A/C Problems: Next step?

[lennonjon]

Hi all,

I've been having some problems with my A/C. I was hoping the Disco gurus could give me the next step.

Last week I went to refill the system and found that the pressure was VERY high: around575lbs. So I decided the order a new drier, evacuate the system, and refill.

Today I installed the drier, evacuated the system, and refilled it. The pressure is now at 225 idle (85-degrees, 50% humidity) but goes up to about 300 at 2500RPMs. While this is MUCH better than before it is still not ideal. When the system shuts-down the pressure does not equalize very quickly. It takes several minutes.

So what do you think? Is the compressor on its way out?

Update: I forgot to add that the temperature of the air coming out is only 59-60 F.

 

[1MITCH1]

Expansion valve?

 

[lennonjon]

Thank you for the reply Mitch.

Do the rest of you gurus agree?

Salud,
Jon

 

[Steph]

Question is....Is it blowing cold or not ?!?

 

[JohnB]

Yes plugged expansion valve. I'm surprised your not burning up serp belts with that kind of pressure on the low side.

 

[mbrummal]

were you checking it on the low side?

 

[lennonjon]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll be honest. I will assume it was on the low side, as it was done by a friend of mine who owns a auto shop and has been working on cars for 40+ years. He lent me his expertise and showed me what he was doing. I bought him beer. Seemed like a good trade.

I haven't run the a/c while driving because of the high pressure. We just ran it at the shop after changing-out the drier, and doing the evacuation and recharge. The coldest the air gets is about 59-degrees. He said it should be much colder and that he is worried that the pressure is so high after everything we did, so he thinks the compressor is on the way out.

However, he is not a LR mechanic, so I am coming to you guys.

Anyhoo, I will call around for an expansion valve.

Is it worth recapturing and reusing the refrigerant I just put in it, or should I drop another $40 for more? I assume I will have to empty the system to put in the new valve, but have not looked over RAVE yet.

 

[piper109]

If the compressor was bad, it would have a hard time generating pressure.
As the pressure tends to be too high, it seems reasonable to think that the compressor is not bad but rather there is some other issue in the a/c system such as the expansion orifice being plugged or maybe its icing up because of excess moisture in the system.
I would be looking elsewhere for the problem.
Are the condenser fans on the front of the radiator working?
If they are not working the high pressure can easily be too high.
Play a light hose on the heat exchanger while you are testing, to make sure compressed gas is being cooled off.

Steve

 

[lennonjon]

Hi Steve,

Yes, both fans are working. When I first went to recharge the a/c the pressure was at about 575. I noted then that one of the fans was not working so replaced the motor. This dropped the pressure down to about 400. We then went through the evacuation, etc. and are where we are today.

So after looking at RAVE replacing the expansion valve looks to be a big job. I may have to hold off on fixing it as I am going to be traveling and then moving in the next month.

Salud,
Jon