V50 Air Cond pressure getting high and not going down

happycamper304 · Post by **happycamper304** » 20 Mar 2012, 20:06

2009 V50 - Air cond starts out cold, then not cooling, then cooling.. Attached a gauge and was able to watch it as I went down the road. While driving, the pressure goes from 25 to 45, dropping to 25, building back up to 45, dropping, etc. Then it creeps above 45 (in the yellow) and may cycle from 35-55 a while, then creeps up into the red (65psi) and may come down, but eventually stays in the red until I turn off the air conditioner for a few minutes. When I turn it back on, the pressure drops back down to 25psi. It acts like there's a valve that's working, then sticking. I've read about a pressure switch, but not sure where it is or if I can replace it. If I can replace it, do I lose all of the coolant and have to refil? There's a cylindrical-shaped thing on the larger pipe that looks like a sensor and it has a wire attached to the top of it, but is it the "switch" that I'm talking about? Thanks

Post by **jimmy57** » 20 Mar 2012, 21:21

Sounds like non working cooling fan or air flow blockage through condenser.
You need to watch high side pressure.
The low side pressures you list are what you see with poor condenser perfromance.
That system uses an orifice wich has no moving parts as with an expansion valve system.

happycamper304 · Post by **happycamper304** » 20 Mar 2012, 22:42

I've never connected to the High Side and, according to other posts, my connector shouldn't fit the high side. My gauge came from a recharge kit, so it's cheap. Even if I can monitor the High-side, will I be able to do anything? Sound's like I'm stuck taking it to the shop.