glowworm_76039

Riddle me this, batman-

The a/c in my 02 Z doesn't get cold and I don't understand why. The system is charged, the compressor kicks on and stays on, but the air temp doesn't cool down at all compared to other settings on control panel. My heater works fine and when I move the temp selector from red to blue, the air temp changes from hot to whatever the temp is outside, so I don't think it's the blend door. Any ideas or suggestions?

GIVE EM' THE BIRD

iTrader: (1)

Possibly a evaporator issue? If your system is charged and the pressures are good, an the compressor is working fine, you have the ability to cool air obviously... So its only obvious to assume that the issue lies between their and the vents. If the blend is functioning correctly, then you should be getting cold air as well.

How long I your compressor staying kicked on when u hit the AC???

Also, have u recently changed or done any work on the system?

glowworm_76039

The compressor stays on for a while, haven't watched it for much more than a minute. This car is new to me, just sold my vette and bought it two weeks ago. Figured it would be an easy fix (shows what I know).

00silver6

iTrader: (4)

do you have gauges to put on it to see what your pressures are?

GIVE EM' THE BIRD

iTrader: (1)

It may be as I have been out of the mechanic grove for 2 years now so I have certainly lost some finesse and trouble shooting knowledge hopefully someone can give u an easy answer.

If your evaporator is freezing up it will block the cold air from going to the vents, which will also have your compressor not running long. Possibly a thermistor issue? That is about all I can recall on AC an function and it may be skewed from the exact operation. I'm in school for engineering now so like I said, I've forgotten alot, and much has been replaced with other more relevant knowledge to the engineering field lol

glowworm_76039

i don't have gauges, will try to use a buddy's this weekend. I can say that I topped off the freon with an autozone nozzle and a small can of R134, so I don't think I have too much pressure but I guess only the gauges will tell. If the evaporator was freezing up, wouldn't it cool inside for a few minutes before it froze up and blocked the air to the vents?

Thanks for all the help!

omarrakeen

iTrader: (2)

change ur filter!

EDIT: i think they name it Camaro Air Conditioning Expansion Device..we simply say filter

NVR_SPDS

iTrader: (39)

The two things i would check would be:

Confirm both fans come on when you turn on the a/c

Check the vacuum fittings located near the PCM. My mom's Z28 was having some issues, and one of the Ts was broken.

glowworm_76039

both fans are working, vacuum T is good. Is there more than 1?

omarrakeen- where is the filter?

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Is one of the lines going to the firewall getting cold?

It is possible to overcharge the system. If there's too much 134A, it won't cool.

You might need a new orifice tube.

dgcustomz

iTrader: (127)

sounds like an internal leak in the compressor. Best way to find out is by using gauges. Check to see what the high and low side are reading.

NBM-LS1

iTrader: (7)

First bet would be to replace the orifice tube.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Exactly. You will need to depressurize the system. Pull the $2 orifice screen out and replace it. Then recharge it. Should blow cold. Other obvious thing is if the compressor is trash, but every trashed compressor I have ever heard has been locked up or making god awful noises so my vote is the orifice. I have seen this exact thing happen on a car with a new compressor.

NBM-LS1

iTrader: (7)

If you had gauges, you could find the problem pretty obvious.

Do what 01ssreda4 and I suggested first. Besides replacing that cheap part is a good idea anyway. Make sure its for the correct year as well. There are different sized orifice tubes and it will make a difference on some systems.

Gauges will pretty much rule out anything on the system that is wrong.

So what your average temp there durning the day is in the 60s? Right?

Generally on 60*-70* day the low side (with no restrictions) should read anywhere from 25psi-40psi, depending on humidity.

The high side with everything in working order should read around 65-160psi. That would be with AC max and recirc. on.

Thats just a rule of thumb but its pretty similar throughout any ac system on a car.

Hope that helps you out some.

omarrakeen

iTrader: (2)

it is this which is places in the AC lines. i had the same thing, freezing cold ac lines and no cold air. hope that is your problem its pretty easy to change. good luck

Smokinz28

Feel your high pressure lines are they warm? they are the small ones, feel your low pressure lines, are they cold? it cold be a plathora of issues, with out gauges it is hard to tell. over charge and under charge can cause poor performance. But if your low pressure lines are not cold i would say expansion device. it is unlikely your filter is bad, it is a completely sealed system. under charge is the most common condition. if it is charged by an autozone bottle of r134 than you dont really know what you charged it to. thus equaling an over or undercharge. and poor performance.

Smokinz28

if your lines are very cold it cold be freeze up. Causing no air to pass through the fins

Smokinz28

if your lines are cold your expansion device which is what that "filter" is, is good to go. over charge.

omarrakeen

iTrader: (2)

not necessarily right. my lines were freezing cold and it was blowing warm air inside car, i changed it then it worked fine. its a 5 dollars thing! wont hurt to try.

Smokinz28

if you changed the expansion device you changed the charge.