A/C works when it wants to

[1834kc]

I have a strange problem with the a/c in my 91 explorer. Sometimes it works great but only for a few minutes, then blows hot air. Sometimes it wont get cold at all. The compressor is cycling the same all the time, just the air temp changes. I have read the posts on the blend door. Could this be my problem? Its close to getting really hot here in Atlanta, and I sure would like to figure this out.

 

[BrianDye]

I had a simaler problem in my 92 Eddie, The air was room temp, so I recharged it, and it blew COLD as hell for about 3 months, then it would blow really cold, and then just kind of barely colder than room temp, then really cold, then barely cold. It would do like 3-4 minute cycles of each, I couldnt ever figure out what it was though, since it happened around fall, so I really didnt need it, and then ended up selling the truck.

Im interested in seeing what your problem is though, this might sound dumb, but have you checked the refridgerent (sp?) level? You may need to recharge it...

 

[1834kc]

Thanks for the support. Your question isnt dumb at all. Its really the first thing I should have checked. I just figured that if it blew so cold every few days or so, that it would be fully charged. I was thinking more along the lines of an electrical problem. I looked at the kits to charge the system, but have never done that before and feared making the problem worse, and paying someone else right now is out of the question. Any tips for checking the freon level?

 

[BrianDye]

Well I actually had no clue on how todo that with my 92, so I went to Murrays, and the guy got me 2 cans of the freon stuff, and then this reuseable hose that has a gauge on there, that tells you when its full, too high, low, and empty, etc. (Its the hose that goes from the can, to the port on the AC line)

But I misread, that you said sometimes its cold, so I doubt that would be your problem, hopefully someone else chirps in with more knowledge than me, and can help you more man, good luck!

 

[datbaddwagon]

sounds like your low on freon i used one of those kits and it works good now before the compresser would come on then go off fast with cold air then no cold air and so-on i would try that frist before paying someone

 

[1834kc]

I appreciate your time, and if I figure this out, I will let you know. From the looks of it, everyone agrees to at least try the freon, and go from there.

 

[huntman58]

A few things for you to think on.
1) the gages you can get are in my opinion a joke by them self as with out knowing any thing about AC systems there very easy to over or under change a system with being you have to take into account the ambient air temp and humidity at the time you are testing or charging the system.

2) The only gages to trust are a real set of AC gages and they can be gotten some what cheap at harbor freight or places like that.

3) Do you know if your system is R12 or has it been changed to R134A? You have to know this as the two are not I repeat not compatible at all both the refrigerant and the oils used in them.

4) If you have a leak and you have to top it off every year by this time your dryer / accumulator is most likely shot.

I know I may sound like a worry wart but if you mix the oils or refrigerant you may as well kiss you system good b and say hello to a large repair bill even if you do it your self.

If you remove or replace any part of the system you need to have the air vac. out and any moisture in it boiled out by using a vac pump for at lest 30 minutes at a steady .29 or 30 on the gage.

best thing to do is a search here and on google about all of it and then do it right or you will get to learn more about your system then you care to or you will learn to live with out it. I learned about them but I did it first so all I ended up replacing was my dryer / accumulator and the evaporator and all the O rings.
by the way if you do convert from R 12 to R134 there is also a right way and a wrong way to do it also and again you really do need the gages and a good vac pump with out them well your only getting a phrasal charge as your trapping air in the system.
Also in a conversion you need to replace all the O rings and you should the hoses also as the R12 molecule is bigger then the R134 ones and so the R134 will leak even in a good system from the rubber R12 parts
now after you read up real good on it all and you still want to do it its not that hard and a side note a couple of dig thermometers are your best friend one in side the vents and one about 1 inch from the condenser for an ambient reading.

 

[1834kc]

Right on the money

You have just addressed every fear I have about this a/c problem. I have always stayed away from it, because I didnt fully understand the process. I have had the truck for a year, and since I spent the first summer in upstate NY, I missed the infernal Georgia heat. This year may be different.
However, I feel lucky that the overall condition of the truck is excellent, and it does have 4 windows that all roll down. Not the worst problem in the world by far. Just really annoying that everything else works so well.
I am not going to try anything on my own, and never considered opening the system, truth be told, just thinking about charging the thing on my own has kept me up at night. So I'm back at square one. When the time is right, I'll have it looked at by a professional. Thanks for all your information. I know a lot more now than when I started.

 

[huntman58]

1834kc
To be honest I knew nothing about AC systems before mine went out. I did a lot of reading here and other places got a book on it and gave it a go I did how ever buy a set of gages and a good Vac pump being I take care of the family’s cars. Any way that stop leak stuff in my ex it did more damage then it fixed. But all said and done I learned a lot got it fixed and it’s nice and cooled now.