AC Black death? (Page 1/1)
JMTUT MAY 15, 03:38 PM
Would this be an example of the infamous black death. My AC runs but barely cooled so I pulled the system apart to check the lines. Below is a picture of the orifice. Looks like I'll be replacing everything. Any tips on where to buy?
Spadesluck MAY 15, 06:08 PM
I would believe that is close enough. ha

I bought all my stuff from Napa. I will need to open mine back up again because I need to replace the condenser.
Daryl M MAY 16, 12:10 AM
I bought everything I needed at Rockauto. Working great, and I live in Arizona.
Spadesluck MAY 16, 12:56 AM

quote
Originally posted by Daryl M:

I bought everything I needed at Rockauto. Working great, and I live in Arizona.



Good point. I use rockauto as a first look then elsewhere to see the price differences. Drawback to rockauto is shipping costs. It can be unusually high sometimes.

[This message has been edited by Spadesluck (edited 05-16-2019).]

theogre MAY 16, 03:38 AM
Compressor is dead. Cleaning not done Very well will kill the new unit fast. Many DIY leave dirt and flush in the system after "done" and kill new compressor often in days to a season.
Also Flushing removes old oil too and old rubber hoses can leak because old oil plugs pours in them. That often mean rebuilding hose sets w/ barrier hose made for Mobil AC require to meet EPA etc rules.

RA often looks cheaper then checkout and shipping is often more then everyone else. Worse if you want car fix quick.
AZ etc stores can get parts same or next day w/o shipping. Order online spend X and shipping is free and discounts too that can beat RA.
AZ and others take returns and cores at local stores even for online orders.

RA is a handly reference but I buy local interdependent stores, AZ or AdvanceA because of above.
AZ AA just needs a Phone # to honor Warranty parts too. No BS of receipt printed on thermal or ink that fades in a few weeks like Pepboys that doesn't even honor warranty from another pepboy store.

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Dennis LaGrua MAY 18, 10:20 PM
Black death indicates that your compressor has exploded internally. I agree that flushing the lines with solvent to remove the black crud is not the best idea. . AFAIK, solvents that can dissolve black death crud do not work, so most shops would repair the system will all new parts forward of the firewall. This info is from an A/C tech that I know.

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JMTUT MAY 19, 01:21 AM
Thanks for all the input. I'll start saving up for all the parts.
ltlfrari MAY 19, 09:46 AM
Everything downstream of the valve/filter should be fairly good and just need a good flushing. Make sure to flush the evaporator in the heater box very well.
Everything up stream will have plenty of crud in it. that means the hose and muffler of the back of the compressor, the lines, the receiver drier and the condenser in front of the radiator. General wisdom is to replace the condenser as well as the multiple paths through it mean it is almost impossible to flush. If you keep it and just flush then you might want to look into installing an additional in line filter after it and before anything else to catch any crud that you miss.

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Dave

www.ltlfrari.com

theogre MAY 20, 02:07 AM

quote
Originally posted by ltlfrari:
Everything downstream of the valve/filter should be fairly good and just need a good flushing. Make sure to flush the evaporator in the heater box very well.
Everything up stream will have plenty of crud in it. that means the hose and muffler of the back of the compressor, the lines, the receiver drier and the condenser in front of the radiator. General wisdom is to replace the condenser as well as the multiple paths through it mean it is almost impossible to flush. If you keep it and just flush then you might want to look into installing an additional in line filter after it and before anything else to catch any crud that you miss.

More so w/ newer cars where the condenser isn't just simple tubes like Old cars used. You can't just flush or back flush these because the insides have several channels, AKA MircoChannels, in a tube to get rid of heat faster.
See https://yorkcentraltechtalk...annel-coil-cleaning/

But even for old cars, enough black death or other compressor failure crap can get thru Orifice Tube or Expansion Valve to pollute the evaporator etc and can be hard to impossible flush them too.

You can find various compressor inlet filters/screens like AirSept A/C Inline Filter Kits but may not help to protect new compressors when flushing is done poorly.