IndyAnne: 88 Chevy K1500

[IndyAnne]

JB, that is good to know -- normal sound.

How are things in Nashville? My brother is there, has some intense stories of the flooding. Take care...

I'm working my way into removing the dash today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indyann...7623966850703/

More photos on Flickr later this evening, I hope, including the dash out in one piece

Originally Posted by jb1016

Man, this is good stuff. Thanks for linking to that; I'm gonna try it when I get some free time (if that ever happens)

As for the AC noise, I think what you're describing is the sound of the compressor cycling on/off?? At idle, with the AC on, mine clicks on and off every few seconds, and the idle speed of the engine is slightly affected every time. I was told this was totally normal for these trucks.

[jb1016]

My house is dry; I'm up on a ridge, and I don't have a basement. But some of the stuff I've seen...intense is a good word for it.

[IndyAnne]

I just updated photos and comments on Flickr on my dash removal story. Suggestions, recommendations for others who are doing the same, and reminders to make reinstalling easier in the next couple of days.

Photos and comments are here, hope you can see them ok:

Dash Removal Update
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It is possible to see the comments for each image by clicking on the image. The slideshow will stop, but it can be resumed.

Photos and comments are also available with this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indyann...7623972857827/

This is going to make a lot of things easier: tracking down why I got no cool air, clean up the ducts, make sure the wiring and circuits are ok, check for any frayed or cut wires, and clean the dash up. I'm not up for a major dressing up of the dash, as I read about in other posts and forums. But, having it out where the garden hose and a scrub brush can get to it is going to be a major improvement.

[IndyAnne]

I almost forgot a couple of obvious things. One, the dash. It's out, it's going to get a good cleaning, along with the ducts. Woo-hoo!

Second, this is obviously not the whole dash. A lot of components are missing, like the glove box, the radio, heat/AC controls, Instrument cluster, decorative bits that surround the instrument cluster and ducts, vents, and more.

I have been chipping away at the interior of this truck practically since December. I got a stereo for Christmas, but in my obsessive way, I could not get the stereo in until I understood how all the electricals connected and worked together, and so many things were not working. So, I didn't want to install a new stereo if it wouldn't work properly.

I have taken practically the entire interior apart down to metal, looking for issues. The major issue has been water. Photos show a lot of rust INSIDE the truck. That's because all of the window seals are leaking. in other posts, I documented my strategy for stopping the leaks, and so far, it's working well. That's another reason I needed to wait on the stereo. Water was dripping right into the space where the stereo will be installed (under the center vents).

It's not perfect, but finally, I have sorted most things out, and I can install the stereo.

All of the dash components -- and interior trim, cruddy carpet, cruddy headliner -- are on shelves in the garage. I've been waiting for decent weather, and even now, it's quite cool. But, it's time to get it all back together because...

It's Airstreamin' season! After getting the interior sorted out, I'll turn to the Airstream, and that's another forum entirely.

[IndyAnne]

Update on using the PL Roof and Flashing Sealer -- we're having a lot of rain. I've been pleased with the product, it stops the water very well.

All of the rain has made it possible to continue to spot areas that I missed. Getting the dash out will help get new sealer along the bottom seals, the very bottom and the lower corners I couldn't get to because the dash was in the way.

[IndyAnne]

I managed to locate the heater core today. What I found has me quite concerned. Photos on Flickr have more details:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/indyann...7624102638338/

[IndyAnne]

Picking up from this other thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...43&postcount=1


Woo-hoo, $34 at O'Reilly for a heater core. New anti-freeze, new t'stat while I'm at it, today's project.

Looks like more rain is coming. That's ok, as long as it's dry for Bump Day on Sunday at the 500! Fundraiser for my friend's little boy's school for special needs kids. I'll drink to that!

Originally Posted by IndyAnne

... I'll check with O'Reilly down the street. I'll report back.

[IndyAnne]

While waiting for a call from my neighbor who is going to charge the AC, I worked on getting to the heater core in the cab. In the slide show, detailed information can be found by clicking on a picture.

