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'02 300M: A/C doesn't, hissing sound, oily smell
Our '02 300M's A/C seemed to be incapable of producing really cold air.
Then, while my wife was driving it, she said she heard a hissing noise, and now I detect an oily smell. Seems to me like an evaporator failure (which I understand was a common problem). How easy is it to fix this myself? The books and Web sites say to have the refrigerant recovered professionally first, but I'm guessing that there's none left anyway. I saw estimates of $1000+ from a few years ago, but an after-market evaporator is only $100, a receiver/drier $27, and replacement R134a not a whole lot. Somebody reported that the problem on his was merely the Schrader valve. Where is that located? Perce |
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'02 300M: A/C doesn't, hissing sound, oily smell
"Percival P. Cassidy" > wrote in message
... > Our '02 300M's A/C seemed to be incapable of producing really cold air. > Then, while my wife was driving it, she said she heard a hissing noise, > and now I detect an oily smell. Seems to me like an evaporator failure > (which I understand was a common problem). > > How easy is it to fix this myself? The books and Web sites say to have the > refrigerant recovered professionally first, but I'm guessing that there's > none left anyway. > > I saw estimates of $1000+ from a few years ago, but an after-market > evaporator is only $100, a receiver/drier $27, and replacement R134a not a > whole lot. > > Somebody reported that the problem on his was merely the Schrader valve. > Where is that located? > > Perce The Schrader valves are in the service ports. It isn't just the parts either. You also need the tools, such as: Vacuum pump (preferably 2 stage) with new oil. Micron gauge Digital weight scale Manifold gauge set Several accurate thermometers of various types. The vacuum pump removes all air, moisture, and other contaminants from the system leaving just the oil. The micron gauge lets you know when a deep enough vacuum has been reached and when all the moisture has been boiled off. The weight scale lets you weigh in the new charge of 134a. The gauge set connects the vacuum pump and charging cylinder to the system. The thermometers working along with the gauge set can tell you the vent temps and line temps so you can check for proper operation of the system such as the suction line superheat and liquid line subcooling. Then of course you need the knowledge to understand all of that and put it to good use. |
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'02 300M: A/C doesn't, hissing sound, oily smell
On 10/17/10 08:58 pm, Daniel who wants to know wrote:
>> Our '02 300M's A/C seemed to be incapable of producing really cold air. >> Then, while my wife was driving it, she said she heard a hissing noise, >> and now I detect an oily smell. Seems to me like an evaporator failure >> (which I understand was a common problem). >> >> How easy is it to fix this myself? The books and Web sites say to have the >> refrigerant recovered professionally first, but I'm guessing that there's >> none left anyway. >> >> I saw estimates of $1000+ from a few years ago, but an after-market >> evaporator is only $100, a receiver/drier $27, and replacement R134a not a >> whole lot. >> >> Somebody reported that the problem on his was merely the Schrader valve. >> Where is that located? > The Schrader valves are in the service ports. > > It isn't just the parts either. You also need the tools, such as: > > Vacuum pump (preferably 2 stage) with new oil. > Micron gauge > Digital weight scale > Manifold gauge set > Several accurate thermometers of various types. > > The vacuum pump removes all air, moisture, and other contaminants from the > system leaving just the oil. > > The micron gauge lets you know when a deep enough vacuum has been reached > and when all the moisture has been boiled off. > > The weight scale lets you weigh in the new charge of 134a. > > The gauge set connects the vacuum pump and charging cylinder to the system. > > The thermometers working along with the gauge set can tell you the vent > temps and line temps so you can check for proper operation of the system > such as the suction line superheat and liquid line subcooling. > > Then of course you need the knowledge to understand all of that and put it > to good use. Aren't the fancy tools and other equipment just for recharging the system to the correct level? If so, couldn't I do everything else myself and just take it somewhere to have it recharged? Perce |
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'02 300M: A/C doesn't, hissing sound, oily smell
"Percival P. Cassidy" > wrote in message
... > > Aren't the fancy tools and other equipment just for recharging the system > to the correct level? If so, couldn't I do everything else myself and just > take it somewhere to have it recharged? > > Perce Yes, but whoever does it needs to pull a good deep long vacuum or you will have problems later. |
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'02 300M: A/C doesn't, hissing sound, oily smell
On Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:24:16 -0400, "Percival P. Cassidy"
> wrote: >On 10/17/10 08:58 pm, Daniel who wants to know wrote: > >>> Our '02 300M's A/C seemed to be incapable of producing really cold air. >>> Then, while my wife was driving it, she said she heard a hissing noise, >>> and now I detect an oily smell. Seems to me like an evaporator failure >>> (which I understand was a common problem). >>> >>> How easy is it to fix this myself? The books and Web sites say to have the >>> refrigerant recovered professionally first, but I'm guessing that there's >>> none left anyway. >>> >>> I saw estimates of $1000+ from a few years ago, but an after-market >>> evaporator is only $100, a receiver/drier $27, and replacement R134a not a >>> whole lot. >>> >>> Somebody reported that the problem on his was merely the Schrader valve. >>> Where is that located? > >> The Schrader valves are in the service ports. >> >> It isn't just the parts either. You also need the tools, such as: >> >> Vacuum pump (preferably 2 stage) with new oil. >> Micron gauge >> Digital weight scale >> Manifold gauge set >> Several accurate thermometers of various types. >> >> The vacuum pump removes all air, moisture, and other contaminants from the >> system leaving just the oil. >> >> The micron gauge lets you know when a deep enough vacuum has been reached >> and when all the moisture has been boiled off. >> >> The weight scale lets you weigh in the new charge of 134a. >> >> The gauge set connects the vacuum pump and charging cylinder to the system. >> >> The thermometers working along with the gauge set can tell you the vent >> temps and line temps so you can check for proper operation of the system >> such as the suction line superheat and liquid line subcooling. >> >> Then of course you need the knowledge to understand all of that and put it >> to good use. > >Aren't the fancy tools and other equipment just for recharging the >system to the correct level? If so, couldn't I do everything else myself >and just take it somewhere to have it recharged? > >Perce Yes you could and might be an excellent middle ground. |
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