A/C problems

[muck]

Hey guys, Heres what Im dealing with at the moment. Im getting the cursed hot on one vent and cold on another. so I checked the A/C PSI and got 100 lbs with the truck off and with it running the gauge jumped from 10 to 45 and when it hits 45 the compresser kicks on and then shuts right back off. The gauge drops to 10 again, then builds itself back up to 45 and just repeats the process over and over again. Ideas? Is this just low coolent? This is on my 02 explorer too

 

[Maniak]

What readings are you getting on the high side? At "1st" glance it does "sound" like low charge though.. And what was the ambient temp? the high and low side should be right about ambient temp when not running.

~Mark

 

[muck]

The only place i can test is on the passager side. out side it was about 85 or slightly higher it was 95 today here.

 

[Maniak]

Ahh.. so you don't have a real manifold gauge set? Those low side only gauges aren't very accurate and don't give you the full picture.. Getting 100psi when not running doesn't sound right (at 85F).. It sounds like the gauge is off by some or the condenser was hot.

The compressor turning on at 45 also seems off a bit.. It would normally turn on around 35 or so.. Our shuts off at 20psi and your is shutting off at 10.. So to me it sounds like the gauge is off some.

You can get manifold sets from harbor Fright for around $50.... sometimes cheaper when on sale.. They aren't the highest quality for for occasional use (I use it 2 or 3 times a year) it seems to hold up. I did have to buy a tap for the r-134 as the manifold set doesn't come with one.

~Mark