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AC issues?

F

Fahrenheit

New member
I just got my car running again after sitting for 7 months. When it got parked the AC worked great. So I have an 03 with duel climate, the compressor energises and spins without issue. I get kinda cold air on the pasnger side (for sure ACed but it should be colder) and straight vent air on the driver side. If I slide the sliders to hot then I get hot air so I think the climate control unit is working. Where should I check first? If the blend door was bad wouldn't it be blowing hot air all the time?
 


Im sure it's possible but the compressor is running. In the past if a car got low on R134a the compressor would not run or only turn for for short little bursts.
 


The clutch isn't engaged full time unless the HVAC unit calls for it
the HPS/ LPS will stop it from running. They are safety limits to prevent damage to the compressor
 
^^ True. If it sees too low or high of a pressure it will disengage the compressor. If there is a slow leak/clog in the system there may be enough to keep it engaged but not cool it down properly. I just went through this with my 00GT with a clogged orifice tube. Compressor would run ok but no cooling. But seeing as how he has the dual zone A/C it's likely low on charge which indicates a leak or blockage somewhere.

OP- have you tried spraying out the condenser with high pressure water through the front and from the back through the fans to flush junk out of it? Might be a long shot but when the condenser gets clogged it can really kill the cooling of the A/C. Beyond that it sounds like time to stick a set of gauges on it and see what the low and high sides are showing.
 
The compressor could have been replaced at some point before my ownership so who knows, especially knowing the previous owner, lol.. Either way, I replaced the accumulator, orifice tube, filled it w/ proper amount of oil and have working a/c again. Same compressor (so far).
 
Was low on R134a just like most of you said. I still think it needs like half a can because i'm getting about 32lbs on the low side and the chart i got says it should be 35ish
 


The high side is the main concern, low side can anywhere from 25-35 depending on vehicle/compressor.

High side pressure wants to be above 200psi for sure, 225-230 is a good spot.
 
Boy I wish it was cool enough down here for a low side of 30-35 psi. If the high side is abnormally low like just 150 or so the valve in the compressor might be stuck in low pressure mode as most of these cars have a variable displacment pump and will run fine at highway speeds and in stop and go traffic they will heat up. Just keep that in mind as well.

Jeff
 
Ill keep that in mind, right now I only have a low side gauge. At some point i'll invest in a "decent" set of AC gauges. Esp if the issue pop sup again.
 
Well with you getting winter there real soon you probably won't have much of a need for it. I've got 3 more months until I won't need the AC.
 


where is the orifice tube on the 2004? My low side is high and high side is low on pressure. I put a new rebuilt compressor on from ebay and I think it was bad from the start.
 
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