Here's an interesting tidbit, and I’m pretty sure it’s not my imagination. I replaced the battery on my Hyundai but at the time the right size battery wasn’t available so I chose a smaller size, what was available. Soon after my a/c started underperforming. Never could figure it out, especially since the car was fairly new and with relatively few miles. Two plus years down the road I decided to swap the battery out (live in a desert) before it got to the point of little to no warning failure. This time I found the right size battery. All of sudden my a/c starting blowing as cold and as quickly as it previously used to, and still performing well.
My experience is that people have been fiddling in there and say their a/c never worked. Well it didn't work, then they charged it up themselves now it is over charged. The thought that the customer has that more is better has burned me more then a couple times. Seems a waste to pull the refrigerant out and weight it but I do that almost everytime now when they come in.
Anyone mind chiming in? I have a 2011 Prius with 160 K that up until this past month was blowing super cold AC. I live in AZ so it has been near 110 all summer long but only recently has it been struggling to keep cool. I changed the cabin filter which wasn't that dirty, low pressure AC line showed adequate pressure and from what I can tell the condenser looks pretty clean not sure about the evap harder to tell.. This past year my wife has run the car quite a bit with the AC cranked while she's parked for her lunch breaks.
Once, I had truck with a low side port leaking. When I turned off the truck the A/C system pressure would equalize and it sounded like an air whistle. Low side sucked in moisture and it got the black death. It needed a new almost everything, except the evaporator.
I seriously just fixed this issue yesterday on My 98 Ford Mustang! Except it has the ball seat ports, so I had to change the whole line. The plastic cap did exactly what you said 🤣
I recently purchased a AC Schrader valve tool that allows you to remove and replace the Schrader valve without losing any refrigerant, I used it and it works great 👍🏻
Fortunately by the time the AC stops working there is hardly anything left in the system. Plus if you are just replacing the valve real quick, there is not time for residual air and moisture to infiltrate. Therefore I would draw a quick vacuum and refill
I just replaced my schrader valves with my low and high pressure hoses, compressor, condenser, dryer, high pressure valve on my 2000 Accord. When you’re in Southern AZ, A/C is just as important as water….
There are tools on Amazon, some as low as $15, that will let you change the Schrader valves without evacuating the system first. I was skeptical but I’ve seen them in action and they really do work.
👍👍🙂🇨🇦
also a/c clutch relay sticks with no fans coming on extreme high pressure with protection blow-off activated
Same lesson mee=maw taught me years ago
Yes I always change the valves if I suspect a leak. I do vacuum pull down to get the gas out and when recharge I add UV dye and oil.
That's been hapenning a lot lately, with all the hot weather, and combination of filthy condenser coils. 350 psi high side pressures!
Eric O for president
Here's an interesting tidbit, and I’m pretty sure it’s not my imagination. I replaced the battery on my Hyundai but at the time the right size battery wasn’t available so I chose a smaller size, what was available. Soon after my a/c started underperforming. Never could figure it out, especially since the car was fairly new and with relatively few miles. Two plus years down the road I decided to swap the battery out (live in a desert) before it got to the point of little to no warning failure. This time I found the right size battery. All of sudden my a/c starting blowing as cold and as quickly as it previously used to, and still performing well.
Where is a good place to buy decent Schrader valves,, them flea bay and Amazon don't seem to hold up too well
You know what assume means Eric.
Mr O do you always buy lines or do you have hose. Ends crimp tool to make hoses. Thanks for your videos
My experience is that people have been fiddling in there and say their a/c never worked. Well it didn't work, then they charged it up themselves now it is over charged. The thought that the customer has that more is better has burned me more then a couple times. Seems a waste to pull the refrigerant out and weight it but I do that almost everytime now when they come in.
I love free tip Friday on a Wednesday! 😂😂👍
So if you have a working system and the low side cap is gone should you inspect and replace the valve and cap, or just the cap?
Thank you Eric!!!
Nice tip eric
Well dang I wish the last three AC jobs I did was that simple they're all compressor receiver dryer orifice tube etc
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍. Good tip
I would change the belt too by the looks of it.
Good tip, thanks!!!
I was in shop class and they had a car with a bad valve and blew up in my face fun times
Dang…Is it Friday already.? Thanks for the tip Eric. Cheers
You mean to say the kids might not have been meddlin' where they shouldn't have been meddlin'?
right on!
Anyone mind chiming in? I have a 2011 Prius with 160 K that up until this past month was blowing super cold AC. I live in AZ so it has been near 110 all summer long but only recently has it been struggling to keep cool. I changed the cabin filter which wasn't that dirty, low pressure AC line showed adequate pressure and from what I can tell the condenser looks pretty clean not sure about the evap harder to tell.. This past year my wife has run the car quite a bit with the AC cranked while she's parked for her lunch breaks.
Crickets? Working at night?
That’s your problem lady 👍
Boy I hate that guy Schrader and his valves.
Once, I had truck with a low side port leaking. When I turned off the truck the A/C system pressure would equalize and it sounded like an air whistle. Low side sucked in moisture and it got the black death. It needed a new almost everything, except the evaporator.
Master cool sell the tool to replace the valve with out removing any freon
Mine was on the top of the machine at the shop when I checked after service.. glad I found a smaller mechanic who can do things properly now.
I love using red Angel sealant with every ac job, esp mine!!
I seriously just fixed this issue yesterday on My 98 Ford Mustang! Except it has the ball seat ports, so I had to change the whole line. The plastic cap did exactly what you said 🤣
I always assumed the customer had a friend who was trying to make a grenade.
I like fiddlin wit a fiddle
Thank you ….. wow ….. I will talk about myself… yes that what I thoughts…. And I connected the A/C machine … already bypassed the valve
Thank you Eric for giving us that update it's very important to know that
I recently purchased a AC Schrader valve tool that allows you to remove and replace the Schrader valve without losing any refrigerant, I used it and it works great 👍🏻
Fortunately by the time the AC stops working there is hardly anything left in the system. Plus if you are just replacing the valve real quick, there is not time for residual air and moisture to infiltrate. Therefore I would draw a quick vacuum and refill
Just put a new compressor on mine, and replaced both schrader valves while the system was empty. Cheap insurance
Sometimes my ex makes me blow a gasket and I have to get a new ballcap.
I just replaced my schrader valves with my low and high pressure hoses, compressor, condenser, dryer, high pressure valve on my 2000 Accord. When you’re in Southern AZ, A/C is just as important as water….
Good tip. I hadn't thought of the hundreds of psi being forced under that cap from a leaky core…. It'll eventually go zinging off…
Wishful thinking, Eric – Free Tip Friday, and it's only Wednesday. 😛
There are tools on Amazon, some as low as $15, that will let you change the Schrader valves without evacuating the system first. I was skeptical but I’ve seen them in action and they really do work.
good tip thanks
Nice work
The drain the system part is the hard part as the DIY mechanic usually does not have a recovery system handy. Still a good tip.
thanks Erik
Nice tip
FIRST