Selling A/C work can be tricky. Especially on older systems. Make sure you document everything and communicate clearly with your customers! And if they don't believe you when you recommend all new lines and seals and still promise nothing in regards to the compressor, condenser and EVAP core, show them this video! First repair was just a condenser o-ring leaking th-cam.com/video/aN-Xni8Sg-4/w-d-xo.html Second repair was a failure in the high pressure discharge line th-cam.com/video/nCTgcal4N94/w-d-xo.html Third repair was a compressor housing leak th-cam.com/video/BlrGTHAD2CY/w-d-xo.html
I didnt realize there were other loctite 404's out there... Loctite in the yellow bottle it what you want for O;ring build... consider having a Jig for the cut and gluing. The adhesive retails about $40. Also Id buy it from a reputable source.
get some 1/4 turn ball valves for the micron gauge and the yellow hose you can find them online cheep makes life better , a little j b weld in with the bad threads adds a lot of strength good video good explanation cheers
AC work is always a fickle beast. It can get expensive really quick, and people see it as a need in hot climates. Involving the customer in the repair as much as possible is a must.
It is that time of year! My grandpa used to say, "never find enough time to do it right the first time, always make enough time to do it right the second time." Take the few extra minutes to go through everything in A/C work because what can come back to bite you, WILL come back and bite you! Go through it all, YOUR NAME and your FUTURE will be on the line. I agree to only warranty the work that you do. Be careful with old cars and always communicate what you find. Thanks Paul for continuing to give back.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I remember watching this originally and thinking “this is Paul’s a/c nemesis in vehicle form”….it just keeps laughing at Paul and his diagnostic efforts….😂😂😂. And I’m only laughing because we’ve all been there Paul.
In the early 80s I worked at the shop in Arizona and all we did was AC auto repair. One day I overlooked the diode on the connector that connects to the AC compressor clutch. It had gotten too close to the compressor body and shorted out, and blew the fuse after we serviced it the day before. So, nevertheless, the shop owner and the customer was pretty upset that I didn’t notice it because the customer had to come back. Of course, I didn’t feel very good about not catching it either.
I love the fact you can openly admit to mistakes. As a 25 year gm tech i know it happens to all of us. Its the ones that can admit it and learn from it that become better. Just a week ago a ran a new circuit and for the life of me couldn't see what i did wrong as i still had no signal on the circuit. Brought over another set of eyes and within 5 min he laughed and said i needed to splice new circuit into the right side side and not loop it. I called myself an idiot then proceeded to show a few of the younger guys what i did to let them know that no one is perfect and also bringing in a set of eyes is sometimes all you need to find a simple mistake. Also to make them understand how to own a mistake and not try to hide one. Anyone who never makes mistakes is just really good at hiding them. Cheers, your videos are top notch.
I work at an A/C shop in Florida, we no longer " Just add freon " for customers, it really leads to some interesting comebacks! Diag first, pressure test, then add freon, if the customer disagrees car isn't coming in the shop.
I was gonna, well i guess I still will I'd love to hear his thoughts. this would be the right place for this question/thought I know heat pump systems for units you can use nitrogen to pressure test, but I've never really herd anyone using nitrogen on a car, still not fool proof the leak could be perfectly fine leaves and then fails later! Danner as for rebuilding compressors I wouldn't think it be cost effective unless it's your own stuff your wrenching on, but even on your own stuff if you choose reliability over tight budget with car parts it usually works out well, if not surely you can take it back. Rebuild it in a plane ole shop and not in a climate controlled clean room I know it will fall short every time, the microscopic dust particles floating around will short it's life will put back togther.
What’s funny is the guys who are worth their salt they’ll tell you Stuff breaks What matters is how you handle it Good comms with the customer they’ll understand 9 times out of ten
I've watched a number of your A/C videos where you use nitrogen to leak check the systems. I've used high pressure gasses quite a bit and have a suggestion that may save you from inducing more leaks into an old system that you're trying to fix. Always make sure the last valve you open when introducing a high pressure gas into an empty system is the bottle regulator, unless you're trying to jar something loose. Opening the regulator gradually, and raising system pressure to the desired amount as measured on your gauge set is much gentler on the system. Leaving all your valves open and then opening the bottle valve shocks the system, and at 200 psi can burst brittle old seals and hoses. Great videos and fun to watch. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
This is the perfect example of how working on old vehicles is a completely different experience to a relatively new vehicle snd absolutely requires a different approach to handle repairing the vehicle and communicating with the customer.
A/C is a job that makes people happy. They notice it repaired. I enjoy that work. With older stuff that hasn’t been working, I warn them from the start. It might get more leaks. It is older and should be all replaced. The vehicle isn’t worth it…..
This is a perfect Real mechanic (as i am old school) experience. Sh__ happens! Thank you for being open with your challenges in this process, while still stepping us through the professional process. I am just gearing up to "fix" the a/c on my 2001 ranger. Thanks to you i am looking at a much bigger picture of money, time, pain and suffering potential. I followed all the videos on your sons car. This is helpful stuff!
Thanks so much! And if you need any hoses made or replaced, I used @autocoolingsolutions to make that discharge hose I needed for my sons car. I have the link in one of the videos from this series. Thanks again!
This is a good example why I only fix my own stuff and not really fix anything for others. This reminds me of when I fix one simple thing and it turns into hours and a bunch of cursing and regret. The feeling that comes after it’s all fixed though is one for the books. I’ve learned while breaking things as well and it costs me money but now I have info to share to save others money kinda like you in this video. Shoot I would have changed the title from compilation to complication man I know that feeling of Murphys law.
