legacycentral bbs

Any reason to change the caps? I picked up this stupid kit from autozone which had a JRA valve (low port had a slight leak) but anyways I went to take it out and noticed the valves are larger then what was in the pack and the caps don't fit as well

Not sure if the leak is still around since I have to wait for a replacement condenser.

Are you talking about the air compressor for the air suspension system?

Me? the JRA valve for the A/c system..

But it's ok I found the right replacements..

These are the correct valves I just ordered. The one's from autozone are much skinner.

Yeah, you head air compressor, not ac compressor

I changed your post to reflect AC compressor.

opps lol not sure how I missed that one

Not normal right?

No, that's not normal....

Well I pressure tested it and it passes.. I'm just hung up on one more o-ring change and that's where the expansion valve is..

The two large nuts that pass through the firewall turn counterclock-wise to loosen right? it must be old age because I can't get it to turn at all..

Heck getting the pressure sensor off the dryer was a pain it took me almost 20 min.

I got the larger one off but the smaller one is starting to bend upwards with all the twisting force

Yes, the nuts loosen counterclock-wise.

Do you have two sets of wrenches or a channel locks to hold both sides of the disconnection point?

Legacy777 wrote:Yes, the nuts loosen counterclock-wise.

Do you have two sets of wrenches or a channel locks to hold both sides of the disconnection point?

I have a channel lock on the evaporator side and the wrench on the dyer side. it's not moving at all. When I turn it's gotta be near an effort of 30 Ft. lb


I think I'm going to stop for the night (it's going on 11Pm) It's crazy how tight it's on..

You may need to try and have someone else help you and tap on the wrench with a hammer.

I finally got it.. When I gave up last night I sprayed PB blaster on it..

Anyways all is back on and new o-rings.. the only issue where a poor connection was is the high side to the condenser I replaced it with the same size o-ring and it does not seem to mate right to it so I had to double up with another o-ring so we will see if that holds.

I know next time not to get TYC

Ok one question.. I pulled a vacuum and I added liquid refrigerant to the high side and in my service manual it says the low side should be around equal with the high when it's charged? But I still have a lot of refrigerant in my first can and it does not seem to be pulling anymore in?

Meanwhile the low side is still showing a vacuum.

you are suppose to put the freon in the low side! not the high side

also what are you using to put the freon into the system?

I have manifold gauges.

And from my service manual

I quote you from the service manual...

Car is off..


"Evacuating & Charging"

3) The charging procedure described in this section begins by charging liquid refrigerant into the high pressure side of the system with the engine OFF. The procedure is completed by charging refrigerant VAPOR into the low pressure side of the system with the engine running.

Few pages ahead

"Inital charging through the high side"

Connect tach to engine
2) WITH THE ENGINE OFF, start charging by slowly opening the high presure manifold valve.

Down a few spots it says:

"Check gauge readings"

When both high and low pressures gauge readings are about equal, or the HFC 134a source is empty, or the system has filled to specifications, close the high press manifold valve.

I guess my mistake was opening the high too quick? Not sure how slow is slow.

I just charged my car a week ago! you don't charge it with the car off and you use the low side! make sure you have complete vacuum turn the car on put the a/c to max and start filling the low side. I have a gauge set I used to evac the system and then tried using the gauges to charge the system! screw that the gauges take forever! I went and got one of the quick charge hoses with the gauge built in and its so much faster! instead of using the gauges to fill the system I just used the sight glass on the receiver/drier. If you don't know how to use it, it's simple just add the freon and keep an eye on the sigh glass until you can't see any more movement thats when you know the system is full. also our cars take 28 - 32 Oz of freon so a little less then 3 of the 12Oz cans. With the car on the pump sucks the freon right in just try it this way trust me it works!!!!

SubyFusion wrote:I just charged my car a week ago! you don't charge it with the car off and you use the low side! make sure you have complete vacuum turn the car on put the a/c to max and start filling the low side. I have a gauge set I used to evac the system and then tried using the gauges to charge the system! screw that the gauges take forever! I went and got one of the quick charge hoses with the gauge built in and its so much faster! instead of using the gauges to fill the system I just used the sight glass on the receiver/drier. If you don't know how to use it, it's simple just add the freon and keep an eye on the sigh glass until you can't see any more movement thats when you know the system is full. also our cars take 28 - 32 Oz of freon so a little less then 3 of the 12Oz cans. With the car on the pump sucks the freon right in just try it this way trust me it works!!!!

what should the high and low pressure be? im at 40 on the low and the compressor still won't start and on the high its a little over 100 psi

I wonder if my expansion valve has died? A person on USMB said the valve might be stuck closed and that's why the system is not showing equal readings?

maybe too much oil in the evaporator? I added 114 mL which is a little over 3.9 oz I poured it in the larger pipe

also if you charge the low side the pressure shoots up fast just cracking the valve open it went from 0 to about 60 psi in about 3 seconds does that still sound like a bad expansion valve?

High - (430 P.S.I.G)
Low - (215 P.S.I.G)

The system take 8.3 Oz of oil so your still really low!
also what type of oil are you using? and did you drain the old oil out????

I don't think its a bad valve you probably just don't have enough freon in the system for the valve to open yet. also your doing this with the car on right??? the engine has to be kept at around 2,000 RPM while filling the system.

Before I say any more in which car are you referring this info is for?

subaru legacy 90 - 94

yeah thought so.. my car is the 2nd gen also known as a 95 Legacy

The Amount of oil and P.S.I.G should be located right on top of your air compressor pump?!

SubyFusion wrote:The Amount of oil and P.S.I.G should be located right on top of your air compressor pump?!

if I could read it.. the more you clean it the more it starts to rub away and the oil amount would be just for the compressor. I still wonder if I should of added the full 114 mL to the evaporator on the low side pipe wont the pressure of the low try to be forced in the expansion valve?