wolfy53

I though some may be interested in this. I just got an old run around car to save some miles and gas on my truck. I took this lil car into a local mechanic to have the AC charged and checked as it was blowing cold but barely.

Anyway he did the proper steps, evacuated the old stuff and held a vacuum, found no leaks, and recharged with the proper oil and gas. System about froze me out! I was going to just try a can of 134a at the parts store, but that is NOT the correct way to do that. You really should evacuate to get all the old air water stuff out, and have a proper set of manifold gauges and the proper oil and proper gas level.

I have been thinking my ac was a tad weak in my F150 super crew. I did the insulation and heat tape on my line going to the evaporator. Helped but not all the way there.

When that car was in the shop I was talking with the mechanic about the new R134 a systems. He misses the R12 days... He said with that 134a the molecules are so small and pressures are much much higher that all the systems "leak" very slowly on most but still leak.

He was running a special at $50 for the service plus the gas. So at less then $100 I got my system evacuated, checked over, and recharged. My system was 8oz low! I asked him about that and he said that is very normal for a truck that is 8 yrs old. He stated that on the average he sees that the 134a will seep out about 1oz a year. It now blows so cold that I had to turn it down a fan speed!

Just for an example. Yesterday it was 98F here with a heat index of 111F Hot and humid. 2 weeks before it was about the same. 94F and 104 heat index. I noticed this is when my system would struggle. Not anymore! I had to turn it down to speed 2 on the fan. It was very cold. and that was with more heat and humidity!

My wife even asked me to turn it down yesterday as well. She said it was freezing her out!

So for those with a weak AC I would highly suggest getting your system checked out. I do not recommend just putting in more gas as you have no clue what the level is and oil and what else is in the system. Plus if you over pressurize or over fill you could cause big problems and big costs. My guy charged me under $100 bucks. A can of R134a with a cheepo gauge was $45 bucks alone. Just a local shop with a trusted guy. Call around get references you will find one in your area.

Now enjoy your really cold AC

Cutless009

The failures at Firestone checked out my AC when I took it in to have this done and said there "was a minor leak in the compressor" and quoted me $2,500 to fix the system and made it sound like if I didn't do the service that I'd be SOL for the system running cold longer than a couple months at most.

I told them to shove it at the time, and now that I'm reading this I'm thinking that it was probably just that normal small leak your mechanic mentioned and they just wanted my money. Fail.

Gonna take it and get a second opinion. Appreciate the post man.

ford4wd08

I'm debating getting mine checked. I don't think evacuating it and refilling it could hurt, only help right?

wolfy53

Oh Firestone... There was one just like yours close to my house. Told me that my transmission lines were leaking on my old T-100. I looked at it, it had engine oil on it! I asked how the transmission could leak engine oil... Terrible shop.

On the other side of it. The firestone by my old house, where I go for my tire and oil changes are the most honest best guys I have ever dealt with. I took my old T-100 there about my "transmission lines leaking engine oil" and they said no its the valve cover gaskets, which it was. I knew that already. Great guys there.

Yeah go for sure get a 2nd or 3rd opinion. I found this local mechanic through some buddys at OReillys. They highly recommended him. Just your honest one -two man shop mechanic. Been in business for 20+ years he's the owner.

For sure get a quote. I am so glad I had mine checked. Also he mentioned that when they go low on gas, the oil stops flowing with the gas as well. And that can cause the compressor to go out early.

All I know is I am floored on how cold my AC is now especially in this heat and humidity this week

wolfy53

Just to update. My wife asked me what I did to the ac! She said it froze her out.

Have your trucks checked!

Manuellabour247

Mines a 13, but as of late it's been taking longer to get cooled off. Might have it checked out next year as it's less than a year old.

Cutless009

So I had mine checked out by my usual guy. He told me Firestone was right, it does need to be replaced. However he LAUGHED, heartily and out loud, when I told him how much they quoted me for the fix.

Mine's covered by warranty anyways, so it's the same to me either way, but I would much rather not give my money to people who intentionally try to screw people out of money.

I pulled the quote out I got from Firestone and the total ESTIMATED cost was $2,822.43. Estimate from my usual guy was $900-$1000 depending on a few variables. That's a THIRD of what Firestone quoted me. And this guy uses all OEM Ford replacement parts and not that generic crap Firestone keeps putting in my vehicles.

Guess where I'm going from now on?

Oh and Firestone charged me $50 to even diagnose the thing. My usual guy charged me NOTHING.

wolfy53

Yeah you might want to do that. I wouldn't think it would be too low unless it was undercharged at the factory or you have leak. Let us know what you find out.

wolfy53

Cutless when are you getting yours fixed? Its under warranty? Why did they charge you $50 to check it out then? I would get that money back

Cutless009

I think Firestone would have put the inspection fee under the warranty repairs if I had told them to do the repairs.

Anyways, I get it back today with (hopefully) a fully working AC. It was covered under my extended warranty. I was expecting the usual BS pushback from them, but I guess I put the fear of God into them last time because they had the repairs approved same day. I would have had it back but they couldn't get the part until just before closing time, so today it is.

Looking forward to having her back. The Scion xD is a go-cart and fun to drive, but not good on the knees of a person who is 6'3" lol.