@@ScannerDanner thanks Scanner and I’ve been watching your videos as they are interesting and informational. That Evap one though is how my day goes sometimes it’s like I have a good idea of the failure but A and B aren’t doing what they should so then after I learn that smoke doesn’t always show up. Thanks for your videos.
thanks for sharing this Paul. for jobs like this, talk to the customer in detail up front. if that doesn't scare them off then you're probably dealing with a reasonable/rational person. I've learned over the years this is the best way to go. Don't go into these jobs hoping to make a buck if there's any grey area, or you'll end up with heartburn.
The hardest part about communicating is making sure the customer understands what your talking about. Alot of the time you get the nods and the yea's, then it comes back a week later with a problem and it's your fault. I always talk to the customer in person about these kinds of things like I did in my old shop when we didn't have service writers. I have to many problems with my service writers not relaying messages to customers too
It just goes to show that when doing repairs on older vehicles with things like old hoses and other old parts that may be working fine at the moment but won't last that the mechanic makes it a requirement to be able to replace all those parts in the repair. If the customer balks and I can't blame them if it's not worth it to them, or they can't afford it, It's smart for the mechanic to send them away. Don't touch it. Charge them for the diagnostic and call it quits. It's human nature for the customer to forget how cheaply they got the job done, and want to blame the mechanic for the problem later. Some mechanics with soft hearts, or those that allow themselves to be bullied will often 'go into the hole' cost wise and with their labor to try and make that customer happy. In the long run it's just better to say NO right up front.
Danner, I "Try" to do as much of my own vehicle maintenance and repairs (when I can/able in my 70+ years old). I struggle to fix things as a "Shade Tree Mechanic" literally, but I found I must check for favorable weather (garageless, but not homeless). I have two vehicles, bc when I start a fix/repair/project it might take me two weeks to finish. I will even tear into my transmissions or rear ends to get things working reliably and my claim to fame is perseverance.
I watched all the ones associated to this compilation in previous weeks. This is where I became a fan of Scanner Danner. Nothing whips his butt at least with the videos I have seen.
That's why I always do nitrogen testing (Canada) You will find any leak at the very first step. Bonus: kids bubble soap diluted at 2:1 is a very cheap and effective to find small leaks.
Part 1, we used nitrogen (200 psi) and found a leaking o-ring on the condenser. Fixed it, repressurized it, no leaks. Charged in and that high side hose lasted 1 day.
Air conditioning can be a different animal, and it's a little gratifying to see that you're human after all ( Lol!) - you did good, though. Communication is everything; especially in A/C work. Thanks, as always -
It's all about expectations.. Up front just say: "Son, I'll try my best to fix it, but if there are other leaks- you just have to buy a new car" --- and shake on it. lol.
Seems like back in the 80's and 90's, having a working ac system in a car was a luxury. The cars my parents had had factory ac, but they didn't work. Same with all my friends. Maybe because we were poor, or because systems back then were junk🤣
Yes, like the others said all ready if the parts are't available anymore you have to be(not 100%) 1000% sure. Use market Pen, and take your time especially if it is your weekend car. " Measure 60 times and cut once"
Hey man nice vid, i have this 2015 for transit 250 that has a P0236 code that refers to boost pressure perfomance/range, it has a new turbo, new 02s, new map and boost pressure sensor but still runs rough and lack of power and still has the same mil code.
Hey Danner don’t beat yourself up too much. “- -it” happens! I always give my customers a good case scenario and worst case scenario. A well informed customer has a hard time getting P O at you.
BTW, we arent laughing at you we are laughing with you! When the a/c case cracked I was thinking, if we were in a shop - this is where the closest wrench gets thrown across the shop to release pent up pressure. I like the older cars/trucks but "older" means there's always something going bad; sometimes fix'g means being creative: I know you know this. Just FYI, if your son still has his Z, he needs to network with local Z clubs. If/when you cant find parts, one of the Z club members will usually have the parts in their garage. Also, there are Z Salvage yards that specialize in Z's only. Anyway, Enjoy your 4th July. Look forward to part 3 where it takes a charge or springs another leak - the suspense is killing me! Edit: If your doing this job for a customer, specifically a customer "You havent changed their diapers before", you would quote and multiply it by 3 for any car considerd a classic or antique. That way either you scare the customer away or he's gonna pay for the future frustration his car is gonna cost you
It's a good thing that I live in Texas. I would have taken that compressor to Mexico and have it rebuilt for cheap and good. They rebuild ANY compressor, alternator, and starter. I do that all the time and they do an excellent work, better than an auto parts rebuilt unit bought locally.
I can't believe the ac in my 1996 F150 300/6 blows ice cold and I only had to add a tiny bit of freon to top it off. Almost caught on fire this spring when the blower resistor caused a mouse nest to start smoldering. Couldn't believe how bad it was in there when I removed the blower motor. The evaporator and heater core were completely packed
Draw them a picture. A rectangle. Explain "this is a healthy wall uniformly thick", then put a divot in and say "over time a small weakness develops and this is where your system will fail" and then put in three or four divots of different depth and explain "over time more than one weak spot will occur but as soon as the weakest point goes, the others do nothing until we find and repair the spot that failed and when pressurized the next weak spot will let go". Then just give them the "if we don't do a full replace, that unknown next weak point will fail". From the call in customer service side I can say ALL summer it is a repeated call "they spent xx dollars and it still isn't fixed" and 99% of the time it is because the customers are chasing down the next week spot rather than just fixing the system in total.
Great video, If I don't have Nitrogen why can't I use compressed air and vac it out after the leak check? I see you have/use Nitrogen. How do I make sure I have oil in the system after the freon has leaked out? Is it in the compressor or suspended in the freon? Again great vid and Thanks for any input.
