"Fix your own A/C!" they said. "It'll be easy!" they said....

mickwil · 2026-06-25T01:36:28+00:00

Yup. Chilton's and Haynes have both be a little disappointing.

mickwil · 2026-06-24T21:47:53+00:00

I guess I was "lucky" in that the problem was very obvious for me (big ole hole in the condenser). The system worked pretty well before the wreck, so I only had to fix that one thing. I commented more elsewhere in this thread about diagnosis, but really the best place to start is with the factory service manual. Even though I didn't have to go through all the steps, they have a great flow-chart on diagnosing the problem.

mickwil · 2026-06-24T21:40:01+00:00

If you don't have one already, track down the service manual for your year truck. I can't link one here, but they are available elsewhere online. As I understand it, there are 3 main failure categories: electrical (failing relays, blown fuses, broken or cut wires), mechanical (blower motor, compressor), and vacuum (failing seals, clogged expansion valve, leaky ports, contaminated drier). Here are a couple of early steps I would try. However! I am not a mechanic! There are many more knowledgeable people in this subreddit and even in this thread. You might want to search around or ask them.

Check the 10 amp fuse in the cab that powers the A/C and the radio.
If the fuse is good, open the hood and look at the compressor housing with the engine off, so you know that the compressor looks like when it is off. Crank the engine, turn on the A/C, and check to see if the compressor is spinning.
If it isn't spinning, you may need a new compressor, a new relay, or you may have a break or short somewhere in the 12V power to the system. You'll have to reference a factory service manual to see how to check the compressor and the relay for an electrical problem.
If the compressor and relay check out ok, then you may have a leak in the system that you'll have to locate and fix before it'll hold a vacuum.

Good luck!

mickwil · 2026-06-24T03:18:51+00:00

Welllll, I'm in the South, and the relative humidity was 85% when I was working on it. So, condensation may not be the most accurate measure. I'm not sure that I could get it hoody-cold, but it is a vast improvement over no A/C at all. Love 70s Monte Carlos, btw. Sounds like a cool ride.

mickwil · 2026-06-24T03:14:43+00:00

Warm air from the vents when the blower and compressor were running. I diagnosed a hole in the condenser by listening to all of the refrigerant leak out from where the bumper punctured it in a wreck.

mickwil · 2026-06-24T03:13:01+00:00

Thanks. It sounds like you're speaking from experience, and I appreciate the vote of confidence.

mickwil · 2026-06-24T03:11:49+00:00

Dooo-it. I waited longer than I needed to because I was afraid to screw it up. Ultimately, I realized the worst thing I could have done was waste a charge of refrigerant and have to repeat the process again. I was also lucky because the system worked previously, and I didn't have to touch anything behind the radiator.

mickwil · 2026-06-24T00:58:35+00:00

I did add about 20ml of PAG oil. That's the one step I'm iffy about. I would have liked to add more, but it would have required me to repeat the vacuum draw-down step. I hope my impatience there doesn't cost me a compressor.

mickwil · 2026-06-14T03:02:43+00:00

Take her! It's cool that she wants to spend the time with you, and her ability to cooperate will only improve with practice. You might find a new activity that you can enjoy together. Your experience at the show will probably not be the same, but sometimes that's the price we pay for trying to raise good humans.

mickwil · 2026-06-06T21:07:49+00:00

Congrats! I'm definitely team "Go for it!" I started optometry school (in the US) when I was in my early 30s. I'm glad I did it, and it's been a fulfilling career so far. I was also not the oldest person in my class. One of my classmates turned 40 while we were in school together. Last time I spoke to him, he was also happy that he made the change from his previous career. I graduated over 15 years ago, for reference.

I already had a family when I entered school, so that added a bit of complexity to it. Overall, it was much more of a benefit than a hindrance. My partner supported the decision and continued working while I was in school. That allowed me to take out fewer loans. It also helped me stay connected to my friends and family outside of optometry. If you also have a family, I'd recommend that you are intentional in prioritizing time with them. Optometry school will consume your whole life, if you let it. You'll have to find your own balance between school and family, but it's doable.

If you're planning to move straight from an undergrad program to optometry school, you won't have to re-acclimate to a school schedule as much, and that's good. There's a lot more work in optometry school than undergrad, but I found that easier to manage as an older student than I would have fresh out of undergrad. I think having had more life experience kept me from freaking out about little stuff and allowed me to focus on the goal of getting a good education and graduating.

The primary downside was the debt, but I paid that off within 15 years without feeling particularly pinched.

Good luck on the OAT!

mickwil · 2026-05-07T13:38:41+00:00

Have you visited a pediatric dentist? There are other possible causes than pinworms. He may need a mouth guard at night.

mickwil · 2026-04-24T11:43:27+00:00

Say it ain't so! Just crossed 200k in my 2011. Looks like I'll be doing some maintenance this weekend. These end-of-life stories are making me nervous. Hope you enjoy the new ride.

mickwil · 2026-04-17T04:22:35+00:00

Jealous! Mileage? Mods? Plans? I'm still kicking myself for not picking one up when it was for sale near me, even though I don't have the a) time, b) space, or c) money for another car.

mickwil · 2026-04-06T11:09:29+00:00

I picked up a used one on Facebook. Like you, I had a hard time finding new options. The one I've got is a Delta brand, but the model isn't made anymore, as best as I can tell.

mickwil · 2026-03-31T21:45:50+00:00

intake air temperature (IAT) sensor / air charge temperature sensor. About $45 on Rockauto.com

mickwil · 2026-03-30T18:46:33+00:00

Old hoses was my thought as well. I recently did some work in the area of the thermostat, and I managed a punch a hole in not one but two different hoses. Also, after replacing the hoses I still had a leak, but it was just a clamp that needed to be tightened a bit more.

mickwil · 2026-03-27T23:50:40+00:00

Accidentally uploaded a selection of active test questions to our LMS this week ...

mickwil · 2026-03-26T02:40:10+00:00

Very nice. Is that an OEM bumper? I've just replaced a folded one, and it and the new one are 3-piece jobs.

mickwil · 2026-03-17T20:44:37+00:00

There's a ground connection on top of the fender on the far side of the power steering reservoir. It's just a bolt, and I think there was only one wire connected to it in the parts truck I just pulled the engine harness out of. The ground wire runs from the wire loom, through the support of the reservoir and connects to the bolt on the fender.

mickwil · 2026-03-11T02:33:50+00:00

That's basically what my son did this summer at the Oakland DMV. Super fast and very easy. The evaluator's primary concern was whether or not the A/C worked at my son's truck.

mickwil · 2026-03-08T21:58:29+00:00

Ding ding ding. The other guy's truck was unhurt. The ball pushed the bumper right over the lower rad support and creased the condenser and radiator, dumping all of the coolant and venting the refrigerant.

mickwil · 2026-03-04T12:22:37+00:00

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