? A little brake fluid in the power steering to swell up a weeping line? Live a little Montego! :)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
06/19/2014 at 16:15

Hahahahaha. I haven't done any of those!

I don't ONLY drive old stuff. Unfortunately I barely get to drive the Montego.

I drive an 07 Milan and my wife drives an 08 Commander.

It's not about living a little, I do that in the Montego, it's about not destroying the whole AC system lol

The Gray Adder > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/19/2014 at 16:16

OK, how about the Tempo/Topaz I used to have in the late 1980s? Or the many, many Taurii various friends of mine had that were utter crap? Or the Grenada my dad had in '75? I have quite a history with Fords, and none of it good. Maybe the new ones are OK. I'll let somebody else do the testing they should have done in Detroit before I dip my toe onto the asphalt of another Ford dealer.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > The Gray Adder
06/19/2014 at 16:23

wow

you picked the year gaps that were the worst for every American manufacturer.

How about a Chevy Corvette with a V8 and 150 hp? I mean if that's what we're going off of. How about the K cars from Chrysler? I can do this all day and I'm a huge American car fan.

The new Fords are awesome and if you can't get past the old stigma from an example that was at least 14 years ago there's nothing I can do for you.

But the only thing I like to bring up is this.

let's think about your cell phone. I bet 14 years ago it looked something like this:

Kinja'd!!!

which would be COMPLETELY unacceptable these days as well. It works in all industries. Doesn't mean because I had a phone 14 years ago that sucked I should ignore that manufacturer. Yes I know cars are supposed so last longer than phones.

I bet you have a smart phone now either Android or iPhone most likely...

The Gray Adder > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/19/2014 at 16:26

On a really quiet night in January, you can hear somebody's Ford rusting.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > The Gray Adder
06/19/2014 at 16:34

say what you like buy my 07 Mercury has required the least amount of maintenance of any car I've owned over a period of 40k miles. brake pads and oil changes are all I've done, bought it with 45k miles, I'm up to 85 in just 2 years.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > 505Turbeaux
06/20/2014 at 14:45

Get a UV light, refill with the dye tracer, see if anything comes out.

If it eventually gets low again, you may have a leak at the evaporator next to the heater core. Like my old W210 Benz.

However, it also had other foibles, like the heater duovalve would stick ON on one side, until tapped.

The more I remember the HVAC and interior issues (I'm looking at you, delaminating headliner glue) with that car, the more I'm relieved I no longer own it.