You'd love the one I'm working on right now. Compressor seized and tore itself in half. Under warranty I replaced EVERY single component in the system. Suction pressures are crazy high (120-170 psi) and matches the high side. I've even got our AC engineers involved in trying to solve it.
@@Hernandez530 nope, its engaged. If it wasnt, a proper charge static pressure will be close to ambient temp, not 120+. You can also see the pressure and manifold lines pulsating with the compressor.
A/C jobs can be the worst, routine jobs turning into nightmares are not uncommon. I remember a Chrysler the clutch electromagnet had gotten so weak it was slipping very bad, easy job right. Compressor design too old, new compressor turned into new lines turned into new condenser, nothing on the car was right, it's like they put a system designed for another car in this car. Four different parts houses all had the same parts and matched dealer part numbers. Nothing fit this car, even junkyard parts wouldn't fit. I lost the job, put it all back to original. I knew the other shops it was taken to, no one could fix it, they finally traded the car since no one could fix it. A friend bought, replaced everything and sold someone a really good car. I forgot, their son, not a mechanic, a professor, convinced his parents everyone was trying to rip them off and they said that to everyone that touched the car till they traded it.
@@ScannerDanner Agreed, a great tool indeed. I use to keep parts that looked good but failed as visual aids for showing customers the hidden issues that can crop up, especially with hoses. They tend to remember if they can touch and look at a failed part that looks fine.
Since it's an older system and was an R12 system, it wasn't designed for R134a which has smaller molecules and works at higher pressure. It's almost expected to have blowouts and leaks because of this unless you replace the rubber and any rusted or corroded parts.. a 36 year old car has probably never seen 300 psi except on extreme hot days with R12 where as the R134a normally operates in those ranges on a converted system. Always expect the worst and forwarn the customer of this before deciding what to replace and what to risk.. that way they are prepared when the unexpected breaks..
Nice Video! If I want to hook up the AC manifold to your car to do some measurements for the pressure, should I purge the blue and read lines from air once I connect them or no need as the air will not get into the system? please clarify thx
That's why I don't work on classics. In that situation you tell customer what needs to be done so that if it a part fails its not on you. Just be transparent. This is where experience comes into play
When I first got a job doing field service work, I screwed up and broke a part while diagnosing the machine. I told the customer, "Good news I found the squeak. Bad news I broke a coupler in the process. I called the office and found we have the part in stock, and I'll be back in the morning to get your machine going again. A coworker later said, "Oy my god, I can't believe you told them that." They were not happy the machine would be down of course, but they were satisfied they knew the whole truth. I came back the next day, fixed the machine and they were a happy customer. Point is, be honest with folks, even when something goes wrong. Admit your mistakes and have a plan to fix them. Give folks the whole truth about a repair as Paul said, let them know what could happen in the near future. A few people will still act like an ass with you, but they would have done that anyhow.
Caleb/Paul, Great video - thank you! BTW right from the start I thought I recognized that car as the 300ZX that you go for you son in FL but I wasnt sure if you had sold it to someone else or what. Good luck with it Im sure you will get it right! Paul (in MA)
Just had one. Radiator leaking. Replaced. Coolant reservoir then leaked. Replaced. Upper radiator hose blew after 20 mile test drive. Blown head gasket!
Took my car to AAA Auto Repair Center on Tully Rd in San Jose to repair the air conditioning. They told me that the compressor was bad (which I had already figured out since it had a frozen clutch..couldn't push it in by hand while engine was off). I know compressors cost about $300 but they were going to charge me over $1500 to replace it. Then, later, they called me and said they would have to also replace the receiver drier and that would cost another $400 or so. So, after I went back to pick up the car, I looked under the hood and saw a nice shiny new compressor but couldn't see the receiver drier until I got home. Turns out that the receiver drier is like welded to the side of the condenser and has a plug on the bottom that needs to be removed in order to insert a cloth-like cylindrical shaped tampon-looking "drier" that takes moisture out of the system. That's all they did...and they charged me over $1900. The drier "tampon" can be bought at auto stores for from $15 to $35. And the compressor can be bought for about $300. My car is a 2014 Hyundai Tucson. Once you take off the splash panel under the engine of the car and look up at the bottom of the "condenser", on the driver's side of the vehicle, you can see and access the "receiver drier" plug to remove an then to insert the "tampon". I couldn't drain the coolant into a collector before removing those parts so I had to have all this work done by "professionals". Funny, not, how the government will fine you big bucks if you let the coolant escape which helps contribute to global warming but they have no problem sabotaging gas pipelines like the Nordstream pipeline which belched tons of gas into the atmosphere for many days! It's no wonder we are having high, record, temperatures. Wars don't help either. Same thing happened after WWI and WWII..record high temperatures worldwide! Thanks a lot Putin...you son of a b...!!! Putin needs a "b" to the head!!!
My ac zero cooling. Was working ok but a little weak. While ac was working for the record i checked standing pressure at 95psi. Hotter day. Now a cooler day ac not working. Standing is 115psi. Clutch kicks in ok. Low side drops only a few psi and vibrates a lot. High side stays much the same and needle vibrats slightly. Another look 10 minutes later. No vibrations psi 115 both sides. Is that surely just compressor? Or with clutch turning there maybe another sensor needed to have conpressor actually compressing? Ive just seen about solenoid control valve. Maybe that too yeah?
Definitely sounds like a compressor issue. It most likely pumped it's guts all through your system too. So at a min. Compressor, expansion valve or orifice tube, the drier, and maybe even a condensor
Understand.....I know the dealership will not touch it, because of the liability and the mechanic who does, it's coming out of their pockets. Because everything you touch on that vehicle will break and the customer will blend you
Wen u evacuated before you recharged shoulda added uv stuff so if it stopped working u could just flash the uv light and u would saw where it was leaking
Hi Danner, I have a 1998 ford explore change the ac compressor evaporator , ac the AC lines were leaking replace with a new one for some reason if the vehicle is sray at idle ac is be warm sometimes when you start driving feelings cool air .... wondering why
@ScannerDanner will let you know, and a few of my ac gauge is not nearby at this time ... do you want to see the pressure reading while the ac system is on or when the engine off and ac off ..
@@kenssalvador4191 psi at idle when the discharge air is getting warm for you. Also psi at 1500-2000 rpm and also tell me what discharge air does at the higher rpm
When the tech starts giggling, you know something went wrong. XD This Summer officially ended my A/C days. Unless the customer wants to by all OEM factory parts. I've been bit enough in the last 3 years by A/C work, because of shi**y parts. Fork me kids, I'm done.
Take them AC line that are bad off and take them to a place that does hydraulic lines they should be able to make new lines and use your end of the old AC hose also Supply you with new O-rings also.
With a vehicle that old' the customer must be told that everything in the vehicle is old and subject to fail..i know techs thar wont work on old stuff..unless its a complete parts change in a vintage car..
Paul, I love your stuff, but your AC work is dated. You need a nitrogen tank to fill the system and check for leaks. This requires a $1,100 leak detector. You need a refrigerant identification tester, you need a recovery system, you need really good gauges, temperature clamps to test Superheat and Subcooling values, you need a digital scale and your gauges need to measure microns down to 10 microns. You must only fill systems by specified volume, not by pressure. The bottom line, you need 20K of equipment and to rethink how you work on AC systems. There is no rule of thumb, every system today can have totally different pressures. Electric cars are completely different, variable speed compressors, are completely different, etc.
I used nitrogen in this series and a micron gauge. Watch the full length case studies this was pulled from, they're in the description. And I do about 1 AC job a year now and it's on personal cars, so I'm not tooling up for AC. BTW I even showed the nitrogen tank in this clip
@@ScannerDanner I didn't see it. Understood on the AC, to do it right it is quite pricey. But some guys that specialize in only doing AC easily get $200 per hour. It's a good niche, and with EV cars if you're not on top of your game with this, you have no chance of fixing the heat pumps.
Lucky you , you are a mechanic not a doctor, you of course know that if a patient die the doctor most of the time can't resurrect a person but you can resurrect a car, lucky you.
Selling A/C work can be tricky. Especially on older systems. Make sure you document everything and communicate clearly with your customers! And if they don't believe you when you recommend all new lines and seals and still promise nothing in regards to the compressor, condenser and EVAP core, show them this video!
First repair was just a condenser o-ring leaking th-cam.com/video/aN-Xni8Sg-4/w-d-xo.html
Second repair was a failure in the high pressure discharge line th-cam.com/video/nCTgcal4N94/w-d-xo.html
Third repair was a compressor housing leak th-cam.com/video/BlrGTHAD2CY/w-d-xo.html
I didnt realize there were other loctite 404's out there... Loctite in the yellow bottle it what you want for O;ring build... consider having a Jig for the cut and gluing. The adhesive retails about $40. Also Id buy it from a reputable source.
get some 1/4 turn ball valves for the micron gauge and the yellow hose you can find them online cheep makes life better , a little j b weld in with the bad threads adds a lot of strength good video good explanation cheers
AC work is always a fickle beast. It can get expensive really quick, and people see it as a need in hot climates. Involving the customer in the repair as much as possible is a must.
Love that you have an old corn cob pipe on your workbench.. reminds me of my grandfather's workbench.🩵
😆 I'm an old softy
It is that time of year! My grandpa used to say, "never find enough time to do it right the first time, always make enough time to do it right the second time." Take the few extra minutes to go through everything in A/C work because what can come back to bite you, WILL come back and bite you! Go through it all, YOUR NAME and your FUTURE will be on the line. I agree to only warranty the work that you do. Be careful with old cars and always communicate what you find. Thanks Paul for continuing to give back.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I remember watching this originally and thinking “this is Paul’s a/c nemesis in vehicle form”….it just keeps laughing at Paul and his diagnostic efforts….😂😂😂. And I’m only laughing because we’ve all been there Paul.
:-\
In the early 80s I worked at the shop in Arizona and all we did was AC auto repair. One day I overlooked the diode on the connector that connects to the AC compressor clutch. It had gotten too close to the compressor body and shorted out, and blew the fuse after we serviced it the day before. So, nevertheless, the shop owner and the customer was pretty upset that I didn’t notice it because the customer had to come back. Of course, I didn’t feel very good about not catching it either.
I love the fact you can openly admit to mistakes. As a 25 year gm tech i know it happens to all of us. Its the ones that can admit it and learn from it that become better. Just a week ago a ran a new circuit and for the life of me couldn't see what i did wrong as i still had no signal on the circuit. Brought over another set of eyes and within 5 min he laughed and said i needed to splice new circuit into the right side side and not loop it. I called myself an idiot then proceeded to show a few of the younger guys what i did to let them know that no one is perfect and also bringing in a set of eyes is sometimes all you need to find a simple mistake. Also to make them understand how to own a mistake and not try to hide one. Anyone who never makes mistakes is just really good at hiding them. Cheers, your videos are top notch.
100% my friend. Step away for a few, ot another set of eyes is clutch! Thanks for your kind words too!
I work at an A/C shop in Florida, we no longer " Just add freon " for customers, it really leads to some interesting comebacks! Diag first, pressure test, then add freon, if the customer disagrees car isn't coming in the shop.
I was gonna, well i guess I still will I'd love to hear his thoughts. this would be the right place for this question/thought I know heat pump systems for units you can use nitrogen to pressure test, but I've never really herd anyone using nitrogen on a car, still not fool proof the leak could be perfectly fine leaves and then fails later! Danner as for rebuilding compressors I wouldn't think it be cost effective unless it's your own stuff your wrenching on, but even on your own stuff if you choose reliability over tight budget with car parts it usually works out well, if not surely you can take it back. Rebuild it in a plane ole shop and not in a climate controlled clean room I know it will fall short every time, the microscopic dust particles floating around will short it's life will put back togther.
I love when you & others show your mistakes, or when something goes wrong.
Because it happens. Autos make u say ugly words😅
What’s funny is the guys who are worth their salt they’ll tell you
Stuff breaks
What matters is how you handle it
Good comms with the customer they’ll understand 9 times out of ten
@@williamakers3990 Danner is a pro, but no-one is perfect. He did nothing wrong. This car is too old & needs an A/C overhaul.
You are the best mechanic I've ever watched. hands down.
Thank you!
I've watched a number of your A/C videos where you use nitrogen to leak check the systems. I've used high pressure gasses quite a bit and have a suggestion that may save you from inducing more leaks into an old system that you're trying to fix. Always make sure the last valve you open when introducing a high pressure gas into an empty system is the bottle regulator, unless you're trying to jar something loose. Opening the regulator gradually, and raising system pressure to the desired amount as measured on your gauge set is much gentler on the system. Leaving all your valves open and then opening the bottle valve shocks the system, and at 200 psi can burst brittle old seals and hoses. Great videos and fun to watch. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
This is the perfect example of how working on old vehicles is a completely different experience to a relatively new vehicle snd absolutely requires a different approach to handle repairing the vehicle and communicating with the customer.
Screwing up is part of the learning process. Join the club ! Another great video !!!
Paul , I feel your PAIN, like you said communication is key here!! especially on a older vehicle, where a job can turn 2 shit very quickly.
lol
A/C is a job that makes people happy. They notice it repaired. I enjoy that work. With older stuff that hasn’t been working, I warn them from the start. It might get more leaks. It is older and should be all replaced. The vehicle isn’t worth it…..
This is a perfect Real mechanic (as i am old school) experience. Sh__ happens! Thank you for being open with your challenges in this process, while still stepping us through the professional process. I am just gearing up to "fix" the a/c on my 2001 ranger. Thanks to you i am looking at a much bigger picture of money, time, pain and suffering potential. I followed all the videos on your sons car. This is helpful stuff!
Thanks so much! And if you need any hoses made or replaced, I used @autocoolingsolutions to make that discharge hose I needed for my sons car. I have the link in one of the videos from this series. Thanks again!
Thanks for the response and the information on where to locate hose's.
That comeback will come in the cooling system when you replace a 36 year old radiator cap and every rubber hose leaks
Am I the only one that noticed the big cat in the back 🤣 3:41 ?
that is "Bean" our resident hunter killer
Love this series, really important videos for any tech doing A/C repairs😍
Thanks for sharing SD, Stay Blessed Guy's😍
This is a good example why I only fix my own stuff and not really fix anything for others. This reminds me of when I fix one simple thing and it turns into hours and a bunch of cursing and regret. The feeling that comes after it’s all fixed though is one for the books. I’ve learned while breaking things as well and it costs me money but now I have info to share to save others money kinda like you in this video. Shoot I would have changed the title from compilation to complication man I know that feeling of Murphys law.
great comment
@@ScannerDanner thanks Scanner and I’ve been watching your videos as they are interesting and informational. That Evap one though is how my day goes sometimes it’s like I have a good idea of the failure but A and B aren’t doing what they should so then after I learn that smoke doesn’t always show up. Thanks for your videos.
thanks for sharing this Paul.
for jobs like this, talk to the customer in detail up front. if that doesn't scare them off then you're probably dealing with a reasonable/rational person.
I've learned over the years this is the best way to go. Don't go into these jobs hoping to make a buck if there's any grey area, or you'll end up with heartburn.
Looks like you’ve been hittin the iron 👍
Thanks for the great video as alway. Can’t thank you enough!
The hardest part about communicating is making sure the customer understands what your talking about. Alot of the time you get the nods and the yea's, then it comes back a week later with a problem and it's your fault. I always talk to the customer in person about these kinds of things like I did in my old shop when we didn't have service writers. I have to many problems with my service writers not relaying messages to customers too
It just goes to show that when doing repairs on older vehicles with things like old hoses and other old parts that may be working fine at the moment but won't last that the mechanic makes it a requirement to be able to replace all those parts in the repair. If the customer balks and I can't blame them if it's not worth it to them, or they can't afford it, It's smart for the mechanic to send them away. Don't touch it. Charge them for the diagnostic and call it quits. It's human nature for the customer to forget how cheaply they got the job done, and want to blame the mechanic for the problem later. Some mechanics with soft hearts, or those that allow themselves to be bullied will often 'go into the hole' cost wise and with their labor to try and make that customer happy. In the long run it's just better to say NO right up front.
Agree, it is no, or replace everything
I’ve been doing ac’s all week making good money saving people from the heat
Do you have a shop or are you just side gigging?
Danner, I "Try" to do as much of my own vehicle maintenance and repairs (when I can/able in my 70+ years old). I struggle to fix things as a "Shade Tree Mechanic" literally, but I found I must check for favorable weather (garageless, but not homeless). I have two vehicles, bc when I start a fix/repair/project it might take me two weeks to finish. I will even tear into my transmissions or rear ends to get things working reliably and my claim to fame is perseverance.
I watched all the ones associated to this compilation in previous weeks. This is where I became a fan of Scanner Danner. Nothing whips his butt at least with the videos I have seen.
That's why I always do nitrogen testing (Canada)
You will find any leak at the very first step.
Bonus: kids bubble soap diluted at 2:1 is a very cheap and effective to find small leaks.
