I bought my 2006 Expedition and the A/C was very cold at any outdoor temperature in Colorado. In 2019 The system stopped working due to compressor leak on the shaft. It was the original compressor so no big deal...

I have been tracking two problems since having my A/C system fixed a couple of months abo.

The work done was: Replaced compressor, expansion valve, a couple of the lines, charged the system.

Problem One:
It takes a long time for the AC to cool down when the temperature is 85 and above. It takes about 30 minutes of driving to bring the temp down and it will only get down to 50 degrees.

Problem two:
When the outside temperature is 85 and above the vent temp does not come down to a low temperature even after 30 minutes of driving.
If the outside temperature is:
85 vent temp is 50
90 vent temp is 60
95+ vent temp is 75-80

At 70 vent temp is 40 taking about 10 minutes
At 75 vent temp is about 43/44 taking about 15 minutes
At 80 vent temp is 45 taking about 20/25 minutes

The way the AC was when I bought the truck in 2014 was ice cold regardless of outside temperature within 10 minutes. After around 30 minutes I would usually have to either kick down the fan or turn the temp up because the vent temp was around 35 degrees.

What I did yesterday was:
- Checked out a set of manifold gauges
- Drove truck for 15 minutes on max cool

- All pressures noted below were taken at 2500 RPM
- Outside temp was 85 degrees and the low side was about 37/40 and high side was about 190
- I added some plain R134a (no dye or stop leak) and the charge went high at 60/275
- I vented some refrigerant and the pressures were 30/180 (I know venting to the air is illegal but I did it anyways).
- I went back and fourth with the goal of 55/250
- The sight glass became foamy after going back and fourth so I may have somehow introduced some air.
- It got messy with venting and I became frustrated so I gave up deciding to take back to the shop that did the work.

No error codes

 

So I looked at my post and it really does not say any feedback would be appreciated, it would be.

The shop that did the work rechecked and said the system is performing as expected. The outside temp was 78 degrees so as noted above, I expect it to perform normally. The technician said the temperature differential was 35 degrees and the vent temp was 43 which is great. However, I re-explained that on hot days 85+ and especially over 90 degrees the performance is poor with vent temps being:
85 vent temp is 50
90 vent temp is 60
95+ vent temp is 75-80

He stated that the thing is the temperature differential. Knowing it performed way better when I bought it even up to 100 degrees and I am sure when the vehicle was new, I find the current high temp performance is sub-par at best...

Again, any feedback is appreciated...

 

The accumulator/dryer was not replaced when the compressor was done so I may just get that done as a proactive item. The system was broke for years and I know it had been exposed to open air and was empty. Everything I have read is that it should be replaced or serviced if applicable with new desiccant

Again, any feedback is appreciated...