Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)
Compressor toast?
JoeNoble on 
Fri July 06, 2012 12:49 PM 
Year: 2005
Make: Kia
Model: Sedona
Engine Size: 3.5
Refrigerant Type: R134a
Ambient Temp: 100+
Country of Origin: United States
So the comp clutch on my wife's Sedona just kept spinning rather than cycling so I checked the freon and it read low so I added some then it smoked and stopped spinning completely.
TRB on Sat July 07, 2012 12:53 AM 
Did you use the A/C Pro charging kit as seen on TV?
-------------------------
Contact: ACKits.com
JoeNoble on Sat July 07, 2012 2:10 PM
Yep
JoeNoble on Sat July 07, 2012 2:12 PM
I walk customers through the process everyday at work with no problem but I've never seen a compressor clutch stay on rather than cycling.
TRB on Sat July 07, 2012 2:16 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by: JoeNoble
I walk customers through the process everyday at work with no problem but I've never seen a compressor clutch stay on rather than cycling.
How did you know it was low? What's the high side reading? Were the fans working correctly? Do you offer a free compressor overhaul when a customer trashes their system using these gimmicks?
-------------------------
When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com
Edited: Sat July 07, 2012 at 2:45 PM by TRB
JJM on Sat July 07, 2012 4:24 PM
The more customers you walk through at work, the more of this you'll see. What you're not seeing, however, is the systems the blow up afterwards.
Apparently, you're also not seeing a lot of vehicles, because a lot of compressors do stay on continuously. V5, V7, and a number of VW and Saturn models, not to mention older vehicles with POA, STV, and hot gas bypass.
What could've been a simple repair the leak, evac, and recharge has now turned into a four-figure firewall forward replacement... probably not worth the book value on an '05 Kia.
Joe
JoeNoble on Sat July 07, 2012 5:12 PM
So it's probably more than a bad compressor?
JoeNoble on Sat July 07, 2012 5:23 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by: TRB
Quote
Originally posted by: JoeNoble
I walk customers through the process everyday at work with no problem but I've never seen a compressor clutch stay on rather than cycling.
How did you know it was low? What's the high side reading? Were the fans working correctly? Do you offer a free compressor overhaul when a customer trashes their system using these gimmicks?
I put a gauge on it and it read low and we don't gaurontee anything which is why we walk them through it verbally an don't actually put our hands on the system.
TRB on Sat July 07, 2012 6:14 PM
No offense JoeNoble, but it's more than a simple leak now thanks to A/C Pro.
-------------------------
Contact: ACKits.com
JoeNoble on Sat July 07, 2012 7:49 PM
Why is that? And honestly I'm not sure if there ever was a leak, considering the compressor stayed on rather than cycling I may have miss read it.
JJM on Sat July 07, 2012 11:47 PM
If you weren't sure there was a leak, why add refrigerant?
This is why you can't use these silly kits. Problem with your system may have been simply a bad TXV - and the block type valve on your system can be found for under $20 - or it could've been moisture in the system, or receiver dryer restriction, or liquid line restriction... and all of these failures would just show up on the stupid dial as the system needing a charge. Your system probably had enough refrigerant, and just like filling a full balloon with even more air, what happens next shouldn't be a surprise.
We always say kits kill cars. Maybe you can get your money back.
Joe
JoeNoble on Sun July 08, 2012 1:34 AM
So what are the odds of this thing being fine after a new comp, a vacuum, and new freon?
bohica2xo on Sun July 08, 2012 1:11 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by: JoeNoble
So what are the odds of this thing being fine after a new comp, a vacuum, and new freon?
Just about zero.
When the FS10 clone shredded itself, the trash went straight in to the condensor - which is the primary filter in the system.
You need a new compressor, a new condensor, and a flush to bare metal in the system.
Magic in a can - making real technicians a ton of cash every year... like magic!
.