Part 1, we used nitrogen (200 psi) and found a leaking o-ring on the condenser. Fixed it, repressurized it, no leaks. Charged in and that high side hose lasted 1 day.
@@ScannerDanner oh, nevermind then. 😅
Paul Danner your spot on.
Air conditioning can be a different animal, and it's a little gratifying to see that you're human after all ( Lol!) - you did good, though. Communication is everything; especially in A/C work. Thanks, as always -
I think car AC is a different beast than home AC since you have much more room to work with.
It's all about expectations..
Up front just say: "Son, I'll try my best to fix it, but if there are other leaks- you just have to buy a new car" ---
and shake on it. lol.
lol
Seems like back in the 80's and 90's, having a working ac system in a car was a luxury. The cars my parents had had factory ac, but they didn't work. Same with all my friends. Maybe because we were poor, or because systems back then were junk🤣
Yes, like the others said all ready if the parts are't available anymore you have to be(not 100%) 1000% sure. Use market Pen, and take your time especially if it is your weekend car. " Measure 60 times and cut once"
Hey man nice vid, i have this 2015 for transit 250 that has a P0236 code that refers to boost pressure perfomance/range, it has a new turbo, new 02s, new map and boost pressure sensor but still runs rough and lack of power and still has the same mil code.
Great reflection, thanks for sharing Paul
Hey Danner don’t beat yourself up too much. “- -it” happens! I always give my customers a good case scenario and worst case scenario. A well informed customer has a hard time getting P O at you.
BTW, we arent laughing at you we are laughing with you! When the a/c case cracked I was thinking, if we were in a shop - this is where the closest wrench gets thrown across the shop to release pent up pressure. I like the older cars/trucks but "older" means there's always something going bad; sometimes fix'g means being creative: I know you know this. Just FYI, if your son still has his Z, he needs to network with local Z clubs. If/when you cant find parts, one of the Z club members will usually have the parts in their garage. Also, there are Z Salvage yards that specialize in Z's only. Anyway, Enjoy your 4th July. Look forward to part 3 where it takes a charge or springs another leak - the suspense is killing me!
Edit: If your doing this job for a customer, specifically a customer "You havent changed their diapers before", you would quote and multiply it by 3 for any car considerd a classic or antique. That way either you scare the customer away or he's gonna pay for the future frustration his car is gonna cost you
It's a good thing that I live in Texas. I would have taken that compressor to Mexico and have it rebuilt for cheap and good. They rebuild ANY compressor, alternator, and starter. I do that all the time and they do an excellent work, better than an auto parts rebuilt unit bought locally.
I can't believe the ac in my 1996 F150 300/6 blows ice cold and I only had to add a tiny bit of freon to top it off. Almost caught on fire this spring when the blower resistor caused a mouse nest to start smoldering. Couldn't believe how bad it was in there when I removed the blower motor. The evaporator and heater core were completely packed
Draw them a picture. A rectangle. Explain "this is a healthy wall uniformly thick", then put a divot in and say "over time a small weakness develops and this is where your system will fail" and then put in three or four divots of different depth and explain "over time more than one weak spot will occur but as soon as the weakest point goes, the others do nothing until we find and repair the spot that failed and when pressurized the next weak spot will let go". Then just give them the "if we don't do a full replace, that unknown next weak point will fail". From the call in customer service side I can say ALL summer it is a repeated call "they spent xx dollars and it still isn't fixed" and 99% of the time it is because the customers are chasing down the next week spot rather than just fixing the system in total.
i love watching pros mess up, makes me feel like hey that scanner danner is just like me. hahah great vid.
Great video, If I don't have Nitrogen why can't I use compressed air and vac it out after the leak check? I see you have/use Nitrogen.
How do I make sure I have oil in the system after the freon has leaked out? Is it in the compressor or suspended in the freon?
Again great vid and Thanks for any input.
you can, I have videos on this. The oil doesn't leave the system, even with a leak 99% of it will still be in there
Been there and done that numerous times and I just laugh about it now.
If Paul wasn’t a God fearing man I would be totally terrified of him ....
😅
😆
Don't beat yourself up too much we all have bad days. Life happens to everyone without exception and its about the learn factor
You'd love the one I'm working on right now. Compressor seized and tore itself in half. Under warranty I replaced EVERY single component in the system. Suction pressures are crazy high (120-170 psi) and matches the high side. I've even got our AC engineers involved in trying to solve it.
Sounds like the compressor clutch is not even engaging
@@Hernandez530 nope, its engaged. If it wasnt, a proper charge static pressure will be close to ambient temp, not 120+. You can also see the pressure and manifold lines pulsating with the compressor.
What's high side at the same time?
@@ScannerDanner same as low side.
@@SuperSecretSquirell is it s variable displacement compressor? Fixed orifice tube or thermal expansion valve?
Can we just play Scanner Danners videos on the monitors of every repair shops lobby
Have you ever taken a hose to a hydraulic shop to add new hose to old ends ?
Or find a Napa dealer to custom make a hose ?
A/C jobs can be the worst, routine jobs turning into nightmares are not uncommon. I remember a Chrysler the clutch electromagnet had gotten so weak it was slipping very bad, easy job right. Compressor design too old, new compressor turned into new lines turned into new condenser, nothing on the car was right, it's like they put a system designed for another car in this car. Four different parts houses all had the same parts and matched dealer part numbers. Nothing fit this car, even junkyard parts wouldn't fit. I lost the job, put it all back to original.
I knew the other shops it was taken to, no one could fix it, they finally traded the car since no one could fix it.
A friend bought, replaced everything and sold someone a really good car.
I forgot, their son, not a mechanic, a professor, convinced his parents everyone was trying to rip them off and they said that to everyone that touched the car till they traded it.
