Adding myself A/C anyone is good at this?

Post by **oragex** » 21 May 2018, 16:22

I got a can of 134a with a gauge and went to plug it to the low pressure port. With the engine and a/8c running, when the clutch is engaged I read 35psi, when the clutch is off I read 55psi. The air is cold but not chilling cold. Anyone knows what is the problem?

small prints: evaporator sensor is fine, the clutch is cycling fine, the gap is fine

Post by **chrism** » 21 May 2018, 17:01

Is the radiator fan clicking on?

Post by **oragex** » 21 May 2018, 17:46

Yes, it was running high

Post by **jonesg** » 21 May 2018, 20:20

If the system was empty it needs purging otherwise air left inside causes icing.

Post by **jimmy57** » 21 May 2018, 21:02

Idling pressures are not meaningful. use a stick between seat and pedal and get it over 1200 rpm. Set fan to speed 3 or the equivalent on range. Give ambient temp and low side pressures. Is the line between accumulator and compressor chilling to near freezing temp?

Post by **oragex** » 22 May 2018, 06:07

I didn't check the line, will check it next time.

The gauge was set for 25C, the ambient temperature.

Went yesterday to put the hose on the low pressure port, without the bottle. When I pressed the trigger I got a lot of air coming out for several minutes. Only after 2-3 minutes the refrigerant started to come out and the cabin got cooler. To my knowledge the system was never empty but I'm not the original owner. When I got the car, the lines were freezing up (bad evap sensor, I replaced it)

I wonder if the previous owner tried to refill with 12a or maybe even overfilled? I've seen another video on S60 and the gauge goes to 50psi when the clutch is engaged but falls down to 0 when the clutch is off. Plus, my clutch cycles every 10 seconds or so.

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 22 May 2018, 06:31

How could you tell the difference between venting air vs venting refrigerant (when you put the hose on the LP port w/o the bottle)?

Post by **abscate** » 22 May 2018, 07:05

The best way to get the right charge is to vacuum it out, and add by weight per the sticker on the hood. 50 psi with clutch in sounds high, very high

Post by **oragex** » 22 May 2018, 07:22

The 55 psi is with the clutch off. Is it too high?

Post by **abscate** » 22 May 2018, 08:56

oragex wrote: 22 May 2018, 07:22 The 55 psi is with the clutch off. Is it too high?

No, with the clutch off that number doesn't really mean anything.