Topic: Passing along AC experience
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
Check this before digging too deep into AC warmness...just a FYI
I charged my converted 134A system after fixing a small leak. I also did a bit of work under the console - more later. The air seemed to work fine and was quite cold when I first started up in the morning, but after about 4 or 5 minutes it was only barely cool. Cooler than outside but not cold anymore. Everything felt hot/cold under the hood (lines, etc.). Checked the charge a few times and it was ok and the compressor was running fine.
On the way home from a cruise-in a couple nights ago when it was quite cool out, I had the system on Vent. Quite warm air coming out - much warmer than outside - Hmmm.
It appears I had somehow pushed/pulled the warm-cold cable out of adjustment when I was into the console wiring mess, and when the lever was in the cold position it really was quite a bit open to the warm side. I was mixing hot with cold and getting warmish cool. Didn't show up for a few minutes until the engine warmed up the coolant. Readjusted the cable, and ice cold now. Ahhhhhh
***Sure wish we could have made the Gathering. Have Fun***

C3VR Founder
-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry
C4 Vette Registry, C6 Vette Registry
My first Vette, now owned by JB79:

[QUOTE=Adam] Hey...that brings up a question.... if you have the A/C turned on (either Max or Normal) but have the temparature lever all the way hot, will the compressor stay on? Or does it only come on, when you have it more toward the cold setting? [/QUOTE]
I do believe it stays operating like usual, since it does not monitor the inside temperature. Like more modern cars that use the AC with the heat/defrost, it acts as a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air headed to the cockpit. If you watch the low side "pressure" (vacuum) when a system is operating, it will run the compressor until it pulls down the vacuum to the point where the switch turns off. Then as the system balances and the pressure goes up, the low side switch turns on the compressor again, and so on. That is why when you are low on R12/134A it either won't switch on the compressor, or it pulls it down so fast that it cycles on and off quickly and doesn't perform much cooling. Also, Normal brings in warm outside air to be cooled, and Max recycles cooler (already cooled) air from the cockpit - therefore working more efficiently, but not clearing out the beer f*rts
By the way, mine is cooling like a bandit now. It was 94 the other day, and we were frosty inside