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09-15-2019, 12:12 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
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Frustration with my dash air
I've owned my '07 American Coach Tradition for 2.5 years and have had the dash air in for repair 3 times. The first time, right after I bought it, the AC shop replaced the compressor, dryer, and condenser. It cooled for a year and then stopped cooling. The compressor had failed and was replaced under warranty. It stopped cooling again after a year. I took it in and the AC tech said there is a leak, he spent some time but was unable to find it. He recharged the system and put some stop leak in. Again it lasted a year and is now not cooling.
Assuming there is a leak and nothing else wrong I am considering recharging it myself. I know very little about auto AC systems but can learn.
Anybody want to go through the step by step process of recharging the system?
__________________
Tim
Leesburg, FL '07 American Tradition 40Z Cummins 400 ISL
Towing a '14 Honda CRV Both sold
2021 Vanleigh Beacon 41LKB 5th wheel
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09-15-2019, 12:18 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Metamora, MI
Posts: 5,525
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No real AC technician ever uses "stop leak". They locate the leak and fix it with the right part. If you temporarily bypass the low pressure switch and the AC clutch turns on (when AC is on / engine running), then that is a good sign that the system has leaked out it's freon. To find the leak, look for dirt near a fitting as signs where the Oil left the system along with the freon.
If there was low oil in the system (whoever charged it didn't know what they were doing), then that's why the compressor failed (which likely was never defective).
You need to change mechanics...this stuff isn't hard for someone who has some experience.
The step by step isn't any different than Auto AC and there are tons of online resources to learn. The only real difference is the lines are longer (on a DP) and takes more flush solvent.
This forum has gone thru the step by step many times. Use Search for Dash Air.
Since the assumption is the unit keeps loosing it's freon, there IS a leak. So you will need the tools and background to find and fix that BEFORE filling the system again. Gauges, Vacuum pump, UV leak detection, Flush tools.
__________________
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire Limited 4370 w/ Spartan K2 and Cummins 500hp
ASE Master Certified (a long.....time ago...)
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09-15-2019, 02:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: North East Texas
Posts: 4,946
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this past sept i completely rebuilt and changed out many defective components on our system.
it had been in every year to get recharged..
i opened every line and fitting and found several rubber o-rings vice the correct ones for r134. new dryer and new thx valve. had to flush the evap to get the pieces of o-rings out as well. i rented(free loaner) a vac pump at auto zone and applied vac over night and then let it sit to confirm no leaks, then recharged it with correct oil and freon, it will freeze you out now
all in all it took about a week of meticulous inspecting and cleaning
i also changed out all four schrader valves
orielles has a big book of a/c parts and you can bring in your old or take pics and measurements to find the one part that will work. its time consuming to say the least, but that was the only way to get the correct parts.
__________________
USN Retired, Life time member of the DAV.
Enjoying the 2008 Damon Tuscany 4056, #3998 no your eyes are fine, there are really 6 slides
2022 F150 King Ranch or 2012 Edge toads
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09-16-2019, 06:27 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timjet
I've owned my '07 American Coach Tradition for 2.5 years and have had the dash air in for repair 3 times. The first time, right after I bought it, the AC shop replaced the compressor, dryer, and condenser. It cooled for a year and then stopped cooling. The compressor had failed and was replaced under warranty. It stopped cooling again after a year. I took it in and the AC tech said there is a leak, he spent some time but was unable to find it. He recharged the system and put some stop leak in. Again it lasted a year and is now not cooling.
Assuming there is a leak and nothing else wrong I am considering recharging it myself. I know very little about auto AC systems but can learn.
Anybody want to go through the step by step process of recharging the system?
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Tim, Dav is right on the money for what to look for when leak checking. I've been an ASE certified automotive A/C technician since 1995. Places to look for oil leaking from lines are: fittings (evap, compressor, condenser); scrader valves (were you service the system) and junctions between flexable hoses and solid lines. These are the most commons ares for leaks. Not saying you won't find a leak elsewhere, but look at these first. When I went to school for A/C repair, we were taught 5 years was the standard for a system to hold a charge between services. So a year is definitely below that standard but still considered a slow leak. Send me a PM with contact info and I'll give you an intro lesson. Talk to you soon.
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09-16-2019, 07:37 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,500
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How much do you use the coach? If it's just occasional you may consider checking the charge before a trip and adding refrigerant if needed. The cost of the tools will be less than hiring it out. Once it is charged you can check for leaks with a soapy solution the same as checking your pneumatic system for leaks.
__________________
2014 Newell 2020P 45'8" ISX 600 HP
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09-24-2019, 05:57 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hypoxia
How much do you use the coach? If it's just occasional you may consider checking the charge before a trip and adding refrigerant if needed. The cost of the tools will be less than hiring it out. Once it is charged you can check for leaks with a soapy solution the same as checking your pneumatic system for leaks.
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Yes I've thought of this. Do I have to vacuum the system before re-charging?
__________________
Tim
Leesburg, FL '07 American Tradition 40Z Cummins 400 ISL
Towing a '14 Honda CRV Both sold
2021 Vanleigh Beacon 41LKB 5th wheel
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09-24-2019, 06:08 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,078
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timjet
Yes I've thought of this. Do I have to vacuum the system before re-charging?
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Not if it still has pressure
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09-24-2019, 06:19 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lwmcguire
Not if it still has pressure
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Ok, hopefully I won't have to do this again. I took the coach in to a repair place I trust (different than the one that did the original work) and they found both sharader (sp) valves leaking. They replaced the valve cores, recharged the system, checked for leaks with a sniffer and now I have cold air.
__________________
Tim
Leesburg, FL '07 American Tradition 40Z Cummins 400 ISL
Towing a '14 Honda CRV Both sold
2021 Vanleigh Beacon 41LKB 5th wheel
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09-24-2019, 06:41 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timjet
Ok, hopefully I won't have to do this again. I took the coach in to a repair place I trust (different than the one that did the original work) and they found both sharader (sp) valves leaking. They replaced the valve cores, recharged the system, checked for leaks with a sniffer and now I have cold air.
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That's very common. Make sure the caps are as tight as possible, that slows down any leak through the valves.
__________________
2014 Newell 2020P 45'8" ISX 600 HP
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