Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

A/C charge help


  Email This Post



azcamaro520
New User

Aug 17, 2013, 4:59 PM

Post #1 of 4 (1882 views)
A/C charge help Sign In

2009 Ford Focus 2.0L 4cyl

My wife commented that her A/C had been not as cool as normal so I attempted to re-charge it with the basic R134a can from an auto store. As soon as I started the re-charging process, the car stalled. It stalls every time I attach. It almost seems that it does it as soon as the clutch engages.

Does this mean I have a bad clutch or compressor?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 17, 2013, 5:13 PM

Post #2 of 4 (1873 views)
Re: A/C charge help Sign In

It means you certainly shouldn't be messing with it. You run a real good chance of destroying the whole system. AC is not a DIY repair.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Aug 17, 2013, 6:08 PM

Post #3 of 4 (1866 views)
Re: A/C charge help Sign In


Quote
It stalls every time I attach.


That is a sign. The car is telling you that it doesn't want you do be doing that.

Best advice is it to take it to a shop that specializes in AC repair. They can recover the refrigerant out of the system and tell if it is low or not. If it is low, they can recharge to the correct weight and add a dye to find small leaks. They can also monitor pressures and tell if anything is wrong that isn't refrigerant level related.

The ac recharge kits you can buy at the auto part stores and Wally world are not good to use because automotive ac systems are charged by weight and not pressures. The small ac systems now a days don't take kindly to over or under charging. Some compressors use variable displacement technologies and you'll really be off if you charge by pressures. There are no top offs anymore, so take the kit back and get a refund.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 17, 2013, 6:16 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 17, 2013, 11:31 PM

Post #4 of 4 (1844 views)
Re: A/C charge help Sign In

Commonplace that this is a low capacity system so doesn't take much to overcharge and choke it which probably happened. Just hope it didn't wreck anything already.

It may not have needed a charge at all. As HT said this is not a good DIY thing without some extensive knowledge and the equipment. For now at least get the refrigerant removed, measured OUT how much was in it then find the real problem. You may have a new one now,

T







  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap