'90 K5 - The Nevada Blazer [Post 1437: School me on alternators)

[colbystephens]

Wait until you get those 105* days in July/August Nevada gets every few years. The last fishing/camping trip I went on with my best friend before he re-enlisted into the Army in 2002, we went to Wildhorse resevoir north of Elko.

The morning we left, it was 89* at 9am and when we rolled past Battle Mountain, it was a lovely 112* at 2pm. I had no A/C in my Blazer and rolling down the window felt like a hair dryer being blown across your face. We got to the lake at 6pm or so and it was still 95*. We went through so much water and Gatorade we sloshed when we walked.

Yeah, I know there's some hot days. But, I was sort of conditioned for that when I lived in the Phoenix, AZ area for a few years and had a car without A/C... 115-120* w/ no A/C. definitely had to make sure not to need to be going anywhere that required a dry shirt...

Do you have, or have access to an AC manifold gauge set? Just check the pressures and top it off with R134a. It'll keep you cool enough. I know of lots of vehicles that get annual refills on freon.

Martin

Thanks. I'll look into it!

 

[Burbdood 74]

Yeah, I know there's some hot days. But, I was sort of conditioned for that when I lived in the Phoenix, AZ area for a few years and had a car without A/C... 115-120* w/ no A/C. definitely had to make sure not to need to be going anywhere that required a dry shirt...

Phoenix heat is like your'e in the 7th circle of hell. Anyone who can cruise around in that with no A/C can drink lava and pee ice tea.

 

[colbystephens]

 

[imiceman44]

Phoenix heat is like your'e in the 7th circle of hell. Anyone who can cruise around in that with no A/C can drink lava and pee ice tea.

Oh I have been in AZ and NM in the summer with my big rig and broken A/C I have seen temps of 150 inside my truck (guage inside), did use a lot of water spilled on me instead of drinking it.
I still don't have A/C for the 5th year now but I stay in the cooler areas now NV, UT, CO, WY and ID, of course with CA

 

[owenst7]

Colby, I have a good friend that does all the AC work on their trucks at work. I can introduce you guys if you'd rather take it to a friend than a shop. He's a blast to wheel with too so I should introduce you anyway.

I still don't have A/C for the 5th year now but I stay in the cooler areas now NV, UT, CO, WY and ID, of course with CA

You're nuts lol

 

[colbystephens]

That'd be great, Terry. Thanks!

 

[y5mgisi]

All i can add is that i did the 134 conversion on my 90 suburban. All i did was chgange the o-rings like they said, new accumulator, flushed the system, pulled vacuum on the system, then charged it. No other components were replaced. It was VERY cold. To the point where i didnt need to run it full blast on a 90* day. On the flip side, it was dead the next summer and i never re charged it. I think when folks convert the sytems leak and just need re charged every so often. So, ifns i's you, i would probably grab a couple cans of 134 and start dumping it in and see if it works again until you want to rebuild your a/c system entirely.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Well, before you put anything in it try and find a pressure tester or someone with one.

If you've got a leak then it's pretty pointless to put a couple cans in and immediately have them leak out. My buddythrew some refrigerant in against my advice last summer and yep...he had coldish AC for the ride home from his dad's...and then it didn't work anymore after that.

 

[Avery4jc]

AC is one of those things I just pay a shop to do. If you can find a reputable place locally it's worth it. I suffered for two years in my old truck with no AC so the third summer I broke down and took it in. Something insignificant like $110 IIRC later I was on my way with cold AC.

Won't let that happen again. They have the tools and the know-how.

 

[colbystephens]

That's kind of my thought on it too. But, I'm going to see what Terry's buddies tell me.

 

[imiceman44]

AC is one of those things I just pay a shop to do. If you can find a reputable place locally it's worth it. I suffered for two years in my old truck with no AC so the third summer I broke down and took it in. Something insignificant like $110 IIRC later I was on my way with cold AC.

Won't let that happen again. They have the tools and the know-how.

Or you can have the tools and the know how.
Some guys here can rebuild an engine or a tranny, I learned A/C stuff before I changed brakes on my car.
Now I am at a point, I can do anything on my truck, I probably don't have the experience to do it as a profession, but I can do everything for myself.

 

[Avery4jc]

Or you can have the tools and the know how.
Some guys here can rebuild an engine or a tranny, I learned A/C stuff before I changed brakes on my car.
Now I am at a point, I can do anything on my truck, I probably don't have the experience to do it as a profession, but I can do everything for myself.

Says the guy with no AC in his rig.





Sorry, it was just too easy.


Sure, if you have the knowledge and tools or know someone that does that's a great route but if you don't have either of those options available it's not something I'd just give a whirl, I'd take it to an AC shop.

 

[imiceman44]

Well I have the toolds and the knowledge, but a broken compressor needs replaced and it's $360 (sanden) and I am still trying to find a used one cheap.
Good luck on that one.
I can take the heat and the cold so I am fine.
I waited 2 years before replacing my bad steering box because I didn't want to pay $700 for a new one, I finally found one for $250 and now have nice smooth steering.
I am cheap

Says the guy with no AC in his rig.





Sorry, it was just too easy.


Sure, if you have the knowledge and tools or know someone that does that's a great route but if you don't have either of those options available it's not something I'd just give a whirl, I'd take it to an AC shop.

 

[colbystephens]

Got to use my lumber rack again today. "Alexsdad" needed about 30' of his fence repaired, so we took care of that today. Brought all the materials over via the lumber rack - love how handy that sucker is! If I hadn't had it, I would've gotten pressure treatment stains all over my blue interior, which would've sucked.

In other non-important-on-CK5-news... My leg stopped bleeding today. First time since I cut it open while wheelin last Saturday.

 

[496truck]

Should have gotten stitches?

 

[Greg72]

In other non-important-on-CK5-news... My leg stopped bleeding today. First time since I cut it open while wheelin last Saturday.

You probably just ran out of blood....




-G

 

[colbystephens]

Should have gotten stitches?

I probably should have had a stitch or two, but really didn't want to pay for it. I kept it real clean, so it didn't get infected, and it's not in a place where I'm worried about scarring.

You probably just ran out of blood....




-G

 

[max 02]

Duct tape is something I like to Carry with me for bleeders that don`t want to stop.

 

[imiceman44]

You should have stitched it with butterfly plaster like I did my eye.
It was close within a few min and it has heasled perfect.

I probably should have had a stitch or two, but really didn't want to pay for it. I kept it real clean, so it didn't get infected, and it's not in a place where I'm worried about scarring.

 

[colbystephens]

Duct tape is something I like to Carry with me for bleeders that don`t want to stop.

Even if we had duct tape, I would've have used it! I have fairly hairy legs... We did rip up a bandanna to use to keep pressure on the band aid, and that worked pretty well.

You should have stitched it with butterfly plaster like I did my eye.
It was close within a few min and it has heasled perfect.

Not sure what a butterfly plaster is - is that just another term for a butterfly bandage? I did use those the last 3 days or so, and that's what ultimately got it to stop.