I got this car last year, just before I sold my 1977 Regal. My 1977 Regal I had since 2016. Compressor on that car sounded terrible, hoped it would make it through that summer. Put in a can of REDTEK R12 replacement. Well, until the summer of 2021, the compressor amazingly kept working, just added 1 can each year. So, back to the Electra. Compressor is nice and quiet, tried a can of REDTEK in Sept, (all I had at the time)but didn't seem any cooler. Waited til this spring to worry about it (I have the automatic Climate control system-and in the middle of working on the a/c I don't have air coming out on the low/med/hi settings, just bi-level :/ ) And I decided, instead of just putting in a can , (or two) buy a manifold gauge and a vacuum pump and do it right. So, watched many videos on how to use the vacuum pump, and tried...tried to put in a can of REDTEK sealer (car is from Oregon, and had tires from the 90s, so who knows when it last had working A/C) made sure there was still a vacuum in the system, but simply could not get anything to go in the system no matter how many times I opened and closed the screw in valve on top of the can (and made sure I had opened the low pressure valve hose....I probably should have gotten a can of leak detector, I just first wanted to see if this would seal any leaks I may have (and yes, the vacuum dropped via the gauges) So, no sense putting in the 3 cans of REDTEK I have.... Oh, the other thing I noticed is even though I see the clutch engage when I turn the A/C on, I don't notice an RPM drop that I have noticed in every single car I have owned. Is it possible to have the clutch work, but the compressor not??? Hope I am making sense, under the weather today. thanks for any suggestions....
I went to the REDTEK website to see what their R12 replacement product was. I could not find an R12 replacement product on the REDTEK website. Maybe they did in 2016, but don't anymore? So you were able to pull a system vacuum (not just port vacuum) successfully, but when you tried adding this REDTEC sealer (which I really wouldn't advise on automotive A/C systems), nothing went in? If so, sounds like something with your manifold gauge setup to me, if you were able to pull down a vacuum in your car's A/C system. I'm not an expert, just a hobbyist, but this doesn't sound like a car A/C system problem, but a problem either the manifold gauge set or how it was used.
65 GS, for some reason, they have 2 websites! Have no idea why, but there must be some business reason. here is their store https://www.redtekstore.com/ I first had issues getting any reading, as my nature is to not overtighten, but found out even by hand, I just wasn't putting enough twisting force on the connections. I can try again (they even provide teflon tape for the threads) but it's usually so easy to put in a can in a system, so not sure what is going on here, or if something is sticking in the system not allowing me to put it in? but then how can I evacuate the system and have close to -30 on the gauges?
Do you know if your schrader valves on both the low and high sides are working properly? The normal vacuum down process involves pulling vacuum on both sides - if both schrader valves are not working (if they are sealed closed), you will get a vacuum on the gauges (because you are generating a vacuum in the manifold/gauge set and hoses) but y0u may not be pulling a vacuum on the vehicle's A/C system. And, of course, if the schrader valves are not working (sealed closed), that would also explain why you can not get refrigerant into the vehicle's A/C system. Just guessing here.
thats interesting! I just put adapters on the schrader valves. I know the compressor one works, as I lost a bit of oil out of it since I hadn't tightened that connection enough the first time. I'll see if I can get anything out of the low side.
Once you’re able to add refrigerant, you’ll want a factory service manual and maybe some Rogaine. (I had a ‘78 Caddy with climate control). The Caddy would lose heat on uphill climbs and the A/C would change vents depending upon vacuum. I tried new hoses, new check valves, and finally decided it was one of the three conplicated vacuum/electric things under the dash so I never fixed it. Patrick
If you had one of your manifold hoses on the compressor port when you were using the vacuum pump, given you got oil out of the compressor port, that means that valve must be open when depressed. Which also means you have something in the AC system already, given you had enough pressure to force oil out. That confuses me a bit, as I thought you said you had pulled a vacuum, and then tried to put refrigerant in it, but couldn't. If you pulled a vacuum on the AC system, it should have sucked air in if you didn't have a good seal on the compressor port, not shoot oil out due to pressure being in the AC system.
Good eye! I think I first put the gauges first just to see what, if anything was in the system, It showed 0 , but I was just trying to not overtighten the connections , and I saw that some oil had come out on the fenderwell. I finally tried the other schrader valve, and it pushed in, but nothing came out.
well, shot a 30 sec video. Had to have my Dad inside the car turn it on, took him a bit and then I talk like English isn't my first language. about 15 seconds in the clutch engages. on my 1977 Regal, the clutch wouldn't engage if low on freon. Or would cycle on and off like an 80s GM car. But this 76 Electra (with climate control which the Regal didn't have) it just comes on when you slide the control (no air blowing on the 3 main positions still ) Also, it could be my imagination, but the idle just doesn't seem to drop like most buicks I've owned...just spitballin' at this point.... Anyone know someone in or around Atlanta that works on A/C's from home?