Heater Core
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Status of the truck today:

-Carpet is out
-Newer seats with head rests are in front
-Dash is out
-Electrical in cab, headlights, marker lights, turn signals all working or identified
-Wiring for stereo identified, circuits are working
-New fuses in cab panel
-Heater core exposed, new heater core purchased
-Waiting for AC charge (today?)
-Waiting for coolant flush, clean, refill, new thermostat

If this can all be wrapped up this weekend, I'll get a trailer brake controller installed and start working on the Airstream (another forum).

[IndyAnne]

Found two great links for starting from scratch on installing a 7-pole trailer brake controller, or upgrading from 4-pole for both sides, the truck side and the trailer side, with recommended adapters.

I'll be pulling a 1968 Airstream Trade Wind. It's not very heavy, but that's another point -- I'll need to load it up and take it to the scales and weigh it on both sides at the wheels, and at the tongue.

I'll need to be sure I have the truck wires all going where they are supposed to. Airstreams were not wired for 7-pole originally, and I don't have a schematic from the tech who wired the Airstream to my previous vehicle. Airstream has a glitch, you can't get the battery to charge from the alternator without some tricky wiring besides the vehicle wiring, and I don't have that. And, if you forget to unplug from the shore power and connect the 7-pole to the truck, it blows the running lights and some other fuses. I keep extra fuses and bulbs for that very reason -- absent-minded.

Didn't ChevLoRay say somewhere that adding "air" to a product drives up the level of cost and complication? I think the issue at the time was products for shining metal. That's a favorite topic for Airstreams, getting the mirror shine possible on the vintage models (maybe 1970 and earlier). That's another thread on another forum. Everything about Airstream is a one-off, that's why they are so special. That's ok, I'm a Mac user, too.

Anyhoo -- I'm hoping since both trucks are GM, there will be the same connections, just need to be sure the Airstream was wired to GM specifications, and this K1500 was wired to GM specifications.. Somewhere, I have the factory wiring schematic for GM trucks, but the other truck was a 2002, not a 1988. It's ok, the 88 is paid for, unlike the 2002.

An illustrated text web page:
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-installa...m-scratch.aspx

This page has a video of installation in a 1993 Suburban, as far as I can tell, it looks just like the K1500 under the hood:
http://www.etrailer.com/tv-brake-con...-suburban.aspx

[IndyAnne]

Wiring in my truck on the steering column, low and to the left:

Is this the brake wiring harness?

Is this a splice into the brake switch hot lead?

Photos and comments are on Flickr.

Trailer Brake Controller
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Thanks!

Originally Posted by IndyAnne

Found two great links for starting from scratch on installing a 7-pole trailer brake controller, or upgrading from 4-pole for both sides, the truck side and the trailer side, with recommended adapters.
...

[IndyAnne]

Is it safe to remove the shroud from the compressor area of the AC? I have the dash off and the motor out, and I want to clean the compressor coils and fins. Another site showed people using a garden hose, but I can't figure out where the water would go.

AC Compressor
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Originally Posted by IndyAnne

I managed to locate the heater core today. What I found has me quite concerned. Photos on Flickr have more details:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/indyann...7624102638338/

[IndyAnne]

Is it safe to remove the shroud from the AC compressor? I would like to clean it, not sure of the best method. Any ideas?
This photo shows the AC system under the dash. The pan for the heater core has been removed for replacing the heater core. The compressor is in the section in the center of the photo, the section with the arched top. The fins and coils are oriented vertically. The blower motor and fan are on the right. Air is pulled from the bottom of the blower through the coils and fins toward the left. I'm working on making or finding pre-fab air filter to put over the intake, to try to cut down on the dust coming through the blower and vents. Since I have the dash out, it's my chance to clean everything thoroughly.

[IndyAnne]

This forum thread discusses using a garden hose to clean the AC evaporator core, or what I am calling the compressor. Please correct my terminology as I am a newbie, willing to learn.

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/showthr...=1#post2680473

Where does condensation water go? I mean, the location of the tube that drains the condensation? In theory, of course. My AC is not cooling. I hope cleaning the core will help. That, and having new antifreeze and heater core by this afternoon, may help some, but probably going to need to be charged with refrigerant, too.

Originally Posted by IndyAnne

Is it safe to remove the shroud from the AC compressor? I would like to clean it ...

