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A/c sight glass empty?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Blake2100, Jul 11, 2020.

  1. Blake2100

    Blake2100 Junior Member

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    As summer hits I've been noticing my air conditioning seems great but not as well as I think it could be. I'm also not used to smaller engines and my perception may be because of that. After doing some reading I decided to check my sight glass and noticed that it was empty, dry even. Is this normal or is this a sign of low freon. This happens with the system on (temp) low and fan on high, ac switched on. Any thought would be appreciated. Vehicle is a 2010 prius III (solar).
     
  2. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    No need to post the same question twice. :)
     
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    These systems are not as easy as empty or full readings... It's a variable pressure system that to properly do maintenance on you need the gauges that measure humidity and air temps, inside the car, inside the system and in the surrounding air. Then you need to transfer the refrigerant out of the system and measure its weight precisely, then you need the experience to translate all the info into giving the system exactly what it it needs, especially the oil level done correctly. @lech auto air conditionin has written on here extensively about this, which is why I have no problem rebuilding a hybrid system or an engine, but not an A/C system. As he's often explained, many people who use one of those refrigerent refill cans you can buy at the store end up with a failed compressor after a year or so.
     
  4. Ed Beaty

    Ed Beaty Active Member

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    ^ Beautiful summation. ^
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah I would just go to dealership, give them the $150, do a Sudoku.
     
  6. lech auto air conditionin

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    by the statement ("my air conditioning seem great". ether its really cold or not cold at all and your perception of cold is not that good. 1: a clear sight glass is truly empty. 2: the sight glass had a slug of liquid at least up to the sight glass @ that pressure and temperature at that certain compressor RPM and under that specific evaporator load with the expansion valve opening that is constantly adjusting and the liquid is so clear it looks exactly like no refrigerant at all. they look the same fools a lot of people even mechanics. The sight glass having bubbles can come and go and changes under different loads. This is exactly why you can not relay on the sight glass.

    It's this simple. If it never been recharged since 2010 "IT IS LOW RECHARGE IT !".
     
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  7. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    That's a really odd statement coming from someone who presumably is in the business. :eek:

    Even if it IS low......a few more things should be done besides just pumping in more refrigerant.
    Like testing for leaks.....and checking/cleaning the condenser fins.......and being sure the fans are running.

    Then, I don't think that the average car driver has any business trying to "fix" his own AC system, because the odds are he will make it worse instead of better. This is especially true for a hybrid system.
     
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  8. lech auto air conditionin

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    (“
    Even if it IS low......(”a few more things should be done besides just pumping in more refrigerant.”)
    Like testing for leaks.....and checking/cleaning the condenser fins.......and being sure the fans are running.”).
    1: if somebody’s going to do something they’re going to do it , Just try to get the point across to them it’s a little more complicated than that but if they’re going to do it they’re going to do it.
    2: checking for leaks and cleaning condensers and checking fans will be the least of his concerns. If you’re going to just pump in refrigerant in your own words. (”a few more things should be done besides just pumping in more refrigerant.”) then somebody’s gonna have a lot more issues then looking for leaks cleaning condensers or checking fans that’s the least of somebody’s concerns. As soon as you mention pumping in refrigerant as in topping off (“END OF CONVERSATION!!!... as soon as a technician here somebody says that that puts them in a category where you’re talking to a piece of wood. No topping off.

    3: Yes there’s a lot more yes there’s a lot more(. “ few more things “).
    The majority of people don’t know them.
    Another group sticks their fingers in their ears covers their eyes and mouth bury their head in the sand and doesn’t wanna acknowledge or hear the other ones because they take time which equals work which most people are lazy and they involve spending money where the word cheap is always the right answer.
    I’m talking about professionals here not do it yourself Lehman. It’s the professionals who cut corners take shortcuts and just want to hack jobs is where I have no patience or no tolerance for.
    The DIY Person just does not know any better limited access to proper training and education materials and resources he knows no better. The do it yourself person thinks just because somebody’s a mechanic and change spark plugs change the transmission do brakes and alignment and has worked in the field for 20, 30 or 40 years that that will be the person that will always give you the right piece of information.

    Yes I’m in business but I don’t mind people if they’re going to try to do it right and will listen I try to save the money if they’re willing to do it right follow my instructions it’s no money out of my pocket and if I could save my customers or even a do it yourself person I will try. My business philosophy is to educate. I don’t believe in secrets or a monopoly I don’t believe that mechanics and shop should be the only one allowed to repair their cars. If somebody’s willing to learn do a little reading a little research I’m willing to educate if somebody knows everything because they read a book and they listen to Billy Bob’s sister-in-law‘s brother-in-law‘s who is a mechanic before from the old school of force it until it fits if it breaks it needs to be replaced anyway or ( oh I didn’t know that it broke therefore I am learning by breaking things and charging the customer ) then I don’t want to talk to them. Can’t talk logic to a log.
     
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Well.....that previous post did little to educate anybody on anything.
    And neither did this one......because it was too long and complicated.......like a lot of posts on here.
     
  10. lech auto air conditionin

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    Complicated?? . I tried to put it in the simplest Lowest educational level, layman’s terms I possibly could. If that is called complicated. WOW . I think I should be posting over on a channel called how to drive your horse and buggy.
     
  11. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Just LOOK at that last post.......with it's clumsy quotes scattered all through it.
    Try to be objective and tell me that is easy to read and follow the thoughts.
    For me it certainly was NOT.
    K.I.S.S.
    :)