Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

weird a/c issue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 6, 2004 | 02:15 PM
  #1  
slik98z's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 0
From: Northern Va
Default weird a/c issue

I recently had to change the peice that is in side the valve where you put freon in the a/c system (dont know what it is called), and my a/c was working great for about two days.

then my compressor started to shut on and off again, and i noticed when i tested the pressure of the system it was quite high, which was causing the compressor to shut on and off.

Now, i drained the system and recharged and made sure it had the right amount of pressure, and my car still does it. And i noticed the silver cylinder (condensor?) doesn't get cold yet the line leading from the front of the car (radiator?) does.

Does this sound like the filters are clogged or my compressor finally took a **** on me?
Travis
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 09:33 PM
  #2  
WILWAXU's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,378
Likes: 1
From: League City, TX
Default

From what little I know about A/C stuff. Yes, too much pressure would cause the compressor to cycle.
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 09:48 PM
  #3  
wrencher's Avatar
wrencher
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 2
From: Chicagoland
Default

The accumulator should be cold, Maybe you have a leak? Low system pressure will cause the compressure to cycle as well. Unfourtunetly your gonna need to check the pressures of the system to start with just to determine what the problem is. You may have a restriction internal to the system, like an oriffice tube plugged or just a bad pressure switch.
As for what you replaced was it the low side schrader valve?
Why ? Was it leaking / not seating? Still leaking now?
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 09:51 PM
  #4  
slik98z's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 0
From: Northern Va
Default

I drained the system and refilled it and it still did this. The lines leading to the condensor are ice cold, yet the condensor is not. it stays warm. I dont use the a/c much at all however i need to use the defrost as it gets quite humid especially at night and the windsheild fogs up. the defrost works off the compressor.

Now when i turn on the defrost it does work somewhat but the car runs like ****. and when i turn on the a/c it will blow slightly cool air. hence why this leads me to point a finger at the condensor. If one or both of the filters were clogged would it cause this issue where teh condensor doesnt get cold?
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 09:58 PM
  #5  
slik98z's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 0
From: Northern Va
Default

Originally Posted by wrencher
The accumulator should be cold, Maybe you have a leak? Low system pressure will cause the compressure to cycle as well. Unfourtunetly your gonna need to check the pressures of the system to start with just to determine what the problem is. You may have a restriction internal to the system, like an oriffice tube plugged or just a bad pressure switch.
As for what you replaced was it the low side schrader valve?
Why ? Was it leaking / not seating? Still leaking now?
it was the piece that went inside the shrader valve that wa son the accumulator, i think i was referring to it as the condensor. please excuse my lack of knowledge i really have no clue about a/c systems, i tore mine out of my mustang so i haven't used one in a long while.

the peice that i took out of the shrader was a little peice that had an o ring on it, the o ring on the original peice was busted off some how and yes i did have a leak but that fixed it. i depressurized the system then repressurized it to the specs i got from the dealership (which i located on this board as being correct). all i can think is with the compressor cutting in and out it probably was grinding and little metal shavings may have gotten into the filters.

am i atleast going in teh right direction?
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 10:03 PM
  #6  
2001WS6Vert's Avatar
10 Second Club
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Default

The condenser gets hot, the accumulator gets cold. The A.C. will not cycle from too much pressure only too low. What are your gauge readings and are the needles steady? If you hold it at say 2500 rpm's the low side should be around 30 and the high side should not be above 325 (though it could be a lot lower, like 250 or so). If the condenser is not getting hot it sounds like its undercharged. Does the fan come on with the A.C. (it should to cool the condenser)? Are you pulling a vacuum on the system before you shoot in a new charge + inject 2 ounces of oil each time you evacuate. Like was said check the oriface tube because if the compressor is failing thats what will catch the debris and clog.
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 10:08 PM
  #7  
slik98z's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 0
From: Northern Va
Default

i didn't do the recharging and what not a shop did, they followed the manual they had for ls1's so im guessing they did it right. he did tell me he put oil because he said it helps with the operation of the compressor? i dunno he told me but he might as well been speaking greek, all i could answer was..."so you wanna put an ory pipe and catback on my car " lol

where is the accumulator where is the condensor? which is the big silver thing near my cruise control ****?
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 10:13 PM
  #8  
2001WS6Vert's Avatar
10 Second Club
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Default

The accumulator is the silver tank on the pass. side, the condenser looks like a radiator and is sandwiched in front of the radiator. If it was a shop working on it what was their diagnosis?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 10:13 PM
  #9  
wrencher's Avatar
wrencher
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 2
From: Chicagoland
Default

Did you charge it with 26-28 ounces of R-134?
The small line of the compressor is it getting hot while running (should)?
It goes to the inlet of the condenser (in the front of the radiator).
The line out of there should be warm to the evaporator core ( inside blower heater case)+ at the end of this line where it connects to the evaporator core is where you find the oriffice tube. Then the larger line out of the evaporator core thru accumulator & back to compressor should be cool. All this of course while system is running.
If something is amiss it will be evident here & this is when pressure gauges are a big help.
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2004 | 10:18 PM
  #10  
slik98z's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 0
From: Northern Va
Default

the accumulator was not geting cold, that was the part i kept putting my hand on. I dont know much about a/c systems but i KNOW that one is supposed to get cold and it wasn't however the line leading from the condensor to the accumulator was ICE cold. the lines thereafter were not getting cold.

it was filled with 26 ounces of R-134. the shops diagnostic was to fix the leak i noticed when i took the schrader valve off. that originally fixed it great, it wasn't till about 75 miles later i noticed the car running like ****. when the a/c compressor would kick on and off i could feel a power loss, almost like a clutch slipping. but i know its not that its directly linked to the a/c compressor shutting off and coming back on. the car was hooked up to a machine with gauges on it, and it was working very well. as stated before 75 miles later, i noticed the power loss and i checked it out and the pressure would spike.

fans were on and working properly.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:13 AM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE