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AC System Overcharged?

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#1
I took my 14 ST to an indy shop to get the AC system recharged and I think the mechanic overcharged my system causing my compressor to lock up. The car and AC were running while he was charging the system and I had my hand over the driver's air vent feeling for cool air. Shortly after the air coming out of the vent got cold the car began to have a rough idle and then it stalled. I heard a not so please to noise coming from the compressor when this happened. The mechanic looked surprised and began letting freon out then turning the car on to see if it would run without stalling. He did this about three times until the car would finally idle normally with the ac on (which was now blowing hot air). He simply said "AC compressor no good" so I left. When I attempt to spin the compressor by hand it turns up until a point then locks and does the same thing if I spin it the other way.

My question is: did the mechanic overcharge my system causing my compressor to lock up? It seems odd that everything was working i.e. car running, compressor running, cold air coming out of vents then it just dies.

Thanks
 


D1JL

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#2
Anything is possible.

If the tech caused the problem and/or you have a valid warranty, I am sure that your car will be taken care of to your satisfaction.




Dave
 


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Thread Starter #3
Thanks for the response, but I doubt my car is under warranty since it has a salvage title.
 


D1JL

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Thanks for the response, but I doubt my car is under warranty since it has a salvage title.
Then your best course of action would be that the tech caused it to fail.
As it was WORKING when you brought it in for service, it was JUST not cold enough.

Good Luck




Dave
 


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Thread Starter #5
I don't know of it was working before I brougt it in because while the car was being repaired the condenser was disconnected necessitating the system to be recharged. The only time I was able to confirm the compressor worked was the brief moment that I described in my first post when I said that I began to feel sufficiently cold air making it's way through the vent, then the car stalled.
 


haste

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I don't know why he would charge it while it was running. He should have charged it from the high side without the car running. Once the charge is complete you can run the run the A/C system normally and pull the rest of the refrigerant left in the hoses through the low side.

Sounds like he blew up your compressor and they should be responsible for all repairs.
 


me32

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I don't know why he would charge it while it was running. He should have charged it from the high side without the car running. Once the charge is complete you can run the run the A/C system normally and pull the rest of the refrigerant left in the hoses through the low side.

Sounds like he blew up your compressor and they should be responsible for all repairs.

How do you know when the compressor is blow from over charging? Wouldn't it blow a seal causing a visual leak
 


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#9
When you charge a ac system on car the car should be running ac on at full cold, but you must charged it slowly too let the gas presure spread evenly so you not overcharged and lock the comressor..
 


haste

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When you charge a ac system on car the car should be running ac on at full cold, but you must charged it slowly too let the gas presure spread evenly so you not overcharged and lock the comressor..
Yes, you are correct. It depends on whether you charge using vapor or liquid.


OP, did the tech who charged your system have the refrigerant canister upright or upside down?
 


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Thread Starter #11
OP, did the tech who charged your system have the refrigerant canister upright or upside down?
I don't recall because it was still in the white cardboard box.

I'm going to give these guys a call tomorrow. Thank you everyone for all of your opinions.
 


Sekred

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#12
I have charged AC systems before, from scratch after a repair and gas top-ups.
With the engine running you can add gas as a liquid or as a gas. Generally with the engine running you add the AC gas with the bottle up right so it enters the system as a gas. If you invert the bottle and add the gas in liquid state it is very easily to lock the compressor, which is the main reason you are told Not to charged a system this way.
 


me32

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I have charged AC systems before, from scratch after a repair and gas top-ups.
With the engine running you can add gas as a liquid or as a gas. Generally with the engine running you add the AC gas with the bottle up right so it enters the system as a gas. If you invert the bottle and add the gas in liquid state it is very easily to lock the compressor, which is the main reason you are told Not to charged a system this way.

Thanks for the info
 




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