I'd been chasing leaks in the AC system off and on for a while and ended up replacing the condenser. As it turns out the PO had left a mount off the oil cooler, which had been happily rattling against the condenser for who knows how long. The leak I thought I had on the new compressor seal apparently fixed itself or was an auditory hallucination on my part - I pulled 25 inches of vacuum on the system and had to break off to do maintenance on my daughter's Teutonic Terror ('07 Beetle). It was a week before I was able to return to work with the system and it had held the vacuum. "There shouldn't be a leak then" was my thought.

The uprated aluminum A6 compressor was used. They claim less power draw but we'll see. It's definitely lighter than the original.

Aluminum case A6 compressor. Threads are metric and unit has to be located further aft than standard A6

All hoses, o-rings, and expansion valve were made R-134A compliant. I couldn't get more than 25 ounces of refrigerant in the system but I was seeing about 225 psi on the high side and just under 40 psi on the low side. And, it cools! Now, I have to find out why the center vent won't open - because guess who messed with the vacuum lines last time...

 

Congratulations, Ken!!
You may have "missed" this warm season but you're Certainly all set for the next one.
(';')

 

You can remove the center vent - it just pulls out - and then manually prop open the center vent with a dowel or piece of wood so you get air from the center vent and then put the vent back in place. As far as fixing it, you may want to remove the crash roll and check the vacuum line to the actuator in the center at the bottom of the windshield.

 

I propped the center vent open on the way home from work Friday. I know the vacuum lines are in decent shape from when I had the evaporator out last year to repair it. I either hooked something up wrong or one of the vacuum actuators is bad. At least I don't have to pull the unit out to check that...

 

I made a device to keep the center propped open as it Never worked properly, and we use AC so much here that it has become a permanent fixture.

It straddles the two center fins and is easily removable when needed.
(';')

 

I ended up doing the same thing, Lnr. It's usable until I find out the root issue. The center actuator won't work at all but the defrost and footwell flaps work depending on engine vacuum so I'm pretty sure it's a hose issue (or check valve). The servos and linkages all seem to be okay.

It'll have to wait - I have a sick MG Midget to attend to: no clutch actuation and a sticky starter pinion.

 

Ken, you'll probably find the Demister vents don't work very well with the center vent open.
Nix goes out so few times the demisters would be needed. If it's that cold it's probably raining here and if there's a cloud in the sky, she stays in the garage.
Cats do Not like to get their feet wet.
(';')

 

Ken - The 40/225 lbs you were getting - what rpms was that? Idle or higher?

Thanks, Bill

 

Bill, that was at idle.

We've had a few hotter days this week and I'm getting cold-cool-cold surging when the system is running. I was only able to get the system to take about 25 oz. the night I recharged it and I know it should take more so I presume the surging is due to low refrigerant. It was getting cool that night so I'm not sure how much of a factor that was at the time. Gonna try to check it this weekend with it somewhat warmer.

 

Ken - I also put in 24oz after vacuuming for 5 hours. I got 40/170 at idle and 25/220 at 2,000 rpms. Blowing cold, except when accelerating up a steep hill.

 

It sounds like you have a vacuum issue too. I'm running into a phenomenon where the air starts cool and then starts losing interest after about ten minutes. In my case it's either a blend door issue or I may have a defective expansion valve. With the state of parts lately the latter is quite probable. Make sure the expansion valve bulb has good contact with the low pressure nozzle coming out of the evaporator - I had some issues with that. It will give you bizarre readings on your gauges.