AC Help

[budward]

When I bought my 96 SL2, the previous owner told me he put 2 cans of super seal in the A/C because of leaks. Obviously the A/C has never worked since I owned it. Is there anywhere I can find a diagram and name for every AC part? I would like to replace the whole she-bang since I plan on driving this car forever and my allergies get me down every spring and summer.

thanks...Bud

[fdryer]

Well, not everything needs to be replaced. Hoses and evaporator coil can stay if you disassemble everything for flushing. Try nalleygm.com or other GM parts sites online for their exploded diagrams. You may be able to scrounge some used parts from the junk yard and/or ebay with some careful searching.

I know how you fell about allergies.

[td1238]

A common point of failure is the Shrader valves. These are about $2-$4 each, and are easy to replace. If done quickly, the system doesn't really need an evac.

Another common failure with age and corrosion is the condenser. This is fragile and is under pressure.

Of course anything can fail in the system.

Find the leak and replace the part, not the whole system.

[fdryer]

Have you ever seen what leak sealer does to a system from the uninformed attempting to repair a leak?

[jsnead]

Originally Posted by fdryer

Have you ever seen what leak sealer does to a system from the uninformed attempting to repair a leak?

Like doing damage to entire systems that their supposed to "help"? I've seen twice full cooling systems damaged from something similar because of a leak. The damage done to the A/C system is major and the refrigerant is most likely contaminated. Now A/C parts are $$$$$, have you tried diagnosing the system at all?

[budward]

No, I figured everything was toast with 2 cans of super seal in it.

[fdryer]

Depending on how sealer works would determine how much damage is caused by whatever is circulating. Pulling the suction and discharge hose may reveal what the system looks like. Normally, only R134a and PAG oil circulates. When a leak occurs, most if not all the refrigerant leaks out along with some oil. Since R134a is a gas and colorless, oil circulating through the system will absorb the color of metal wear - from light honey color to dark gray/black for extreme wear in the compressor. Dye would be greenish yellow. Sealer will either be solidified within the system or embedded in the compressor. There's a great picture from one of the mobile a/c sites that shows what occurs when sealer is incorrectly used and how it damages the compressor as well as seals off one hose.