People just don't understand. I'm hoping this video helps shops out in the future, with showing a customer what can happen
@@ScannerDanner Agreed, a great tool indeed. I use to keep parts that looked good but failed as visual aids for showing customers the hidden issues that can crop up, especially with hoses. They tend to remember if they can touch and look at a failed part that looks fine.
"""A/C Repair NIGHTMARE''"" every single HVAC/R repair in history... 🥳🥳🥳🥳
Since it's an older system and was an R12 system, it wasn't designed for R134a which has smaller molecules and works at higher pressure. It's almost expected to have blowouts and leaks because of this unless you replace the rubber and any rusted or corroded parts.. a 36 year old car has probably never seen 300 psi except on extreme hot days with R12 where as the R134a normally operates in those ranges on a converted system. Always expect the worst and forwarn the customer of this before deciding what to replace and what to risk.. that way they are prepared when the unexpected breaks..
Nice Video! If I want to hook up the AC manifold to your car to do some measurements for the pressure, should I purge the blue and read lines from air once I connect them or no need as the air will not get into the system? please clarify thx
No need! Just keep the valves closed on the manifold gauge
That's why I don't work on classics. In that situation you tell customer what needs to be done so that if it a part fails its not on you. Just be transparent. This is where experience comes into play
👍 you're still the best!
When I first got a job doing field service work, I screwed up and broke a part while diagnosing the machine. I told the customer, "Good news I found the squeak. Bad news I broke a coupler in the process. I called the office and found we have the part in stock, and I'll be back in the morning to get your machine going again. A coworker later said, "Oy my god, I can't believe you told them that."
They were not happy the machine would be down of course, but they were satisfied they knew the whole truth. I came back the next day, fixed the machine and they were a happy customer. Point is, be honest with folks, even when something goes wrong. Admit your mistakes and have a plan to fix them. Give folks the whole truth about a repair as Paul said, let them know what could happen in the near future. A few people will still act like an ass with you, but they would have done that anyhow.
That power wagon is very nice 😱
I was just thinking that impact gun was a mistake and then.... 🌋 😂
sigh, it certainly was lol
Just like my day with a lawn tractor tire the other day. Litterally all day and every conceivable thing went wrong.
Caleb/Paul,
Great video - thank you!
BTW right from the start I thought I recognized that car as the 300ZX that you go for you son in FL but I wasnt sure if you had sold it to someone else or what. Good luck with it Im sure you will get it right!
Paul (in MA)
yes! same car :-) Thanks you
i feel a lot better about myself as a technician, having seen this
I had a similar problem recently with a car that came in empty. When it’s completely empty, you don’t know how long it’s been like that.
Just had one. Radiator leaking. Replaced. Coolant reservoir then leaked. Replaced. Upper radiator hose blew after 20 mile test drive. Blown head gasket!
anytime someone comes in with a coolant leak, the first thing we MUST assume is that the engine got overheated! Sorry this happened to you
@@ScannerDanner It was a 2003 BMW with 180k. Thanks for the MUST assume. Will keep that in the old memory bank fore shore
Took my car to AAA Auto Repair Center on Tully Rd in San Jose to repair the air conditioning. They told me that the compressor was bad (which I had already figured out since it had a frozen clutch..couldn't push it in by hand while engine was off). I know compressors cost about $300 but they were going to charge me over $1500 to replace it. Then, later, they called me and said they would have to also replace the receiver drier and that would cost another $400 or so. So, after I went back to pick up the car, I looked under the hood and saw a nice shiny new compressor but couldn't see the receiver drier until I got home. Turns out that the receiver drier is like welded to the side of the condenser and has a plug on the bottom that needs to be removed in order to insert a cloth-like cylindrical shaped tampon-looking "drier" that takes moisture out of the system. That's all they did...and they charged me over $1900. The drier "tampon" can be bought at auto stores for from $15 to $35. And the compressor can be bought for about $300. My car is a 2014 Hyundai Tucson. Once you take off the splash panel under the engine of the car and look up at the bottom of the "condenser", on the driver's side of the vehicle, you can see and access the "receiver drier" plug to remove an then to insert the "tampon". I couldn't drain the coolant into a collector before removing those parts so I had to have all this work done by "professionals". Funny, not, how the government will fine you big bucks if you let the coolant escape which helps contribute to global warming but they have no problem sabotaging gas pipelines like the Nordstream pipeline which belched tons of gas into the atmosphere for many days! It's no wonder we are having high, record, temperatures. Wars don't help either. Same thing happened after WWI and WWII..record high temperatures worldwide! Thanks a lot Putin...you son of a b...!!! Putin needs a "b" to the head!!!
I understand your frustration with the price. But that's what it takes to pay a good tech these days. It really does.
My ac zero cooling. Was working ok but a little weak. While ac was working for the record i checked standing pressure at 95psi. Hotter day. Now a cooler day ac not working. Standing is 115psi. Clutch kicks in ok. Low side drops only a few psi and vibrates a lot. High side stays much the same and needle vibrats slightly. Another look 10 minutes later. No vibrations psi 115 both sides. Is that surely just compressor? Or with clutch turning there maybe another sensor needed to have conpressor actually compressing? Ive just seen about solenoid control valve. Maybe that too yeah?
Definitely sounds like a compressor issue. It most likely pumped it's guts all through your system too. So at a min. Compressor, expansion valve or orifice tube, the drier, and maybe even a condensor
We tell the customer that we recharge and dye look for leaks if it stops cooling and also that we are not responsible for future leaks
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
we used to call "Come Backs"
SCUMBAGS.....
