Need some AC help.

[unity]

Ok, so I have re-filled my car before and a couple other also. Never had a problem.

Well today I installed two new lines. The orifice tube (with new orifice) and the discharge hose.

I had just filled the system a few weeks ago, but the discharge hose canister had rusted through and the orifice tube was bent bad. The result was a week or so before failure, but it worked fine and took three cans.

Today I put the new lines on and new o-rings. Vacuum it out and start the charge process. A can and a half in the compressor decides to just keep on running non-stop, not the usual cycle on and off.

Its cools REALLY well and the cooling fan is running fine. The discharge hose came with a new high pressure switch. The AC compressor is not frozen, if I put on vent it does disengage right away.

Needless to say I dont want to drive it this way. Too much refrigerant? Thats the only thing I can think of. Pressure readings "seem" ok, still looking for the shop manual....

 

[Icarus]

What was the temp where you were doing this?

From the Manual:

In ambient temperatures above 32°C (80°F), the A/C clutch will not normally cycle off and in many instances, the A/C clutch will not cycle off when temperatures are above 32°C (80°F). This will depend on local conditions and engine/vehicle speed. Also, A/C clutch cycling will normally not occur when the engine is operating at curb idle speed.

 

[Moes8]

just make sure your pressures are good,
if its hot out and you have the fan on high it will rarely cycle the comp.even with 1.5 cans,watch your low side and make sure its not dropping too low,and high isnt too high.

give us you guage readings if you can

 

[unity]

just make sure your pressures are good,
if its hot out and you have the fan on high it will rarely cycle the comp.even with 1.5 cans,watch your low side and make sure its not dropping too low,and high isnt too high.

give us you guage readings if you can

Ya, its was hot out not to mention that my engine bay was crazy hot. So let me get this right, it normally runs non-stop in hotter conditions?

High side was about 200psi. I forget low, but it never dropped as low as it did when cycling. if I have time I will hook everything back up and get exact readings.

 

[Moes8]

Ya, its was hot out not to mention that my engine bay was crazy hot. So let me get this right, it normally runs non-stop in hotter conditions?

High side was about 200psi. I forget low, but it never dropped as low as it did when cycling. if I have time I will hook everything back up and get exact readings.

when its hot out (85 or higher ,especially above 90) or car is sitting still ,which makes the air work like sit 100+ degrees

mine almost never cycles off, try running a/c and set to max,but manually turn inside blower down to lowest,go out to engine and watch,the a/c most likely will cycle off in a minute or so, even when its hot out,200psi on high side in high heat sounds good,low should be 35ish,if low drops down into the 20's eventually the clutch will cycle off ,i have seen high sides of 250 plus in high heat,

i think you a/c sounds fine from what you have described, if you low side wont get over 30 you might actually still be a tad low on 134a. but if its cooling well , sounds good to me,


hope your leak is fixed and enjoy the cold.

i did my compressor in may and finally it appears i have fixed my a/c after 2 years of working on it, never expected my compressor to be my leak point.

 

[unity]

when its hot out (85 or higher ,especially above 90) or car is sitting still ,which makes the air work like sit 100+ degrees

mine almost never cycles off, try running a/c and set to max,but manually turn inside blower down to lowest,go out to engine and watch,the a/c most likely will cycle off in a minute or so, even when its hot out,200psi on high side in high heat sounds good,low should be 35ish,if low drops down into the 20's eventually the clutch will cycle off ,i have seen high sides of 250 plus in high heat,

i think you a/c sounds fine from what you have described, if you low side wont get over 30 you might actually still be a tad low on 134a. but if its cooling well , sounds good to me,


hope your leak is fixed and enjoy the cold.

i did my compressor in may and finally it appears i have fixed my a/c after 2 years of working on it, never expected my compressor to be my leak point.

Thanks Mike.

I guess I just thought is ALWAYS cycled on and off, over and over. Its been so long that I really had a working AC system that I really know just enough to TRY and get it working. I too hope its fixed. Its gets REALLY cold, which is nice for once in this heat. I also hope that the only leak was the discharge hose.

There was a decent amount of oil all on the underside of that canister. When I discharged the system, only a little pressure was built-up but there was some. I have a leak preventative to add, but I am not a fan of that stuff.

On a side note, I drove to Michigan to get the R134a+. At $9 a can (14oz) I picked up 8 cans! Should have plenty on hand if I ever have to deal with this again.

I also dropped my key in the store and had to drive last night (after fixing AC) back to Michigan which is an hour away. Pretty pointless trip! lol

 

[Moes8]

Thanks Mike.

