Another 90s series Saturn A/C system refurb.

I'm currently working on getting a 94 SC2 back to a working condition
A/C system.
I've borrowed a vacuum pump and and guage set.
I put new schreader valves in the compressor because the system wouldnt
hold a vacuum. (I hope that was the problem - the A/C worked last year,
but the last time I added refrigerant the low side valve was leaking)
I have also replaced the condensor - the old one was covered in guck
because I forgot to replace the engine oil cap once. Since I had a
replacement already off Ebay (it was just so cheap....) I thought I'd
just swap out (I'll be listing the cleaned up one on Ebay soon).
When I disconnected the old condensor, the system still had a little
pressure from a year ago - even with the leaky schraeder valve. I
guess that's good.
I bought a new dryer unit.
But. It seems the dryer/accumulator or whatever you wanna call it isnt
really SEALED!
I expected that it would have hermatically sealed end caps or
something. It does have end caps to protect the threads but does not
seem to be sealed!
Would anyone clue me in to how this thing keeps from being
contaminated??????

 

Hi wavy

Maybe they were hoping you wouldn't notice the
un-sealed dryer. Sounds like a waste of time putting it in!
The guy who serviced my AC in the house put in a new
dryer. But he put it in backwards according to the
arrow on it! The AC still works however.

Fred
94 SC2

 

Well, I have to wonder if maybe it has some kind of seal internal which
breaks when system vacuum or pressure is applied. It has to be -
right?
Otherwise whats the freakin' point?
Oh, and I'm pretty sure
Dryer isnt like a DIODE... its just a cannister that works
in way out or out way in.
Thanks!
-dc

 

Whoa whoa whoa, how was the remaining refrigerant recovered??? It likely
still contained some r-12... Are you planing on sticking with R-12 or
are you thinking of dumping r-134a in an r-12 system? You need to stop
right now if you are planing that.

A leaky schrader valve means nothing if it is capped. The schrader valve
is not the primary seal. It only retains refrigerent long enough to
attatch service hoses. Nothing more. You have a leak somewhere else if
it was kept capped. The new drier should of been sealed off to keep the
desiccant good...

Always have the system recovered before you begin repairs! If you are
planing on changing to 134a you best start reading before you do
something illegal or for that matter something rather futile.

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/609/

 

Two Errors Here:

One - The dryer IS sealed. I noticed that one end of it appeared to
have a hole in the end. Apparently not. I put my mouth on the end and
gave it a good pull (I really try NOT to suck! haha) the hole was just
an 'artifact'.

TWO- 1994 Saturns are R-134a systems NOT R-12!
(at least the one I have! Its printed right on the radiator support.)
And please forgive me, ozone gods - I knew not what I was up to! I had
no idea there was any charge in the system until I disconnected the
condensor core. It went "phiSH".

Whether r-134 is actually less harmfull than r-12, I dont really know.
But I am absolutely certain that I am not as much as a polluter as I
once was when chloroflourocarbons were the propellent in my can of
Right Guard (or my mom's Aqua Net!)

ANOTHER QUESTION -
Can a sytem be flushed intact? I'm wanting to flush the system as well
as possible before installing the new dryer. The old schreader valves
appeared to have a coating of algae, fine mud or cholesterol...
Flushing the system sounds like a GREAT idea, but how do you do it
without leaving mineral spirits (or poltergiests) in the cooling
system?

Thanks!
-DC

PS- the caps I put on my bicycle tires just keep dirt and crap from
getting in the valve - to the degree it kept air in it IS HIGHLY
QUESTIONABLE. I would bet my newest Hiedi Fliese autographed underwear
that THE SAME is true to the schreader valves on the high and low side
of my A/C system!!

 

Good they were more ahead of the game than I thought.

Wavy you scare me...

The compressor cant be flushed. See ackits.com forum for flushing better
details.

Ever take the a/c service cap off and hear a psssss sound? What was that
I wonder? Oh look theres an o-ring in the top of it as well. Whys that?
A great a/c service shop will replace both the schrader valves and old
caps and add nylog to the cap for increased sealing protection. A bad
shop will leave the caps off if they loose or break them...

 

The only contamination they will get is moisture and that can easily
be removed if you pull doen and hld a vacum for a while (30 to 45
minutes during leak check) so there is no big cause for concern here.

 

Actually it can be and so can the whole system if you want to. I did
it a few times many years ago and as I recall it was called R504.