Need AC help from the gurus
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 920
Likes: 7
From: Mazon, IL
Need AC help from the gurus
Ac was working soso for the past few years, so I never bothered checking the output temperature. Well, it totally died on a road trip Father's day weekend. I figured that at 465k the compressor just died. I replaced the compresor and drier, flushed the system, added the oil to the compressor, changed the orifice tube, rinsed the condenser out, evacuated for an hour, and added a little over 2-1/2# of 143A. it's 91 degrees, heat index 98. Low side pressure at about 48, high side is at 325. The air is getting cool, but not cold. Like AT High Idle, I'm getting 68 in the center duct. When I drive, it will drop to 61-62, but no colder. I'm pretty frustrated right about now. Not sure what to do next. I think the high side pressure is too high. what could cause that? Could the little bit of air that gets into the system by switching the hose to the 143A canister cause that? An I doing something wrong? The 2 pipes on the drier are cold and building a lot of condensation. The neighbor seems to think that maybe it's the temperature control valve on the dash.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 442
From: Eastern Washington
Temp **** on the dash only adds heat. Aside from that it has nothing to do with the AC.
The AC system runs full blast when commanded. You only get to control the fan, mode and how much heat to dump in with air through the heater core.
EDIT: if your blend door isn't fully closed and/or sealed it could be allowing heated air to mix with the cooled air...
Probably a good thing to check before breaking into anything else....
48/325 seems high to me, but I haven't seen 90 yet. 30/250 is what I usually look for. This might be an indication of a high side blockage...
As far as air is concerned, were the valves closed when the vacuum pump was removed? I haven't charged a system without evacuating so I'm not sure what behavior that would cause.
I'm no guru, just an Alaskan with an AC machine figuring things out in the high mountain desert!
The AC system runs full blast when commanded. You only get to control the fan, mode and how much heat to dump in with air through the heater core.
EDIT: if your blend door isn't fully closed and/or sealed it could be allowing heated air to mix with the cooled air...
Probably a good thing to check before breaking into anything else....
48/325 seems high to me, but I haven't seen 90 yet. 30/250 is what I usually look for. This might be an indication of a high side blockage...
As far as air is concerned, were the valves closed when the vacuum pump was removed? I haven't charged a system without evacuating so I'm not sure what behavior that would cause.
I'm no guru, just an Alaskan with an AC machine figuring things out in the high mountain desert!
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 920
Likes: 7
From: Mazon, IL
Ha. Yeah, I get a little dislexic sometimes.
I just pulled the airbox open. and the blend door is working properly and fully. When I evacuated the system, I only opened the low side valve. That's the correct way right?
There are a few spots on the condenser where the fins are bent closed, but no more than 5% or so of the whole thing. I wouldn't think that would cause a problem.
Where could there be a blockage. I thought the orifice tube was the only place for that
I just pulled the airbox open. and the blend door is working properly and fully. When I evacuated the system, I only opened the low side valve. That's the correct way right?
There are a few spots on the condenser where the fins are bent closed, but no more than 5% or so of the whole thing. I wouldn't think that would cause a problem.
Where could there be a blockage. I thought the orifice tube was the only place for that
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 442
From: Eastern Washington
just guessing, no guru.
what did the orfice tube look like? Clean? Plugged?
Low side only is fine, both sides are connected and will equalize when the pump isn't running.
Condenser could plug as well.
what did the orfice tube look like? Clean? Plugged?
Low side only is fine, both sides are connected and will equalize when the pump isn't running.
Condenser could plug as well.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 920
Likes: 7
From: Mazon, IL
Orifice tube was dirty. which I am assuming is because the compressor gave out, and also why I flushed the system. I guess I'll kust order a condenser and hope that's the issue
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,507
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
try spraying the condenser with water and see if vent temps drop. if they do, than your fan clutch may be bad and not drawing enough air through the condenser.
at 90 degrees, you should be seeing 45-55 lbs low side and 250-270 lbs high side.
at 90 degrees, you should be seeing 45-55 lbs low side and 250-270 lbs high side.
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FTE Chapter Leader
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From: Henderson, NV
Originally Posted by kbeefy
48/325 seems high to me, but I haven't seen 90 yet. 30/250 is what I usually look for. This might be an indication of a high side blockage...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 87
From: North Carolina, Raleigh
this is some of my issues as well..
How can you tell if the high side filter thing in the line is dirty?? when i have the system running for a bit and feel the line before and after the area where the filter is located I can feel it a bit colder on the line on the "left" side of the filter vs the right side.
if the filter is a bit clogged how do you get the big round fitting with the filter apart.??
in the picture where my hand is the line feel colder than the side to right of the large round fitting.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Henderson, NV
What you are referring to is the orifice tube. That is the device that meters the refrigerant and allows it to turn into a gaseous state inside the evaporator. Our trucks normally come equipped with fixed orifice tubes but variable ones are available. How to tell if it is clogged or not is if hi-side pressure is abnormally high while lo-side pressure is abnormally low. The left side feeling slightly colder than the right is normal.
That line comes apart similar to a fuel line quick disconnect. You will need to relieve system pressure first.
That line comes apart similar to a fuel line quick disconnect. You will need to relieve system pressure first.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,508
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From: North Carolina, Raleigh
When i was checking pressure with gauges the high side was 200 and low was 45.. temp was around 80 D.
so I guess the colder feel is the refrigerant being meterred to the evap coil.
so I guess the colder feel is the refrigerant being meterred to the evap coil.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Henderson, NV
With 45psi on the lo-side and only 200psi on the hi-side, I think your compressor is failing. This assumes the clutch is staying engaged.
EDIT: I just realized there are 2 guys on this thread with slightly different issues. The comment above is directed at carl2591
EDIT: I just realized there are 2 guys on this thread with slightly different issues. The comment above is directed at carl2591
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,753
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From: Los Angeles, Ca.
325 seems too high for your ambient temperature. it could be overcharged or not enough air flow through the condenser, possibly plugged up with junk or a weak fan clutch. Try spraying the condenser with water and see what it does, next step would be to remove some refrigerant & see what it does.