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A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 11:14 AM
Post #1 of 26
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A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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2006 Dodge Charger, 3.5 engine, 100,000 miles
Ambient temp 75 degrees, static pressure- low side 25, high side 27
Idle - low side cycles 33-to peg out, high side cycles 33-55 psi. Compressor never cuts off
1800 rpms -low side peg out, high side cycles slowly 45-55 psi. Compressor never cuts off.
Temp at middle vent inside car 60 degrees.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 5, 2013, 1:19 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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None of those pressures or observations add up to any refrigerant in the system at all to me?
Static is just like taking tire pressure. Operating pressures are another bird. Your compressor shouldn't be operable at all with that info so far and if really engaged is no doubt just burning itself to death so get the pressures right or this means little so far.
You just can't have less static pressure than the temp in F if there's any refrigerant in a system,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 5, 2013, 1:34 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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Those numbers just aren't real. Static pressure with the car not even running should be over 80 on high side with as little as 1/2 pound of refrigerant in it. You should be seeing well over 100 if there is any refrigerant at all in the system.
You need to have the system completely evacuated and recharged with the exact weight of refrigerant that it calls for.
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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.
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 3:32 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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Thanks for the quick response. I am taking the Dodge to a shop on Monday. I was hoping to see an oil residue on a A/C component since the car was cooling great 10 days ago, especially if it is a catostrophic leak. Unless of course, the leak is in the evaporator.
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 4:24 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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Thanks for the info. I will be taking the Dodge into a shop on Monday. I replaced my guage and readings are more realisitic for static pressure. Wanted to clear up my readings for other viewers. Ambient temp 75 degrees. Static low pressure 75 psi, static high pressure 76 psi. Pressure at 1800 rpm, low pressure 105 psi cycling to max out on guage. High side pressure at 1800 rpm is 115-200 psi cycling. I apologize for the mis-readings. I would think this leads to a completely different analysis of my A/C system. Once again, sorry for the bad info.
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 4:49 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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With compressor running, low pressure side is at 105 psi, it will stay there for about 15 seconds and then slowly rise until the gauge maxes out (somewhere passed 120 psi). The gauge needle will stay maxed out for about 15 seconds and slowly drop back down to 105 psi. After about 15 seconds this will repeat. The high pressure side follow this cycle. starts out at 115 psi for about 15 seconds then slowly rises to 200 psi, stays there for about 15 seconds and then drops back to original reading.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 5, 2013, 4:52 PM
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Is the compressor shutting off when these changes take place? Is the low side ever going below 50PSI with the compressor running.
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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.
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 5:09 PM
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Compressor never shuts off. Low side never goes below 105 psi. I can run the car with A/C off, compressor is not engaged. When I have someone turn the A/C on from inside the car, I can see and hear the compressor engage. Another thing I did was turn the A/C temperature knob inside the car to 75% cooling instead of 100 percent cooling. Compressor never shut off with the higher temp setting.
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Hammer Time
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Jul 5, 2013, 5:23 PM
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You're fixated on the compressor not shutting off and that's not your issue. It's not a cycling system and it's not supposed to shut off but judging by those pressures, that compressor is totally wasted and likely took out the condenser too.
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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.
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 5:51 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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OK, you ask if the compressor is shutting off when these changes occur and I was just trying to explain what I was seeing.
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Hammer Time
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Jul 5, 2013, 5:57 PM
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I was referring mainly to your title. I asked because I was trying to find out what was triggering the pressure changes.
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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.
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 6:18 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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I understand. Do you have any idea of why the pressures are cycling as described? Or, is a bad compressor a good enough explanation. Sorry for the curious nature, got it from my Dad. He was an auto mechanic for 47 years. But not an A/C pro.
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Hammer Time
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Jul 5, 2013, 6:22 PM
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The fact that it can't produce any suction or high pressure condemns the compressor. That's about all I can tell you without looking at the car. Something else caused that compressor to fail so that has to be found also.
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 6:35 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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Thank you for the advice and clarifying things.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 5, 2013, 9:33 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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It's common to have a leak. Chrysler products do tend to pull surprise evaporator leaks or any car can get a stone thru the grille and you would see oil stains on most. You now show some pressures that are on target for a very low charge. Doing that wrong is very harmful so leak needs to be found and fixed of course and if not charged properly damage is a near certainty.
