AC Compressor Disengaging
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2012
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AC Compressor Disengaging
Hi all,
With the few hot days we have had here lately, I have noticed that after about a minute the AC will go warm and I will have to rev the truck up when it does to get it cold again. It seems the compressor is disengaging. I noticed that the condenser has a big gash with a tube ripped open on top. I know it needs to be replaced, but could that be causing the compressor issues? It's a 2003 7.3L.
Thanks!
With the few hot days we have had here lately, I have noticed that after about a minute the AC will go warm and I will have to rev the truck up when it does to get it cold again. It seems the compressor is disengaging. I noticed that the condenser has a big gash with a tube ripped open on top. I know it needs to be replaced, but could that be causing the compressor issues? It's a 2003 7.3L.
Thanks!
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 26
From: Mesa AZ
Hi all,
With the few hot days we have had here lately, I have noticed that after about a minute the AC will go warm and I will have to rev the truck up when it does to get it cold again. It seems the compressor is disengaging. I noticed that the condenser has a big gash with a tube ripped open on top. I know it needs to be replaced, but could that be causing the compressor issues? It's a 2003 7.3L.
Thanks!
With the few hot days we have had here lately, I have noticed that after about a minute the AC will go warm and I will have to rev the truck up when it does to get it cold again. It seems the compressor is disengaging. I noticed that the condenser has a big gash with a tube ripped open on top. I know it needs to be replaced, but could that be causing the compressor issues? It's a 2003 7.3L.
Thanks!
SpringerPop's Compressor Clutch Air Gap
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,760
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From: St Louis
No, see post # 2 for the likely correct diagnosis.
If it were low on refrigerant, it would NEVER work correctly once the weather got warm, it would immediately short-cycle. See HVAC FAQs, link is in signature.
As long as the sealed tubes are intact and the damage is only on the fins, I'd leave it alone as much as possible unless it's so bad that the condenser isn't rejecting enough heat and your high-side cutout switch is engaging. A set of dual gauge readings from startup through failure would tell you what's happening.
If one of the sealed tubes had been breached, you'd have no refrigerant and the system simply would not work at all.
If it were low on refrigerant, it would NEVER work correctly once the weather got warm, it would immediately short-cycle. See HVAC FAQs, link is in signature.
I noticed that the condenser has a big gash with a tube ripped open on top. I know it needs to be replaced, but could that be causing the compressor issues?
If one of the sealed tubes had been breached, you'd have no refrigerant and the system simply would not work at all.
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Junior User
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I did try recharging it last summer, as this problem did exist, but it never changed the pressure, which I thought was weird. Then I discovered this, which I suspect is why the recharging didn't help at all.
<a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f389/stimm32/?action=view¤t=null-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f389/stimm32/null-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
<a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f389/stimm32/?action=view¤t=null-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f389/stimm32/null-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
If you have a leak all the stuff will be gone and no clutch engagement at all..The low pressure has to be above a certain point for the clutch to engage. Like 45-50 psi. If you have leak its usually really oily around it cause the leak causes the oil in the system leach out. really messy usually.
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Junior User
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Well, I know for a fact that one of the tubes is split open in that picture I posted. I don't know why it still cools or how it's not leaking there.
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That is not one of the tubes that is damaged, that is just how the fins were cut and formed when it was made, to add some strength and surface area to the coil. Yes, it could have had a tube placed it it, but there is not in that row in the picture. I changed mine, since it had a gash worse then that actually into a tube chasing a leak thinking that it was bad, but it was not it at all...
Listen to Greg in the second post. Try that first as it is a cheap fix... Ac repairs can get spendy fast if you just throw parts at it.
Listen to Greg in the second post. Try that first as it is a cheap fix... Ac repairs can get spendy fast if you just throw parts at it.
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