A/C Question
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Salt Lake City
A/C Question
The A/C in my wifes 93 Plymouth Colt Vista quit working. The system has a low pressure and a high pressure safety switch. One possibility is the low side switch has tripped due to a lack of refridgerant.
I don't understand why there would be a low pressure safety switch. Does the refridgerant provide the lubrication, so if the system is low the components can be damaged due to lack of lubrication?
I don't understand why there would be a low pressure safety switch. Does the refridgerant provide the lubrication, so if the system is low the components can be damaged due to lack of lubrication?
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 84
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A/C Question
To answer your question, yes the refrigerant does contain oil as well. This oil is for lubrication of the system, when you have a leak, you lose oil as well as refrigerant. You don't want your compressor running with nothing to lubricate it. That's why you have a low pressure switch.
The low pressure switch is auto-resetting. While the compressor is running, if the pressure falls below about 20 psi, it opens the circuit powering the compressor clutch. However, once the pressure rises above a certain mark again, usually about 60 psi, the switch closes again engaging the compressor clutch.
A good way to check if your low on refrigerant is to pop the hood, turn the A/C to max, with the engine running, the compressor engages for a little bit and the disengages for a little bit, and then rengages, and on and on.... This would indicate you're low pressure switch is doing what it's supposed to do - disengage the compressor when there is a lack of refrigerant/oil.
On another note, if your've lost so much refrigerant that there's not enough pressure initially to close the low pressure switch, then your compressor won't engage at all.
Best thing to do, with all the regulations on refrigerants and the expense of system components, is to have a qualified technician take a look at it and repair the leak if you are low on refrigerant.
Just a reminder.... A/C's do not use up refrigerant, if you're low on refrigerant, you DO have a leak.
Hope this helps!
The low pressure switch is auto-resetting. While the compressor is running, if the pressure falls below about 20 psi, it opens the circuit powering the compressor clutch. However, once the pressure rises above a certain mark again, usually about 60 psi, the switch closes again engaging the compressor clutch.
A good way to check if your low on refrigerant is to pop the hood, turn the A/C to max, with the engine running, the compressor engages for a little bit and the disengages for a little bit, and then rengages, and on and on.... This would indicate you're low pressure switch is doing what it's supposed to do - disengage the compressor when there is a lack of refrigerant/oil.
On another note, if your've lost so much refrigerant that there's not enough pressure initially to close the low pressure switch, then your compressor won't engage at all.
Best thing to do, with all the regulations on refrigerants and the expense of system components, is to have a qualified technician take a look at it and repair the leak if you are low on refrigerant.
Just a reminder.... A/C's do not use up refrigerant, if you're low on refrigerant, you DO have a leak.
Hope this helps!
