I am a complete virgin on these forums or any social media, so bear with me. I had 20 years of life "out there" in the public eye and am jaded by the experience, so now really enjoy my privacy. It took me forever just to figure out where to type a comment and have no idea yet how to get to the right "thread" as I think it is called to gather the information I need. If anyone is so inclined to respond or direct me to the best place to find an answer to my query it would be appreciated.
I have a 1988 FJ62. I looked for four years for this exact model after going on an off road trip in one fifteen years ago, and 11 years ago found a one owner 70k mile truck that had sat in a garage on a ranch for 7 years after the first owner passed away. I went through her every system with care and gave her new life and she has had a blast on my ranch going anywhere I could keep three wheels on the ground and point her towards. While never a professional, I am a very good mechanic. Just have the knack with mechanical things and can fix anything if I have anything close to the proper tools. Which is my problem now in that I don't have an AC machine. Elsie, my 62, never had an AC problem until this summer when the compressor just wouldn't switch on. I checked the power from source to destination and all connections and all is good. Upon further investigation figured out I just have a leak that brought the internal pressure too low for the compressor to switch on as it is designed to do for self preservation. Got my hands on some R12 and the proper oil and put in two cans of refrigerant and 2.5 oz. of oil to get the low and high side gauges up to factory specified full and all was well; cold air blew just like before. Then two weeks later it wasn't blowing as coldly and then the compressor wasn't coming on again.
I have no desire to switch from the R12 system since it works fine if I can fix the leak. But, I need someone who has an R12 machine, knows what they are doing (as I have found out most are clueless and will lie and mix coolants and oils that aren't compatible and ruin the system), and can put in dye and bring the pressure up so I can find the leaks, repair them, then put back in the roughly 750 grams of coolant again. So all of the above is the problem. What I need to know is:
1. Who in the Fort Worth area has an R12 machine that can put the die in and bring the pressure up so I can find the leaks?
And, not screw-up my system while they are doing it when I'm not able to watch and keep them from doing something stupid.
2. When the leak is found, can I simply pull out the Shraeder valves to purge the system and then replace the o-rings, compression fittings, hoses, seals, or whatever is leaking? Or is there a different proper procedure to follow when repairing the leaks and opening the system (which is essentially opened anyway with the leak, right?)?
3. Once the leaks are repaired, I need the same mechanic with the R12 machine to run another pressure test to be sure all is well and then pull a vacuum so I, or he since he's there, can put the R12 and oil back in. Or, is there something else that needs to be done once the sealed system has been opened for repairs?
4. Some oil has been lost through the leaks and certainly when the system is opened, but there is still a good portion that will stay pooled and coated throughout the system in the drier, compressor, condenser, hoses etc., so how much should I put back in to have enough but not too much?
On number 4, my previous research said (when I put in the two cans of R12 and oil through the low side valve) to add 2-3 oz. of oil if the system has remained closed but simply lost pressure, since the lion share of the required 6 oz. total volume is retained.
My guess would be to do my best in measuring what comes out during the leak repairs and add that plus 2-3 oz. back into the system. Or, should I have the still to be discovered competent mechanic with the R12 machine go ahead and flush/evacuate the entire system once the post repairs pressure test shows a leak free system and then put in 5 oz. figuring at least an oz. is still coating the system and in the compressor reservoir.
I have been from stem to stern refurbishing, upgrading, and updating everything meticulously on Elsie and this one is really annoying me in that I can't find a mechanic with the proper equipment I trust and I want to make sure I don't put back too little oil and burn up the compressor or too much and hamper the cooling.
Now I just hope I didn't type this whole book of info in the wrong place and get no response or have made some netiquette faux-pas and am ignored because I'm not with it in the information age. Any response is appreciated. Lastly, I am looking for a rear bumper drivers side rubber end cap (parking lot flake hit and run), a power antenna (dumb me left it up while climbing out of a creek bed under limbs), and the drivers side bottom seat cover in gray (the notorious tear) if anyone knows where I can find that stuff; preferrably used so it matches (Elsie's been used the way she was intended so she has her wear).