[IndyAnne]

I'm very excited -- just discovered the AC Condensation drain. I had been looking for a tube descending toward the ground somewhere near the passenger side.

And, I just found out about Picnik, an image editing program acquired by Google and works with Flickr where I post my pics. cool.

Originally Posted by IndyAnne

Is it safe to remove the shroud from the compressor area of the AC? I have the dash off and the motor out, and I want to clean the compressor coils and fins. Another site showed people using a garden hose, but I can't figure out where the water would go.

AC Compressor

[jb1016]

That drains out into the engine compartment, correct?

[IndyAnne]

JB -- that's right, inside the engine compartment, passenger side, low on the firewall. I don't know if it makes a difference, but my truck was factory equipped with AC, so that's the location of the heater core and the AC condenser and radiator.

Anne

Originally Posted by jb1016

That drains out into the engine compartment, correct?

[IndyAnne]

Time out for a new Indy experience -- Bump Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, last opportunity for qualifying. Here's an article about it:

http://paddocktalk.com/news/html/story-136466.html

and about the schedule for the week -- I might go out to Carb Day on Friday:

http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway...5391-Schedule/

I got some neat photos and video on Bump Day from the garages and the pit on Flickr:

Bump Day Indy 500
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Other than a trip to the Speedway for the official tour, it was my first race event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was great fun. I went because my friend's little boy's school had a benefit, at a Tower Suite donated by a generous suite owner.

Worthmore Academy: another treasure in Indianapolis:

Originally Posted by IndyAnne

Meet my truck: 1988 Chevy K1500 Silverado 4WD automatic transmission/gas , long bed, 2-door extended cab -- around 162,000 miles as of today, 3/25/10. ...

[IndyAnne]

I think I have four issues going on: (photos are in my Gallery, in the album, Air Conditioning.)

1. The air conditioning has not worked in my truck since I got it (Dec. 2009). The previous owner said all it needed was to be charged, so I took it to a shop and had that done. The air blew cool on AC and the system would clear the condensation from the windshields on the defrost setting when we had wet weather.

2. The refrigerant must have been on a slow leak for a very few days, because the cooling quit within a week.

3. To make matters worse, especially in hot weather, the vents constantly blow hot air.

4. Similarly, but I'm not sure if it is related, the floor of the cab is very hot. For a while, when I was working on wiring issues, I had the carpet out and ran with the floors bare. The heat was intense. I installed a dense foam (waterproof) carpet pad and re-installed the carpet. I thought this would help the floor heat situation, and it did help. At least now, people can put their feet on the floor without burning their feet, and the dog can take a nap in a doggie bed on the front floor without becoming dehydrated when we take a camping trip.

I had a shop install a muffler and exhaust pipe, beginning where the catalytic converter ought to be. Now, I think hot air also blows up through the floor shifter for the 4 wheel drive.

I can't really tell which is which, or if it's both -- hot air from the vents, including the floor vent, and hot air from the hole in the floor at the 4 wheel drive shifter opening.

5. I'm trying to work this out with not much of a budget. I know that diagnosing an air conditioner can take a lot of hours in labor, and then a lot of money in parts.

People lived without AC for decades. But, it gets miserably hot here in summer. I'd like to have it if possible and not a fortune to fix.

It would be easier to take life without AC if I could stop this unwanted hot air from blowing through the vents and whatever heat is coming up through the floor.

I'm ready to sell this old girl -- the truck -- but I'll have trouble getting anything for her if I can't get the basic comforts going. The sound system is good; seating is good; engine is fine; 4 WD is great. Temperature is a problem. One guy, a concrete contractor, seems interested, but not if the AC isn't working.

Any ideas/suggestions?

[IndyAnne]

I forgot to say: the clutch is working; the fan is working; the air has cooled before when charged.

What do I need to rule out first before moving on, any money-saving steps that I could take before taking it in to a pro?

[IndyAnne]

And, I forgot to say, what can I do to address the blowing hot air (even when NOT running the fan), and, what do you suspect is going on with the hot floor of the front passenger side of the cab? (should there be some kind of baffle or heat shield between the exhaust system and the floor of the cab?)