Hi guys.

This summer I noticed that my AC was just barely working and by that I mean the air was just cool, nowhere near as cold as it should be. It's been decent in the past but it seemed to barely be adequate this summer. So....I decided to try to recharge it. I got one can (with the oil) and followed the directions exactly. The compressor has been cycling on and off at about 20 second intervals and the pressure was reading less than 15 psi when the processor was running and less than 25 while not (it's my understanding that it will do this if the psi is too low). After I emptied the can the air was much colder and it got cold much faster however the pressure was still reading low, the compressor was still cycling and the air still wasn't ice cold like it should be so I got another can.

After I emptied about 3/4 of the second can into the system I decided to stop, the psi was still only reading about 25 psi and 45 psi, again while the compressor was running and not respectively. However, shortly after adding the second can I noticed the compressor was making an odd whining noise and now it's failing, it tries to kick on but shuts off 2 seconds after.

Anyone have any idea what the problem is? Could it be charged too high despite the pressure reading nominal?

 

Pressure limit switch. Protects the compressor. Youve put too much freon in. There are other parts that need to be checked. You should have the system checked by a professional.

 

Also setvice manual states to turn a/c to 60 on full blast with both front doors open for 10 minutes to read pressure. I think 22-32 psi was limits I think.
If your freon is low you need the system checked.

 

I did that except leave the doors open. The system was running for a good 25 minutes so pressure should have been accurate. That's what I don't understand. 22-32 seems low, the can said it should be about 50 psi for the ambient temperature of 100 degrees here.

 

You should do a leak test first. Make sure there is no leak in the A/C system, then charge up the system.

 

Find the high pressure switch and jump it with a paper clip. The compressor should kick on. Observe what the compressor does and if it whines or starts smoking it needs to be replaced. It may have a leak, but this needs to be addressed after you solve the current problem.

 

A: its way overcharged
B: ck expansion valve, been several of those failures reported
C: look at compressor for total fill capacity- to get that much in requires the system be empty-dry...do the math from there
Use of a leak finder in the can of ~the juice~ is typical these days
D: doors/windows all open; allows the cold air to escape the car-
forcing the system to run and not cycle on and off
E: who works on AC above 80 degreee F?,,100?! better have a large fan blowing cooling air across the condensor face
cant expect the ac to cool properly without some normal amont of `road air` involved

Just sitting there running and depending on the ac fan to handle the job = unrealistic expectations

 

note how good ac shops have industrial fans to blow at the car
even small shops will have a basic fan
you have to make airflow!