Community Forums

MoHoGo · 06-27-2022, 08:41 AM

2017 Anthem... can someone point me to the location of the port for adding refrigerant to the Anthem. Thought it was in the engine compartment, but for the life of me I can't find it. Any tips on the amount to add would be nice.

tks Jim

brobox · 06-27-2022, 08:49 AM

It's in the generator compartment on the firewall. Follow the AC lines until you see a blue cap, that is the low pressure fill. The system takes 2.5 pound of R134. Do not over fill, it will lock up the compressor.

ArtJoyce · 06-27-2022, 08:51 AM

If it's anything like my DP both my port is up front by the heater/AC box where the coil is.

brobox · 06-27-2022, 11:50 AM

Here is Larry's LWBAZ photo post of the location on an 18.
https://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/dum...ml#post5749243

MoHoGo · 06-27-2022, 12:09 PM

and thank you larry for the photo.

Bobby Dowdle · 06-27-2022, 02:53 PM

Ports are at the front above the genset. One on the dryer and the other near the evaporator. If you needing to add Freon you more than likely have a failure in the system. Usually the high side fitting at the compressor. You can rub your hand on it and if you feel grease or dirt it needs to be replaced. Do you know how much Freon you have in the system currently?

737 Driver · 06-28-2022, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Dowdle

Ports are at the front above the genset. One on the dryer and the other near the evaporator. If you needing to add Freon you more than likely have a failure in the system. Usually the high side fitting at the compressor. You can rub your hand on it and if you feel grease or dirt it needs to be replaced. Do you know how much Freon you have in the system currently?

I agree. I had the same issue with the high pressure compressor side fitting going bad. You can see the oil and dirt in the enclosed pic. With a lot of help from Nowabeachbum on this forum I bought a crimper tool and crimped on a new fitting, vacuumed the system and recharged it with 2.5 lbs of Freon. It’s working great now and hopefully will stay that way🧐.

Sincerely, Tor
2017 Anthem 44B

757driver · 06-28-2022, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 737 Driver

I agree. I had the same issue with the high pressure compressor side fitting going bad. You can see the oil and dirt in the enclosed pic. With a lot of help from Nowabeachbum on this forum I bought a crimper tool and crimped on a new fitting, vacuumed the system and recharged it with 2.5 lbs of Freon. It’s working great now and hopefully will stay that way🧐.

Sincerely, Tor
2017 Anthem 44B

Tor,

Nicely done!

MoHoGo · 07-02-2022, 10:32 AM

Found the low side ac port thanks to all the help. Purchased AC Pro Max 20 Oz refrigerant with the 20-inch fill hose from Walmart (BTW it was 36 dollars compared to 50 on Amazon). Got everything connected and managed to charge the system from a low reading to green. "or at least I think I did ;-)"

Now that I have gotten into it a little further, I believe I have another issue. When running the engine to recharge I realize that the clutch on the AC Compressor is only engaging about 2 seconds every 30 seconds. Same with the evap fan up front in the gen area.

Not sure where to go from here and any ideas would be appreciated.

TIA - Jim

Gary.Jones · 07-02-2022, 10:39 AM

You have my sympathy

--

AC compressors and systems are the bane (sp?) of my existence. I have just given up on dash AC as a worthless expense, accomplishing little other than draining my wallet.

Gary

Nowabeachbum · 07-02-2022, 12:36 PM

First the caveats, ac systems are not all the same and they are definitely not all created equal! The kit you have is designed for every ac system and that is simply not true. Your coach has approximately 80’ of hose! How much does your car have? Exactly!
Now to your issue, fast cycling, is usually a sign of low refrigerant. The best thing for a novice is to ignore the gauge you have, start with an empty system and put 3+ cans of r134a in the coach. If it was empty, add cans with dye and sealer, so that if it doesn’t work, a tech can find the leak(high side fitting at the compressor) and fix it. If it is minor the sealer might postpone the inevitable.

Gary.Jones · 07-02-2022, 05:39 PM

Gary

Were you in the mobile AC business before you became a beachbum? You sure seem to be familiar with the systems!

I'm going to hold all my AC questions for you. Will you fix my dash AC if I drive to your place in Florida?

Gary

MoHoGo · 07-02-2022, 07:25 PM

This is the Evans Temcon on the Anthem. The question I have is that if the clutch does not energize how you get the system to take on the R134A.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowabeachbum

First the caveats, ac systems are not all the same and they are definitely not all created equal! The kit you have is designed for every ac system and that is simply not true. Your coach has approximately 80’ of hose! How much does your car have? Exactly!
Now to your issue, fast cycling, is usually a sign of low refrigerant. The best thing for a novice is to ignore the gauge you have, start with an empty system and put 3+ cans of r134a in the coach. If it was empty, add cans with dye and sealer, so that if it doesn’t work, a tech can find the leak(high side fitting at the compressor) and fix it. If it is minor the sealer might postpone the inevitable.

bigb56 · 07-02-2022, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoHoGo

Found the low side ac port thanks to all the help. Purchased AC Pro Max 20 Oz refrigerant with the 20-inch fill hose from Walmart (BTW it was 36 dollars compared to 50 on Amazon). Got everything connected and managed to charge the system from a low reading to green. "or at least I think I did ;-)"

Now that I have gotten into it a little further, I believe I have another issue. When running the engine to recharge I realize that the clutch on the AC Compressor is only engaging about 2 seconds every 30 seconds. Same with the evap fan up front in the gen area.

Not sure where to go from here and any ideas would be appreciated.

TIA - Jim

If the compressor wasn't running you didn't get charged, the refrigerant will only leave the can when the suction side is lower than the pressure in the can. Did you short the low pressure switch to see if that keeps the compressor running?

The way I used to charge on the old school systems is first short the LP switch then start adding refrigerant at high idle while feeling the evaporator outlet with your hand. As soon as the evaporator outlet starts to get cold stop! More is not better, the evaporator outlet will be a tad warmer than the inlet because the refrigerant has absorbed heat.
That was then, now with the newer systems the only right way to charge is by evacuating and recharging with a measured amount.