I bought a can of r134a refrigerant with a gauge, and i left the a/c on full blast and put the meter on it. First of all, the compressor goes on and off all the time. When on it shoots the gauge to yellow/red but when off it shoots all the way down. I was told I need to add r134a to it though. Is the low side part where i put the hose to it right off the accumulator? That is where i was measuring from.

Thanks!

 

Yes. It's the only one it will fit, kind of idiot proof.

 

thanks for your help with it hissing and popping on and off, does that mean it needs refrigerant though? It looks like the gauge says it doesn't?

 

Ok i found out more info - Every 15 seconds, when the a/c is on full blast, the compressor comes on for 1 second then turns off for another 15 seconds then turns on for 1 second etc. When it is off, the guage it in the red zone at 80psi or something. For the 1 second it comes on, it drops.

 

Sounds like you may have too much in it .

 

???I thought these variable compressors did not cycle on and off, but adjusted on the fly??
...sounds like something else is going on there.

 

Ok so I added the can of R134a and the compressor clutch stays on now. The psi measures at around 35psi too so all seems good there ... but ... STILL HOT AIR! Any other ideas?

 

is the canister cold? (im not sure what it is called, but its the aluminum canister you attached the hose to under the hood)

 

No it isn't

 

Hey i found out the hard way you have to plug it in, turn the can upside down and shake, should only take a minute or so and make sure you have something handy to hold the can it should get very cold and the effect is almost immedate, might need to deplete the system and start over 134a is cheap, be sure not to over service it though

 

When you say you found out the hard way, what do you mean? I emptied the bottle in it and it shows about 35psi now so it should be full now?

 

meaning i had to service it 3 times, if the system is filled with gas only it doesnt work so well and thats maybe why the compressor is turning but blowing hot air, did fill the system with the can upside down? Are you certaian you have no leaks? I know there is a special kind out there that is used for leak detection, it has somthing in it that glows under UV light, or somthing, not really sure on what kind but you get the point.

 

OHHH I get it - so you are saying I may have not necessarily filled it with refridgerant but perhaps gas from the can instead which makes it read like that instead? How can I take out the gas and do it again if that is the case?

Thanks!

 

Also to answer your question - I filled it while upside down but maybe I didn't get a good seal from the can to the aluminum thing.

 

it should only take a can and a half maybe 2 to fill your car, wrap a rag around a screwdriver and and hit the valve on the low side (where you fill it at) and it will hiss and spew refrigrant make sure not to breathe the stuff and do it in a well ventilated place then start all over.

 

should I have it hiss at me all the way until it is finished hissing?

 

Yeah, shouldnt take too long

 

cool stuff thanks for your help! So before I run to autozone again, if I am reading you right, you didn't shake the can enough or put it upside down and you fill the system up with gas instead of the refrigerant?

 

the major thing is to have the can upside down, shaking it just seems to fill it faster, dont know if it really helps

 

ah bummer yeah I had it upside down already. Still think it may just be gas in the system? Was that what it was for you?