Black Death is a sludgy disgusting goo that gums up the air conditioning compressor, condenser, evaporator and everything else in the system. Essentially, it destroys all the components. The crux of the problem is moisture in the system. AC systems are sealed to keep moisture out. What causes AC Black Death?
Is your car’s AC system infected with Black Death?
Although Black Death can’t be compared to the seriousness of the deadly plague in the 14th Century, if your auto AC system gets Black Death, it becomes infected just like the plague. Black Death develops inside the compressor of a vehicle’s air conditioning system if the refrigerant breaks down.
What is Black Death and how does it affect your car?
Black Death develops inside the compressor of a vehicle’s air conditioning system if the refrigerant breaks down. From here, the grimy and sharp particles created during the breakdown infect the rest of the air conditioning system, wreaking complete havoc. Before you know it, all airflow has gone. Enter the auto AC grim reaper!
What is Black Death and how can you prevent it?
Black Death develops inside the compressor of a vehicle’s air conditioning system if the refrigerant breaks down. From here, the grimy and sharp particles created during the breakdown infect the rest of the air conditioning system, wreaking complete havoc.
What causes black oil in AC compressor?
Over time, moisture contamination in an A/C system will form corrosive acids that attack metal surfaces and break down the lubricating qualities of the compressor oil. The result is a dark-colored sludge called “Black Death” that can gum up the orifice tube or expansion valve and ruin the compressor.
Why won't my AC hold a charge?
If the AC system won't hold a charge, there is a leak somewhere in the lines or other components. Leaks can be tested for by using a UV dye. Due to the danger involved, I would recommend having a mechanic who is certified in AC come to your home or business to run an inspection on your heating and AC system.
What component Cannot be flushed?
Accumulators, receiver driers, lines and hoses with filters and mufflers CANNOT be flushed and must be replaced. Most modern flat-tube multi-pass and flat-tube serpentine condensers have tiny internal passageways and CANNOT be flushed.
Do you charge AC with car running?
You should use your car's running engine and A/C when adding freon because: Opening up the air conditioner's lines while not on will cause the freon to turn into a gas too quickly, causing your engine to run poorly or shut down.
Why is my AC not cold after recharging it?
If your car A/C not blowing cold air consistently, the first thing to check is the refrigerant level. The refrigerant is the fluid that passes around the entire A/C system. It can evaporate at lower temperatures and condense into liquid form when exposed to high pressure. The A/C in your vehicle is a sealed system.
How much does an AC flush cost?
The Average Cost to Recharge Your Car Air Conditioner Is $20 to $155, Depending on if You Go to the Mechanic or DIY. This price range is based on national averages for all vehicles and does not factor in taxes, fees, or your particular make and model.
What does the snowflake button on the dash do?
It cools down the cabin while dehumidifying the air. Basically, the snowflake button helps keep you and your passengers comfortable on a hot, sunny day.
Is AC flush necessary?
An A/C system flush is a necessary procedure to ensure the air conditioning system is clean and free from any contaminants. Any foreign objects in the AC system can cause blockages and prevent the compressor from operating efficiently.
Can tissues be flushed?
Even flushing tissues, like Kleenex and other tissue paper is a no-no. Tissue is not designed to break down when it's wet and the absorbency level of tissue can cause wads of it to get stuck and clog pipes creating blockages.
Can you flush Puffs tissues?
While thin facial tissues are probably ok, makeup removal wipes and thick tissues like Puffs tissues and those with lotion, like Puffs Plus, are not appropriate to flush. These should go in the trash can, not your toilet.
What can be flushed down the toilet?
There are only three things you can safely flush down the toilet into the sewer system —pee, poo and (toilet) paper. Just remember those three as the three Ps that you can flush. And don't forget, "flushable" wipes are not really flushable.
Can paper be flushed in the toilet?
WASHINGTON (March 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging all Americans to only flush toilet paper, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash.
What is black death?
The material , known as black death, is unlike normal contamination. As the system cools down, this crud bonds itself to the components in the system. Normal flushing appears to be cleaning out the system because you see some of the contamination come out with the flush.
Can Teflon droppings be flushed?
At least the DA6 Teflon "droppings" were something that could be flushed out easily. Back then, they didn't use multi pass, or parallel flow condensers. The old tube and fin condenser, although not as efficient as the others I mentioned, could be flushed with excellent results.
Does the FX15 have Teflon?
The Teflon rings of the FX15 get munched into a fine dust. At least when the DA6 compressor shed it's rings it did it in chunks. Well, now you mix this powdered Teflon (courtesy of the FX15) with a nice hot oil and refrigerant and there you have it. Black death!
Is a flush gun good for black death?
OOPS, it's that old assume word again. It's not! A regular flush gun, attached to your air compressor with even the best liquid flush, is not powerful enough to remove the Black Death material from components in most cases.
How to inspect desiccant bag?
Basically have your mechanic evacuate the system then with a 14mm hex remove the receiver/dryer cap to inspect the desiccant bag for discoloring as per #13 (under the car need to remove a few plastic tabs and a plastic shroud takes < 10 minutes). Based on the "blackness" of the desiccant bag you follow the decision tree in bulletin 09-076. It is recommended to replace and lubricate the o-rings in the receiver/dryer cap after assessing (and perhaps replace the desiccant bag? I don't know and am all ears for advice here).
Why does my AC leak?
Leaks in AC systems are often in the condenser coil since they take all the abuse from road debris. Not only that, the low and high pressure test/fill ports use Schraeder valves and those can leak. The compressor has a seal also, and that can leak as well. And there are a lot of refrigerant lines throughout the system that are sealed with o-rings--any of those could be leaking.
What is the Fora platform?
The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo
What happens when a compressor fails?
When a compressor has a catastrophic failure, it has likely seized up since the metal parts have been destroyed inside.
When was the grenaded compressor updated?
As @Carbuff2says, 2004 was when the grenaded compressors were updated to a different design.
Can you go straight for the receiver on the drivers side of the condenser?
I spent a lot of time summer 2020 reading about the Black Death of 2nd gen CRV and after reading ALL the forums and studying refrigeration cycle and diagnosis/repair the answer is in this bulletin on p.4 step #13. The earlier steps can be skipped (as I understand) and you can go straight for the receiver/dryer on the drivers side of the condenser WITH THE SYSTEM DEPRESSURIZED / Evacuated.
Is the 05 a black death?
An '05 would not be subject to 'black death', as the compressor design was changed during the 2004 model year. (Black Death refers to the contamination of the entire A/C system due to the 'grenading' compressors, fitted previously. To have the older systems' issues properly fixed, the evaporator, condenser, and compressor needed to be replaced.)
Honda CR-V Service Bulletin
The service bulletin was issued in July 2013. It extends the warranty on the air conditioning system to seven years or 100,000 miles on the 2007-2011 CR-V. Since this period is over, it isn’t helpful to Honda CR-V owners with current A/C issues.
Honda Black Death
Honda CR-Vs are known for their air conditioning systems failing. Honda mentions the compressor clutch wearing out as the most common cause.
What to Look for With a CR-V Air Conditioning Malfunction
There are some common causes of an A/C malfunction. Unfortunately, if these problems reach the level of a compressor failure, you will probably need to replace the entire system.
What to Do if You are Having Honda CR-V Air Conditioning Malfunction
If you are experiencing a malfunctioning air conditioning system, your options are fairly limited. There aren’t any current Honda CR-V air conditioning recalls, and the service bulletin has expired. You can check for new recalls at the NHTSA website, or you can contact Honda customer service at 800-999-1009.