😂😂😂😂
Omg I was yelling at my phone lol
I throw dye in and make sure you perform a leak down test before adding freon .
re-pressure test when repairs are completed! A vacuum decay test isn't good enough! Dye is useless imo and is not needed
Understand.....I know the dealership will not touch it, because of the liability and the mechanic who does, it's coming out of their pockets. Because everything you touch on that vehicle will break and the customer will blend you
As an refrigeration mechanic. this makes me giggle.
A very wise gentleman told me once if you get a flat tire you don't fix the remaining tires, just the flat one, respectfully sir.
Geez Paul, seems God wanted you to appreciate every day this doesn’t happen to you. Where did you get the hoses, hydraulic shop?
@AutoCoolingSolutions
www.autocoolingsolutions.com/collections/ac-line-repair-kits?gclid=Cj0KCQjwy9-kBhCHARIsAHpBjHjnqvVEP4qT2GrcdxLAhrghU5bEYqpaIO8j_Wcl_eEpT8VZNvM33ZUaAk41EALw_wcB
Thank you!
@@ScannerDanner great resource, thanks!
@@ScannerDanner and I hope Jr has nice cold air! But, if it breaks, heck where you live, just wait a week. It’ll be winter again!
@@breikowski haha exactly
Just get a Goodyear hose, some fittings and a hydraulic crimper. Can fabricate any hose your customer needs.
I found a company that makes them. Awesome company @autocoolingsolutions
How’s that gb70 treating you after all these years
It lasted 3 years maybe? It's long gone
Wen u evacuated before you recharged shoulda added uv stuff so if it stopped working u could just flash the uv light and u would saw where it was leaking
I've never been a fan of uv dye for ac work.
Can you explain what happened with the old one how you break it ?
In the description there are links to 3 different videos where all of this footage was taken from
☝🏻Useful tips from SD,👍🏻.
Hi Danner, I have a 1998 ford explore change the ac compressor evaporator , ac the AC lines were leaking replace with a new one for some reason if the vehicle is sray at idle ac is be warm sometimes when you start driving feelings cool air .... wondering why
Need pressure readings to help my friend
@ScannerDanner will let you know, and a few of my ac gauge is not nearby at this time ... do you want to see the pressure reading while the ac system is on or when the engine off and ac off ..
@@kenssalvador4191 psi at idle when the discharge air is getting warm for you.
Also psi at 1500-2000 rpm and also tell me what discharge air does at the higher rpm
40 psi on the low side, and 200 psi on the high side at idle
@@kenssalvador4191
You've answered half of what I need to know.
When a middle aged woman comes in the shop with mascara running down her face, you don't,t have to ask the problem. And she doesn't ask the price.
🤔
Car that old before you touch anything let them know needs everything with the age nothing you can do hope the evaporator core don’t leak
When the tech starts giggling, you know something went wrong. XD This Summer officially ended my A/C days. Unless the customer wants to by all OEM factory parts. I've been bit enough in the last 3 years by A/C work, because of shi**y parts. Fork me kids, I'm done.
Take them AC line that are bad off and take them to a place that does hydraulic lines they should be able to make new lines and use your end of the old AC hose also Supply you with new O-rings also.
The company I used to make my line was even better! It's linked in one of this videos I shot on this car
You can find most of those parts online from carid and others.
not for this 86 300z!
classic episode.
More ac stuff please paul on premium too
Going to get your book from AES wave only see one if there’s more let me know
There is only 1. I have an eBook or paper book.
www.scannerdanner.com
Thanks!
@@ScannerDanner paper for me 👍🏻
Да, да, мы помним как это было)
I lost many times on AC system, I even promise my self not to dingoes AC problem or repair, just Vacuum the system and recharge 😢😢😢😢
With a vehicle that old' the customer must be told that everything in the vehicle is old and subject to fail..i know techs thar wont work on old stuff..unless its a complete parts change in a vintage car..
this is the daily job on my 1993 240sx :)
Love those knee pads.
I feel for you. Never rebuild an A/C compressor. Buy a new one.
Your not fixing something your restoring an there’s a big difference .
2022? Did you misspeak or is this old footage?
mechanics come into contact with a lot of chemicals that cause brain damage
This video was pulled from 3 different videos from last year. The full length case studies are in the description
@@ScannerDanner OK thx buddy
Anytime you work on old cars is no a fix is a project. Sorry but reality is the way to go
You should be pressure testing to above normal working pressure to cover your arse. Not just doing a vacuum leak check.
Watch the full video! Thanks
🔧💯🔧
Paul, I love your stuff, but your AC work is dated. You need a nitrogen tank to fill the system and check for leaks. This requires a $1,100 leak detector. You need a refrigerant identification tester, you need a recovery system, you need really good gauges, temperature clamps to test Superheat and Subcooling values, you need a digital scale and your gauges need to measure microns down to 10 microns. You must only fill systems by specified volume, not by pressure. The bottom line, you need 20K of equipment and to rethink how you work on AC systems. There is no rule of thumb, every system today can have totally different pressures. Electric cars are completely different, variable speed compressors, are completely different, etc.
I used nitrogen in this series and a micron gauge. Watch the full length case studies this was pulled from, they're in the description.
And I do about 1 AC job a year now and it's on personal cars, so I'm not tooling up for AC. BTW I even showed the nitrogen tank in this clip
@@ScannerDanner I didn't see it. Understood on the AC, to do it right it is quite pricey. But some guys that specialize in only doing AC easily get $200 per hour. It's a good niche, and with EV cars if you're not on top of your game with this, you have no chance of fixing the heat pumps.
Lucky you , you are a mechanic not a doctor, you of course know that if a patient die the doctor most of the time can't resurrect a person but you can resurrect a car, lucky you.
The equivalent here would be that if the patient died, it wouldn't have been the doctors fault.
LOL damn