-------------------------
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.
iceman2555 on Sun July 08, 2012 1:21 PM
Almost none. A compressor warranty requires a new AD/RD, orifice tube/TXV, flush, evac and recharge with something other than AC Pro. This system may also require a new condenser. AC Pro can be quite expensive.....much more than the $30 or so it cost.
Checking pressures with a gauge that probably cost at lest $0.06 to determine a amount of charge !!!! Givemeabreak !!! 100+ degrees...the system may not cycle for a very long operational period of time....and if the system is in standard cool mode...it may never cycle....and what is this perception that the system must cycle...heck when the darn thing is cycling...it is loosing efficiency. OH...I forgot....charge it till it begins to cycle...add some..take some away....great way to destroy a compressor....but...opps...already did that.
Why not call AC Pro and ask them to replace your compressor...bet they have a great warranty........would like to hear that conversation.
Let me get this straight....you must work for one of the major retail parts vendors....and you and your teammates 'walk' customers thru this process and have no problems....ahhhhhsoooooo....bet there are more problems than you can imagine...and what happened between you 'walking' them thru the process and your actual recharge.....wonder which retailer employees you.......bet they gave lots of training....in the correct (?) procedure. Maybe the ACPro technical professional (sales rep) conducted the meeting !!!!
Let me see....yesterday, I was flippin burgers at McDonalds and today......I'm an AC PROFESSIONAL RECHARGER........no wonder compressor manufactures have such a high warranty return. Thing is this happens on the real (?) repair side also. Boggles the mind.
Guess I should not be quite so 'caustic' but after spending many years and many dollars for the correct tools and training.....and paying for my own screw ups....some analorifice...who knows nothing about the operation of a AC system reads a product label and automatically becomes a AC technician.....'walking' thru a recharge procedure.....I can walk you thru a correct recharge procedure...come on over to my shop.... let's do some work....some training....and you can bet your A#% it will not include ACPro.
-------------------------
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson
JoeNoble on Sun July 08, 2012 2:15 PM
Ok well obviously I'm not an a/c tech and I came here seeking help and advice not ridicule. I appreciate the advice and the assistance but ridicule and belittling is unnecessary. I'm not the guy who invented a/c pro I'm just the guy who rings it up when a customer brings it to the counter. And yes I've pretty much memorized the instructions on the back of the can so that I can relay it to the customer as most don't read the damn instructions for themselves, most of them just slap it on and open the valve until the can is empty. Or buy the cans that don't have a gauge, throw one can in, then come in for another like "one can made it cold so a second should give me snotsickles right?". I had a lady come in a week or so ago swearing that last time her "mechanic" stabbed the top of the can and forced it directly into the port, which she claimed was somewhere up by the radiator even after I showed her where both the high and low side ports were.
bohica2xo on Sun July 08, 2012 2:38 PM
Joe, some of the guys here have been dealing with bad conversions since 1995 or so. The "death kit" conversions led to may trashed compressors, and guys like iceman had to deal with all of the returns. To say they are sensitized would be an understatement.
You are selling this magic in a can. Now you know how much damage it can do, and how quickly it can go wrong. Do you sell compressors? See many returns?
.
-------------------------
"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.
ghiotom on Sun July 08, 2012 2:44 PM
Informing him of the dangers of these products was all that was necessary. Do you blame the cashier for cancer when people buy cigarettes?
TRB on Sun July 08, 2012 3:29 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by: ghiotom
Informing him of the dangers of these products was all that was necessary. Do you blame the cashier for cancer when people buy cigarettes?
We have been for well over 10 years now. The poster has gotten plenty of good information here. Maybe not in the manner he wanted. But do you think he will think twice before using A/C Pro on his wife's car again. If not feel free to spend $500.00 on parts and charge it up again. But when it fails, don't claim a warranty, send the bill to A/C Pro not the suppliers.
-------------------------
When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com
We've updated our forums!
Click here to visit the new forum
Copyright © 2016 Arizona Mobile Air Inc.