A/C problems with pressure

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Old May 22, 2010 | 10:46 AM
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A/C problems with pressure

Low side seems like it's not accepting the can of refrigerant, but the pressure is only around 10psi. Any ideas of why it's not taking the refrigerant? Where is the High side port?
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Old May 22, 2010 | 02:59 PM
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It might not take the refrigerant if the pressure is that low. Or I should say, the compressor won't come on if the pressure is that low, thus you won't be able to add refrigerant. The compressor has to be on in order to add refrigerant...unless you have special equipment.

Is the compressor even coming on when you press the AUTO button? You should hear it come on, and also the clutch in the middle of the pulley should spin. When not on, the pulley spins but the middle doesn't.
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Old May 22, 2010 | 03:19 PM
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Have to run a jumper wire across the ac pressure switch to force the compressor on

need the backstory on why its at 10- thats very strange, may require full vacdown and holds pressure test before adding freon,,thats going to leak back out a bad seal

was freon added and now its at 10? as in,, has too much freon and hit overlimit switch
was it not blowing cold at all -before this?
or just wasnt as cold as the old days?

cabin air filter ckd and replaced- do it every year to breathe easy and keep airflow going thru blower and vent system
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Old May 22, 2010 | 03:20 PM
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follow the lines from the compressor, the thinner one is high pressure
the one in front of rad with fitting is low side to inject freon
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Old May 22, 2010 | 03:23 PM
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the one in front of the radiator behind the grille is the high side.
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Old May 22, 2010 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by 01tl4tl
Have to run a jumper wire across the ac pressure switch to force the compressor on

need the backstory on why its at 10- thats very strange, may require full vacdown and holds pressure test before adding freon,,thats going to leak back out a bad seal

was freon added and now its at 10? as in,, has too much freon and hit overlimit switch
was it not blowing cold at all -before this?
or just wasnt as cold as the old days?

cabin air filter ckd and replaced- do it every year to breathe easy and keep airflow going thru blower and vent system
The compressor is in fact coming on. I'm taking it down to South Florida on Monday to do the full vacdown and see if there are any leaks. We think it is the expansion valve that might be stuck?

The air was blowing kinda cold, I would say around 77-78 degrees. That doesn't cut it for Florida heat.

I have been a bad owner for not changing the air cabin filter though

Thanks for the help.
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Old May 22, 2010 | 08:34 PM
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cold would be 40 degrees out the vents

your hose location may vary- size matters in telling the differance`
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Old May 25, 2010 | 03:54 PM
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I charged my a/c yesterday. I bought the car new since 2003, the a/c was never ice cold to begin with, and feels like getting warmer and warmer every year till now, barely cold at all. I put in 1 can (12 oz) and low side pressure is at 25-30psi now. a/c feels cold again!
never touch the high side!! the charge port is different too.
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Old May 25, 2010 | 04:41 PM
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A/C was fixed yesterday guys. Here is what happened.

Thought there was some blockage in the Compression Valve. Took the cabin air filters out and voila! the pipe leading to the compression valve was a solid piece of ice.

Changed that out and also replaced the dryer while we were working on it.
Vacuumed the whole system out, checked for leaks, recharged and good to go!

A/C is now super cold and ready for summer. 38 degrees......buuurrrrr
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Old May 26, 2010 | 02:55 PM
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is there a diy for recharging the a/c mine is feeling warm now
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Old May 26, 2010 | 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by CAB NY
is there a diy for recharging the a/c mine is feeling warm now
It's pretty simple if you have the gauges...our car takes about 1.4 lbs. of refrigerant. You don't want to fill it up too much because that would be bad.

Fortunately my uncle has the machine so all you do is plug and press start...it's all automated after that.
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Old May 26, 2010 | 03:19 PM
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thats the problem no gauges and dont want to add to much the shop want 95$
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Old May 26, 2010 | 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by CAB NY
thats the problem no gauges and dont want to add to much the shop want 95$
You could probably go buy the refrigerant with pressure gauge built in for under $30. Go check your auto parts store.
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Old May 26, 2010 | 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by JRhodes88
A/C was fixed yesterday guys. Here is what happened.

Thought there was some blockage in the Compression Valve. Took the cabin air filters out and voila! the pipe leading to the compression valve was a solid piece of ice.

Changed that out and also replaced the dryer while we were working on it.
Vacuumed the whole system out, checked for leaks, recharged and good to go!

A/C is now super cold and ready for summer. 38 degrees......buuurrrrr

ummm.... yeah, a lack of airflow from the cabin filter :shakehead
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Old May 26, 2010 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by friesm2000
ummm.... yeah, a lack of airflow from the cabin filter :shakehead
I know I'm a bad owner....I apologized to her though.

Let's hope she forgives me
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Old May 26, 2010 | 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by JRhodes88
I know I'm a bad owner....I apologized to her though.

Let's hope she forgives me
try i've seen one's plugged with grass/hay and such before, due to mice building a nest inside the airbox , not exactly the best smelling afterwards either , thats when you talk about lack of airflow though


and shit i think my fan sucks already as far as blowing a good amount of air, even after i had changed the cabin filter, just can't imagine a plugged filter thrown into the mix also
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Old May 26, 2010 | 06:18 PM
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gauges with charging tube cost $15 at walmart, a can of refrigerant is less than $10
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Old May 27, 2010 | 03:39 PM
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Anyone know what the avg range on the low side pressure should be?
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Old May 27, 2010 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Severin
Anyone know what the avg range on the low side pressure should be?
somewhere around 30-40, but you also got to be able to read the high side though to accurately charge it though
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Old May 27, 2010 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by friesm2000
somewhere around 30-40, but you also got to be able to read the high side though to accurately charge it though
But for just a top-off charge, you can focus on the 30-40 on the low side.
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Old May 27, 2010 | 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by acura_fantacy
gauges with charging tube cost $15 at walmart, a can of refrigerant is less than $10
thanks I'm going by there today while I'm there I'll check it out
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