From: Hachiroku ハチロク on 11 Aug 2010 23:55 On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:12:05 -0700, nm5k wrote: > On Aug 11, 7:04 pm, Hachiroku ハチロク <anonym...(a)not-for-mail.invalid> > wrote: >> Took Mom's Camry to "work" today since it hadn't been run for a while. It >> was warm so I was turning the air on, leaving it on for a while, and then >> turning it off, leaving it off for a while, and then turning it on. >> Everything was running good and the air was nice and cold. I was running >> it with the windows open, since I really just wanted to circulate they >> system and keep things lubricated. Whenever I drive this car I turn the >> air on, even in the dead of winter, and leave it on for at least 15 >> minutes, just to keep things circulating. >> >> I had been running the air, turned it off and parked the car, then started >> the car after ~45 minutes, ran it for a couple miles, and turned the air >> on. Ran it for about 20 minutes, then turned it off and left it off. >> >> When I got home I put it in the garage and it was making a horrible noise >> from under the hood! it sounded like a spun bearing(s) in the head, and I >> thought a bearing had spun on the camshaft. I backed it out, and traced >> the noise to the front of the car, to the alternator (WHEW! I HAVE one of >> these alternators!) and then realized the AC compressor was below the >> alternator. I turned the air back on...and the noise went away. I turned >> it off and the galling sound started again. Back on, no sound. >> >> So, what I am thinking is that when the air is off, and the pulley is >> supposed to be 'freewheeling' that the bearings that allow it to freewheel >> are shot. This is an '86, remember, with R-12 at $80 a pound. Soooo, other >> than getting a non-AC equipped belt..... ? > > If you did have to break it open, I'd keep it R-12 rather than > converting. You can buy R-12 a lot cheaper than $80 a pound. > More like $20 a pound on flea bay.. > Sure, that is more than what 134a would be, but the air conditioner > will be much happier. Run lower head pressures, and cool better. > If you convert a R-12 system to R-134a, then you have a undersized > condenser coil, which jacks the head pressure up.. > Which then often leads most to slightly undercharge to keep the > pressure under control. Which leads to inferior performance. :( > My last Honda Accord had a R-12 system. I wouldn't have > converted it to 134a for anything. > > But I would do everything I could to avoid breaking the system open. > I have R-12 running out my kazoo, but I'm a bit too far away I'm > afraid. :( > I have a full 30 pound jug of it.. And the guy I work with has another > full jug.. We'll probably be sitting on it forever.. I could sell it > I suppose, > but knowing my luck I'd dump it, and then need some two weeks later. > I only spent $85 for that 30 pounds, so I would likely make a bit if > I sold it.. But it's been opened, and I can't sell it as "unopened > virgin" > refrigerant. So that might drop the price a bit.. :/ I think I'll > just sit on it. > I know I'll need it again some day.. I could have bought 30 lbs for $80 too, a few years ago. With all the R 12 cars I have I'm severely booting myself. |