Originally Posted by rscurtis

Wait for a hot, humid day when the car is stationary, the fan will come on.

Originally Posted by cjbrown

Okay, back from the home-garage AC guy with good news and a question for the pros here.

First, hooking up gauges showed the static pressure was only about 30lbs so he figured there was maybe a pound of freon left in the system - just enough to get the compressor to kick on. We did find a leaking schrader valve on the pressure side, so both were replaced and the system evacuated for 30 minutes. System holds vac and pressure just fine.

Recharged with 4lbs of R12, full blower shows 49 at the vent, low blower 38. It literally freezes me out on the freeway now. Temp drop is about 45 degrees. I'd say that's pretty good eh? We don't know why it took so much freon, the tag says 2.6lbs. Oh well, it works like a champ so I'm not complaining even if R12 costs $40 a pound.

$270 was total cost to evac, replace service valves with genuine SCHRADER brand valves, recharge and test. I couldn't be more delighted. You guys in so-Cal that need a R12 guy just let me know, this one's a keeper

Okay...now the question....
The condensor fan never switches on. If I short the connect wires for the temp switch it runs, so fan is fine. The inlet line to the reciever-drier just never gets warm so the thermal switch doesn't activate.

Should I just leave it or is there an alternate thermal switch I can install to kick on the fan earlier? For example, is there one I can install on the condensor fins or something so it kicks on when the system starts pumping freon?

The inlet to the condensor is hot - probly 130-140degrees, and it's hot on top but cool on the bottom, actually cool to the touch in 85 deg ambient at idle or 2Krpm, doesn't matter. The car just doesn't get too hot. The fan just never starts. Seems to me the thermal switch is 130deg, is that right?

Suggestions?

Originally Posted by cjbrown

No, he was using bulk canisters and weighing them. Maybe he can't add. LOL.

Seriously, the guy is really sharp, but he's getting on in years. Former pilot and auto tech for toyota. Nice guy.

He has some odd stuff in his garage too...three old kawasaki dirtbikes, like from the early 80's, and a 78 Dodge Powerwagon 4x4 Adventurer 3/4 ton PU with a built 383 and is quite straight and restorable. If he sells it I may try and buy it. He bought it brand new! Wifey says it would be a gas hog. Hmmm...hadn't thought of that. Just enamored by what it was. They were selling new on the lot when I worked at Lynnwood Dodge in WA back when I was a kid.

Originally Posted by vstech

I used to have a 78 powerwagon... the 360... MAN that thing was cold blooded. wrecked it in 83... saved the front diff for some reason.