Finding a leak that isn't obvious can take some equipment and knowing just where to look. Some will play hide-and-seek so can be a pest,
Tom
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tina362436
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Jul 5, 2013, 10:24 PM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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Since the A/C was working 10 days ago, in terms of A/C leaks it would be a large one. Would not a vacuum test tell if there was a leak? If the system would not hold vacuum, the compressor might not be the problem? Is that a logical conclusion?
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Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 6, 2013, 4:15 AM
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Vacuum Test: Before recharge by weight you would want it to hold a full vacuum, 29.92 Hg at sea level for 30 min or more or a leak is indicated but alone is inconclusive as to where.
Just because it worked 10 days earlier doesn't mean much. It may linger working for a while going low slow or a total blow out of something could happen anytime but there's something still in there so it's not a total hole.
Testing for a leak in a vehicle that will not hold a charge is a special procedure but best to do it now while it has something in it. Dye can be added, electronic sniffers or even bubble testing. Oil evidence is telltale but not much is absolutely sure until you plain hear one and see the mess being made.
Again, the evap is somewhat common and one sign is oiliness in the drain tube or sniffer detecting refrigerant out the vents inside.
Seems you are reading a lot on this but know it take both tools and experience to find, fix, guess on perhaps how much oil was lost never mind the equipment.
How fast a leak? You can have a 3 day leak, a week, month on up. By the time it can last over a year they are much harder to find. Some will state that @ about 7 years some loss and drop in performance is normal - I disagree as too many variables out there.
This is not a handy, safe or easy DIY thing to do at all. If someone already messed with it or added sealers or junk to stop a leak it could have trashed the whole system! When compressor or system isn't producing cool but still engaged the compressor is starving for lubrication carried by a charge that can cool not less so that complicates the fix and all ends up big bucks.
Gets more exciting. An empty system the uses any of the PAG oils exposed to air for long the oil is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture) and can become acidic such that down the road things just start rotting out.
Just continually hooking up gauges can wreck the dang fittings and they are a common place to leak also!
Lots to know about this stuff and beware of. The strong point rarely mentioned is that doing things all wrong can cause so much damage there isn't much DIY work that will really pay off vs getting a pro to check it out for the diagnosis or just take care of it in total.
There's just a sea of products sold out there that claim how easy it is to fix A/C which is sooo wrong. Can some tricks work, yes but as said can also cost many times what could have been a reasonable fix if done properly,
T
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tina362436
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Jul 6, 2013, 6:39 AM
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tina362436
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Jul 6, 2013, 6:48 AM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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Taking Dodge to A/C shop on Monday. Just trying to be as knowledge as possible for a layman. As with any profession, there are good and bad A/C shops. If for example the shop says after troubleshooting, "the compressor need replacing" without mentioning the receiver drier/accumulator and very possibly the condensor needs replacing: pay for the diagnoses, thank the shop, and go somewhere else.
If the problem is the compressor, would an OEM compressor be worth the money compared to an off the shelf autoparts store brand? I know to stay away from refurbished.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 6, 2013, 7:22 AM
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I use aftermarket all the time but never remanufactured. Compressor Works or Denso make a good product. Do not buy Omega. They have flooded the market recently and are cheaper than the rest but they are junk. Don't be surprised if you find a fan issue after repairing the compressor. Don't ignore that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 6, 2013, 7:33 AM
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Agree with not "remanufactured" as there are just too many comebacks and you start all over again. No bargain there,
T
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tina362436
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Jul 8, 2013, 8:29 AM
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Re: A/C not cooling, compressor always running
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Turned Dodge car into the A/C shop today. Will let everyone know about the repair. Once again, thanks for all the info and advice.
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Discretesignals
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Jul 8, 2013, 11:26 AM
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We have been using Compressor Works also, but recently noticed some of our compressors had 4 seasons remans in the box. Come to find out Compressor Works was taken over by SMP who owns 4 seasons. It is sad really because compressor works was a good quality company when it was by itself, but they have turned it into a cheap china ac parts distributor.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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