PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

[ShuggsRR]

So my Ty was running and sounded good, idled well and I was about to take it out for a spin. It had been running for 5-10 minutes when "PSHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" and a light smoke came from under the hood. It sounded like a tire lost all of its air INSTANTLY. So i turned the truck off and inspected. Behind the A/C compress or it was wet. The truck started blowing luke warm air.
So I started it again and within 30 seconds "PSSSHHHHHHH!!!" and smoke. Thsi time with the hood open. It was from right behind the A/C compressor. Then it stopped after like 2-3 seconds. Now my truck has no A/C and blows hot air.

Anyone been through what Im talking about?
Whats that all about? How did that happen? How do I fix it?

Thanks....

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

Not to state the obvious, but replace compressor would be my guess. The only other thing I could guess that would cause smoke would if you short (fried) the wiring to the A/C Clutch.

 

[Zewerr]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

There goes all your precious R-12. I guess it's probably time for an 134a conversion.

Or I'll just say what other people are going to say. Time for a delete.

 

[ShuggsRR]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

Well its not obvious to someone who doesnt know anything. I have never seen an A/C system leak like that and have never seen a compressor blow (if they do blow). Didnt know if it was the compressor or could be a leak/crack in the lines... I have no clue about A/C stuff.

A short? hmmm... would a short make it purge the system?
Hmm... what if the wires were backwards to the A/C? I wonder if they could be. I suppose I have a 50/50 chance of them being correct after redoing them. lol

 

[ShuggsRR]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

There goes all your precious R-12. I guess it's probably time for an 134a conversion.

Or I'll just say what other people are going to say. Time for a delete.

Its been converted to 134a. Just had it refilled last month actually.

Never heard anyone say to delete the A/C in Texas. lol thats a Northern thing. I know people who want more A/C here. :lol:

 

[Zewerr]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

Indeed. I guess you didn't lose too much money then! I'd take a closer look to see if you can pinpoint exactly where the refrigerant came from. Installing the wires backwards on the clutch shouldn't do anything. It's just a magnetic clutch, so polarity shouldn't matter. Most likely you just sprang a leak.

 

[dhorsman2000]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

It sounds to me like your high pressure valve (for lack of a better name) popped. It is on the back of the compressor and it's job is to blow out under a dangerously high pressure condition. If that did happen your compressor is now a paper weight, but more importantly you have a problem with your system that is causing pressures to be WAY too high. If you don't have a gauge set or some way to monitor your pressures I would take it to a shop for service. There is nothing syty specific about the system and any mechanic with experiance should be able to help you out.........

 

[turbodog]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

Yeah, you need to check/replace the o-rings at the compressor-to-hose manifold - unless you are positive it was NOT blowing the freon from there. You should replace the expansion orifice tube (see below). Then you need to pull a vacuum on the system and see if it leaks (and fix if it does), then you need to put a proper 134a charge in (don't overcharge!), and you need to check both high side and low side pressures. Your problem could very well be a clogged expansion orifice tube, or an obstructed condenser (did the original compressor frag?). Was the orifice tube replaced when the system was converted? Does your electric fan come on when the A/C is on? It has to! 134a systems do NOT like to operate with no airflow thru the condenser.

My '91 blew 134a out the compressor relief valve (as stated by dhorsman2000) when I let it idle too long and my thermostatic fan clutch was shot.

Don't short cut any of the steps above. Did a skilled AC guy do the 134 conversion? (flushed it, etc?)
BTW, nice to see you today. If you need guages, vacuum pump, etc to fix the AC, lemme know. I have most everything needed. Get the engine running and we can do the AC next weekend if you want.

 

[James Thomas]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

Your problem could very well be a clogged expansion orifice tube, or an obstructed condenser (did the original compressor frag?). Was the orifice tube replaced when the system was converted? Does your electric fan come on when the A/C is on? It has to! 134a systems do NOT like to operate with no airflow thru the condenser.

My '91 blew 134a out the compressor relief valve (as stated by dhorsman2000) when I let it idle too long and my thermostatic fan clutch was shot.

Don't short cut any of the steps above. Did a skilled AC guy do the 134 conversion? (flushed it, etc?)
.

No or reduced air flow through the radiator & condenser are the number one cause of the high pressure check valve venting. Bad fan clutch, NOT TURNING ON your electric fans etc. will do it every time if you let it idle & not moving for any period of time. You do need to check the whole system but I bet that if the system was working good and this just happened out of the blue it's a lack of air movement through the condensor core or a plugged orfice tube.

__________________
James

 

[wildphil]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

My compressor did the same thing. It was the valve releasing pressure. I found the cause on my truck. My typhoon has electric fans. There was a loose connection on the wire that kicks the fans on when the compressor kicks in. The valve opened up when the compressor got hot enough. I soldered the wire and recharged the system. It has been working great since.

 

[Luke]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

134 uses higher pressure than r-12, if they over charged your a/c that could be the cause. when converting to 134 you only charge 80% of the factory chargeof r-12

 

[ShuggsRR]

Re: PROBLEM!! Smoke, Hissing, and General A/C Unhappiness

It was my 1st time running the truck since installing the electric fans. I also installed the Odysseys PC680 battery so i was trying to listen to the motor and save battery juice so no, i didnt have my fans on. Dammit man...