I guess I just thought is ALWAYS cycled on and off, over and over. Its been so long that I really had a working AC system that I really know just enough to TRY and get it working. I too hope its fixed. Its gets REALLY cold, which is nice for once in this heat. I also hope that the only leak was the discharge hose.

There was a decent amount of oil all on the underside of that canister. When I discharged the system, only a little pressure was built-up but there was some. I have a leak preventative to add, but I am not a fan of that stuff.

On a side note, I drove to Michigan to get the R134a+. At $9 a can (14oz) I picked up 8 cans! Should have plenty on hand if I ever have to deal with this again.

I also dropped my key in the store and had to drive last night (after fixing AC) back to Michigan which is an hour away. Pretty pointless trip! lol

only use the sealer as a last last last resort,now if its is a simple oring conditioner type its not so bad,but someone makes that 2 part chemical reactive crap,it works sometimes,but when it goes wrong.it really goes wrong

 

[unity]

only use the sealer as a last last last resort,now if its is a simple oring conditioner type its not so bad,but someone makes that 2 part chemical reactive crap,it works sometimes,but when it goes wrong.it really goes wrong

Well the refrigerant contained leak sealer anyway. If I do have a leak, I will just replace everything else and the condenser. I dont want to keep doing patch work. All new o-rings on all connection were put in a few months ago also.

 

[turborich]

Everytime I have charged a ford A/C system if it was empty it would begin to cycle until there was enough refrigerant in the system. this is normal.

If you are charged & it's pretty hot outside then I agree that the system won't cycle unless it's set on the very lowest setting, them maybe the low side will reach the cut off switch's pressure & cycle.

You should need around 3 - 12 oz. cans, give or take a bit. 1 1/2 seems way too little. Make sure you are using a thermometer inside the center vent as well to monitor your air temps. This will help you get the correct charge as well.

As far as the high side running at 200 psi, I have seen 350 & up pressures out here in the dessert. The mark may run at a lower high side temp due to the large cooling fan. Cars that lack airflow really get up there at an idle.

If I were you, I think I would evacuate or let out the 134, vacuum it down again for about 30 minutes or so & start fresh. You are charging it from the low side only, correct? If you introduce it as a gas it takes forever so I always put it in as a liquid, I just don't let it go above 60 psi on the low side while charging it, once you get close to the correct charge start monitoring your thermometer in the vent, I add about 2 oz. at a time, then wait about 3 minutes for the system to settle. I then re check the therometer reading & continue until I get it as cold as possible, as soon as the temp starts to rise (after the 3 minute wait) then that's it & your done. It may take 30 minutes or so to do it this way, but it's worth it!

in 115 degree temps in the shade, my mark VIII always runs around 37 degrees on the freeway, & in the mid 40's while in stop & go driving using the above method.


Some folks on one of the other boards didn't like my method or my ideas, however they work & I have been charging A/C systems for a long time. I am also HVAC certfied. When people ride in my car they can't believe it & they always want their a/c hooked up.


good luck, I hope this may have helped.

 

[turborich]

One more thing, did you replace any oil that may have come out of the system? Make sure to use the correct type or just get a can of 134 with the oil charge in it.

 

[unity]

There are just shy of three cans in it when it was done. Yes, I added a little oil. So far on day two it seems fine.

 

[Icarus]

...You should need around 3 - 12 oz. cans, give or take a bit. 1 1/2 seems way too little. Make sure you are using a thermometer inside the center vent as well to monitor your air temps. This will help you get the correct charge as well.

As far as the high side running at 200 psi, I have seen 350 & up pressures out here in the dessert. The mark may run at a lower high side temp due to the large cooling fan. Cars that lack airflow really get up there at an idle.

If I were you, I think I would evacuate or let out the 134, vacuum it down again for about 30 minutes or so & start fresh. You are charging it from the low side only, correct? If you introduce it as a gas it takes forever so I always put it in as a liquid, I just don't let it go above 60 psi on the low side while charging it, once you get close to the correct charge start monitoring your thermometer in the vent, I add about 2 oz. at a time, then wait about 3 minutes for the system to settle. I then re check the therometer reading & continue until I get it as cold as possible, as soon as the temp starts to rise (after the 3 minute wait) then that's it & your done. It may take 30 minutes or so to do it this way, but it's worth it!
...

How are you measuring 2oz at a time with the lil cans?

turborich has good info if you are going to use the cans.
The only issue I see filling with the little cans is knowing how much you actually have in the system. Without a scale it is a guessing game.
Follow his instuctions and it should be decent, and be careful about how much oil is in it