Bad A/C Compressor???
06-22-2014, 06:34 PM
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Bad A/C Compressor??? Hello All! I have an '01 SS Camaro. I think the A/C compressor may have just died, but wanted to check-in here to see what people think before I go replacing the compressor.
So here's the rundown. For about the past couple years the a/c would take a few minutes for it to get good and cold. I noticed within the past couple of weeks that it wasn't getting very cold even after being on for a while. It's had a slow leak and I usually put one 12 oz can of R-134 in every season. Today I went to put in a can of refrigerant and it took a long time for it to take the can- probably about 40 minutes. After putting this can in it wasn't cold so I went to put another can in and it wouldn't take it.
Below are my gauge pressure readings after adding the one can of refrigerant.
ENGINE OFF- Low: 120 High: 115
ENGINE AT IDLE- Low:90 High:155
ENGINE AT 2K RPM- Low:85 High:175
The low side never would go below 80. I noticed that when I would give it gas that the low pressure would drop to 80 and rise back up to 90 and hang there.
What do you guys think? Do you think it's a bad compressor or is there something else that I should look at first?
Any and all help is much appreciated.
So here's the rundown. For about the past couple years the a/c would take a few minutes for it to get good and cold. I noticed within the past couple of weeks that it wasn't getting very cold even after being on for a while. It's had a slow leak and I usually put one 12 oz can of R-134 in every season. Today I went to put in a can of refrigerant and it took a long time for it to take the can- probably about 40 minutes. After putting this can in it wasn't cold so I went to put another can in and it wouldn't take it.
Below are my gauge pressure readings after adding the one can of refrigerant.
ENGINE OFF- Low: 120 High: 115
ENGINE AT IDLE- Low:90 High:155
ENGINE AT 2K RPM- Low:85 High:175
The low side never would go below 80. I noticed that when I would give it gas that the low pressure would drop to 80 and rise back up to 90 and hang there.
What do you guys think? Do you think it's a bad compressor or is there something else that I should look at first?
Any and all help is much appreciated.
06-25-2014, 10:57 AM
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That's not much of a pressure difference, but you can ruin
the difference achievable by overcharging.
My guess would be that the compressor is getting weak.
But not being there on the driveway I can't tell whether
the compressor runs full time or is limit-cycling, etc. -
whether this is a problem of ability or intention.
If I were you, I'd do a little experiment. After making
your peace with the baby seals, let the thing high-idle
and watch the gauges (take notes) as you purge some
refrigerant. Purge it all the way to where it starts
low-side cycling. Then go through the low side,
high side, differential pressure data looking for where
your difference (hence heat throw) is at its peak.
Now those low and high side numbers that correspond,
are your fill pressure targets.
I'd expect it to peak right about where low side
pressure is at the lower end of designed range.
the difference achievable by overcharging.
My guess would be that the compressor is getting weak.
But not being there on the driveway I can't tell whether
the compressor runs full time or is limit-cycling, etc. -
whether this is a problem of ability or intention.
If I were you, I'd do a little experiment. After making
your peace with the baby seals, let the thing high-idle
and watch the gauges (take notes) as you purge some
refrigerant. Purge it all the way to where it starts
low-side cycling. Then go through the low side,
high side, differential pressure data looking for where
your difference (hence heat throw) is at its peak.
Now those low and high side numbers that correspond,
are your fill pressure targets.
I'd expect it to peak right about where low side
pressure is at the lower end of designed range.
06-25-2014, 12:07 PM
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That's not much of a pressurdoubt it'se difference, but you can ruin
the difference achievable by overcharging.
My guess would be that the compressor is getting weak.
But not being there on the driveway I can't tell whether
the compressor runs full time or is limit-cycling, etc. -
whether this is a problem of ability or intention.
If I were you, I'd do a little experiment. After making
your peace with the baby seals, let the thing high-idle
and watch the gauges (take notes) as you purge some
refrigerant. Purge it all the way to where it starts
low-side cycling. Then go through the low side,
high side, differential pressure data looking for where
your difference (hence heat throw) is at its peak.
Now those low and high side numbers that correspond,
are your fill pressure targets.
I'd expect it to peak right about where low side
pressure is at the lower end of designed range.
the difference achievable by overcharging.
My guess would be that the compressor is getting weak.
But not being there on the driveway I can't tell whether
the compressor runs full time or is limit-cycling, etc. -
whether this is a problem of ability or intention.
If I were you, I'd do a little experiment. After making
your peace with the baby seals, let the thing high-idle
and watch the gauges (take notes) as you purge some
refrigerant. Purge it all the way to where it starts
low-side cycling. Then go through the low side,
high side, differential pressure data looking for where
your difference (hence heat throw) is at its peak.
Now those low and high side numbers that correspond,
are your fill pressure targets.
I'd expect it to peak right about where low side
pressure is at the lower end of designed range.