Kaz
Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2014
So the summer before last I decided to have a A/C shop here in town locate and fix a leak in my system. (I usually do my own work but A/C service doesn't necessarily float my boat). The shop determined that the compressor was leaking so they installed a new one. My system was still R12 so they also upgraded to R134a, flushed the system, etc.
During the work they called me to say that my alternator was bad, at which point I asked if they had tested it. They hadn't and said they would get back to me. They eventually said there was no problem with the alternator and it was a loose connection.
When I went to pick up my car it was sitting out front. I noticed that the interior lights were on (I know I didn't leave them on so I can only guess that either a technician was working late at night or someone was taking the care for a joy ride). I surmised at this time that the "problem" with the alternator is that they had just left the lights on all week and each time they went to start the car it was dead and they had to jump it. Since it ran fine once they did this I guess they figured they had "fixed" the alternator's loose connection which never existed in the first place.
So I end up paying and mention to the manager that I could see that my interior lights were on and that odds were the car wasn't going to start. He just looked at me and then turned around and went into a side office. Ok then.. guess I'll try to start the car. Its dead, of course. I go back inside and have to get the attention of some other manager behind the counter that they need to jump my car. They send out the B-team guy with a portable jumper who proceeds to spend 25 minutes trying to get it to work. Eventually he had to go get his manager who noticed the guy hadn't plugged it all the way in to the wall.
I should mention that this place came highly recommended.. don't they always. Oh, they also dented my hood and failed to keep the old parts for me as I like to keep all the originals off the car.
Anyhow, fast forward to the next summer. I go to use the AC and its blowing hot.... figures. Since I do have a set of manifold gauges I hook them up and find that the pressure is low. I charge the system with just under a can of R134a and get the AC blowing cold again. I could have taken it back to the shop since it was under warranty but after the experience I had I was concerned they might blow the car up if I took it to them again.
So, fast forward another year to last weekend. I go to test the AC again knowing it apparently still has a slow leak. This time there's zero pressure in the lines... lovely. I had noticed visible dyed PAG fluid leaking from the bottom of the line manifold on the back of the compressor. I busted out the UV light to be sure and sure enough the back of the compressor glowed. I unbolt the manifold and find the following situation with the green washer seal:
Pretty chewed up. The compressor is a CompressorWorks (which seems to either be the same or associated with 4 Seasons). Based on one of the tech documents on the CompressorWorks website you are supposed to use the small metal insert along with the green washer seal. I'm guessing what happens is if you don't when you go to tighten the manifold to the compressor the seal squishes between the shorter tube and the compressor body and mangles it like this.
Once my replacement washer seal package arrives I'm going to see about fixing this dumb-assery.
- Mike
During the work they called me to say that my alternator was bad, at which point I asked if they had tested it. They hadn't and said they would get back to me. They eventually said there was no problem with the alternator and it was a loose connection.
When I went to pick up my car it was sitting out front. I noticed that the interior lights were on (I know I didn't leave them on so I can only guess that either a technician was working late at night or someone was taking the care for a joy ride). I surmised at this time that the "problem" with the alternator is that they had just left the lights on all week and each time they went to start the car it was dead and they had to jump it. Since it ran fine once they did this I guess they figured they had "fixed" the alternator's loose connection which never existed in the first place.
So I end up paying and mention to the manager that I could see that my interior lights were on and that odds were the car wasn't going to start. He just looked at me and then turned around and went into a side office. Ok then.. guess I'll try to start the car. Its dead, of course. I go back inside and have to get the attention of some other manager behind the counter that they need to jump my car. They send out the B-team guy with a portable jumper who proceeds to spend 25 minutes trying to get it to work. Eventually he had to go get his manager who noticed the guy hadn't plugged it all the way in to the wall.
I should mention that this place came highly recommended.. don't they always. Oh, they also dented my hood and failed to keep the old parts for me as I like to keep all the originals off the car.
Anyhow, fast forward to the next summer. I go to use the AC and its blowing hot.... figures. Since I do have a set of manifold gauges I hook them up and find that the pressure is low. I charge the system with just under a can of R134a and get the AC blowing cold again. I could have taken it back to the shop since it was under warranty but after the experience I had I was concerned they might blow the car up if I took it to them again.
So, fast forward another year to last weekend. I go to test the AC again knowing it apparently still has a slow leak. This time there's zero pressure in the lines... lovely. I had noticed visible dyed PAG fluid leaking from the bottom of the line manifold on the back of the compressor. I busted out the UV light to be sure and sure enough the back of the compressor glowed. I unbolt the manifold and find the following situation with the green washer seal:
Pretty chewed up. The compressor is a CompressorWorks (which seems to either be the same or associated with 4 Seasons). Based on one of the tech documents on the CompressorWorks website you are supposed to use the small metal insert along with the green washer seal. I'm guessing what happens is if you don't when you go to tighten the manifold to the compressor the seal squishes between the shorter tube and the compressor body and mangles it like this.
Once my replacement washer seal package arrives I'm going to see about fixing this dumb-assery.
- Mike
CT437168 . And will be firing my 281CID stage motor very soon 
