Yup... all well n good.... just make sure the air gap is truly the problem first. Run the temp test (my down-n-dirty one is a decent place to start) making sure you actually have a problem that's not charge related.
After that.... there's still a few more things that can be causing trouble. It's not one size fits all in AC repairs.
I only make this point to show that there are more things to go
@SS sideways than just an air gap that might be too wide.
Several things CAN be the culprit.... not in any particular order of correctness.....
- Overcharged R134a
- Undercharged R134a
- R12 was mistakenly installed... or even R505! BT...SEEN IT...
- Too much oil
- Too little oil
- Wrong oil
- Pennzoil...... ok, I'm a LITTLE prejudiced!
- Inoperative engine cooling fan
- Mexican paper money in squirrel cage... yup.... saw that one once!
- Debris in condenser fins
- Worn out clutch
- Rodents ate the wires (don't EVEN ask! I still can see that when I close my eyes.)
- Superheat/Low oil sensor/ switch
- Thermostat on evaporator core
- Plugged expansion oriface
- Broken desiccant bag
- Incorrectly "satisfied" temperature setting(s)... usually a bad control on panel
- Compressor breaking up.... (sell car)
- "Cold Shot"-type products used instead of R134a (gums up oil) and/or can "slug" the compressor if it's injected incorrectly --- or at the wrong time --- or too much
Ya see... just sending an owner in to reset the air gap without him having first found out it
is the cause and not a symptom, is gonna potentially cost time & materials by having him running in the wrong direction to get outta a tornado.
I opt for DIAGNOSE first ---- then throw money at it.
I've had a few mystery cars come it with absolutely the correct amount of freon, good oil charge, good blower fan, good cooling system, good compressor, good EVERYTHING ..... and still they would superheat and the head pressure would go high noon.
I had a 1963 Lincoln Continental come in for lack of cooling....... and everything was good! It would run a while and slowly build head pressure until the belt slipped and the cooling stopped.
I did all the right stuff.... this was a two cylinder, EPR system, God-simple and pretty foolproof.
Two days.... KNOWING I COULD FIX IT .... if only I could find the problem.....!
TWO. STEENKIN'. DAYS. and ..... nada! But I had a nice collection of used AC belts by now and nostrils full of rubber smoke.
On a whim, and because it was getting to be BEER O'CLOCK....
....I decided to go underneath on the hoist for a different look-see perspective, ya know ..
........ figuring that maybe ...
.......... .if the hoist fell on me ..... just a little bit...
...............I would be able to get outta the job.....
....................and as it was going up.... out of the corner of my eye ....
.......................I noticed that almost all the fins were missing from the condenser!
I couldn't even see the %&*!>⊙☆ condenser from above.... and to this day I don't really know why I decided to rack it up.... maybe angels! IDK --- just post game spitballing here!
The car was owned by a little old lady who drove like a bat outta hell ---back and forth from Anaheim to Las Vegas.... three times a week. The sand on the highway had eaten the condensor fins off and was working on the radiator now that the condenser wasn't in front, protecting it.
I learned then 'n there to diagnose and dismiss all practical textbook theories first... get 'em outta the way.... and use hard facts to pick the best hill you can find ..... on which you'll fight or die.
After the real theories are dead... then go off on any crazy idea of which you might think... 'cause you're only as good as the last job you did ..... and that one's gone..........
I feel a sage metaphor coming on.....
You can occasionally get away with shortcuts.
OK only one more metaphor, I promise.... when you shoot from the hip... you usually blow off a few toes and you run the risk of embarrassment, humiliation and a permalimp..
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