Servicing A/C

[candela]

I believe the low pressure port is the one on the accumulator. I put a gauge on it and it's reading close to 100psi. May A/C stopped working recently, no one has serviced it since I have had the car. What would cause the reading to be so high and where would I need to start. It's hitting 90 here in florida and it's no fun.

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Servicing A/C

is your vehicle on or off during this reading? what does the high side read? how do you mean it stopped working.

I normally do not help people with ac problems cause do-it-yourselfers do not do things properly but at this moment, I'm feeling generous.

[candela]

Re: Servicing A/C

Thank you for your generosity. The vehicle is on and the A/C set on max. I've recharged the A/C of my other vehicles w/o any issues, just never had a reading of over 45 on the low side before. Stopped working as in one day the A/C worked and the next it didn't. Although I live in Florida, the weather has been decent and no need for the A/C till recently. The last time I used it was about a month ago, went to turn it on the other day and no cool air came out. Heat works just fine. I don't have a gauge for the high side, I was thinking of getting one.

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Servicing A/C

please get one

[candela]

Re: Servicing A/C

I have been meaning to get one and I will this afternoon after my lil girls softball game.

Do you have any ideas that I can ponder in the interim? That way once I have it and read the high side, I'll know where to start looking. Is the high supposed to be around 200psi?

Thx

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Servicing A/C

yeah...or so. I'll look up the specs later. What you need to do is first get the pressure of both sides with the engine off and the engine cold. Tell me if both the readings are above 50psi or not. if not, you most likely have a leak. if so, turn on the engine with the ac on and tell me if the clutch engages. we will go on from there cause thats when it gets fun :)

[candela]

Re: Servicing A/C

I'll do that as soon as I get home. On my way home I'll stop and p/u the gauges. Gotta pick up and FPR and an oil filter anyways.

[candela]

Re: Servicing A/C

Forgot to mention, the clutch does not engage when the A/C is turned on. My plan of attack was to recharge the A/C, as the pressure builds, the compressor will kick on, if not, no need to proceed. If it does I'll put in about 40-45 psi and do a leak check, use one of them dyes to see if I can pinpoint the leak.

[candela]

Re: Servicing A/C

As the car warmed up the low side dropped to 95psi and fluctuate slowly between 95psi and 98psi. It isn't fluctuation due to vibration because I picked up a "vibration free" manifold gauge set.

[candela]

Re: Servicing A/C

I've been reading and searching bout this issue and what I have read is the the high should be double whatever the current temp is. If that is the case, my high was about 12psi higher than the current temp at the time of reading. In short, my low is too high and my high is too low. Where do I need to start?

[bah]

Re: Servicing A/C

take it to somebody who knows what they are doing

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Servicing A/C

Did you ever read the static pressures with the engine off and cold?

[Mrriverajr]

Re: Servicing A/C

you are on the high side! your low side pressure sould be in the 40's check a PT chart to see what pressure temp the refrigerant should be at.

[candela]

Re: Servicing A/C

Did you ever read the static pressures with the engine off and cold?

Hmm.. I posted them the same day, the 5th. Static readings were 100 on both the high and low sides. That is the car and A/C off. I started the car and the a/c and the low side dropped to 95-97, fluctuating slowly. Dunno why the post isn't there, the one I posted a few minutes later is. Oh well.

[candela]

Re: Servicing A/C

you are on the high side! your low side pressure sould be in the 40's check a PT chart to see what pressure temp the refrigerant should be at.

I'm afraid you are correct, that is my issue, I have never encountered this. My pressure should be between 40-45.