A/C blows warm air

[areevet]

I bought a 2002 Eddie Bauer this past winter and didn't think to check the A/C, but who would in the middle of February in Michigan. Well, now I need the A/C and it's just blowing warm air. So, I purchased a recharge can of
R134 with a pressure gage attached. I hooked it up to the low pressure side and discovered that the pressure was only 10psi. So, I had the A/C on full blast and started to recharge the system. I put enough R134 into it to get the pressure in the appropriate recommended zone (35-40psi). I figured this would do the trick, but it's still blowing warm air out all of the outlets. Just because the pressure in the system is at the recommended levels and the blower is working, does this mean that the A/C compressor can still be bad? If so, how big of a job is this for a "do-it-yourselfer"? I'm very mechanical, but wondering how big of a job is this on a 4.6L for a guy working out of his garage and dodging bikes, toys, buggies, baseball bats, etc?

 

[Maniak]

You need more information, and you can't get it with that little recharge kit.

Pick up an a/c manifold set which is a set of gauges that will let you connect to both the high and lower pressure ports. Its the difference in pressures that give you the cooling affect.

The sticky about retrofitting your a/c at the top of this forum had good info about charging using a manifold set. Once you know your pressures with the system off and with the system running you will have a much better idea of what is going on and how to fix it (or we can at least point you in the right direction).

~Mark

 

[areevet]

Thanks for the info! I just checked the compressor and the clutch isn't spinning or engaging when the A/C is turned. So, does that mean the clutch is bad? The compressor? or do I still have to get the pressures on both the low and high ends? The belt seems to be in good condition so I would guess that the compressor is not seizing up.

 

[krogsund]

Having the same problem

I am having the same problem. Used a can of R134, which is at the appropriate PSI and then compressor engaged. Now I can hear the compressor cycling on and off, but still have warm are blowing out. Reading other post on different forums, I am getting a sense that it could be the blend door, but I'm not hearing a clicking noise.

During the colder months, the heat doesn't get hot, more like luke warm/cool.

Any suggestions?!?

-Steve

 

[ranger7ltr]

I am going to echo Maniaks' suggestions...

I am having the same problem. Used a can of R134, which is at the appropriate PSI and then compressor engaged. Now I can hear the compressor cycling on and off, but still have warm are blowing out. Reading other post on different forums, I am getting a sense that it could be the blend door, but I'm not hearing a clicking noise.

During the colder months, the heat doesn't get hot, more like luke warm/cool.

Any suggestions?!?

-Steve

You really need to get a proper set of gauges and then interpret the information coming from what they measure...The fact that you put in some refrigerant and the compressor started working does only mean 1 thing; the system is/was very low or empty and you quite possibly have air in the system as well as some refrigerant...

Recharging a leaking system without fixing the leak and vacuuming out the air and moisture in the system is tossing money and refrigerant out the window...It might work for a while but with a leaking system you will also lose the refrigerant oil that is needed to lubricate the components and not burn themselves up...

The hvac system is not in good or even operable shape so I would not start thinking blend door or anything else until you get things in order...And on the heating issues has the thermostat been replaced yet? Is the heater control valve working to route heated coolant into the heater core? And has the heater core and the radiator been flushed to make certain there is nothing clogging the heater core?