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While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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SketchpadsRUs
New User
Jun 14, 2015, 9:17 AM
Post #1 of 9
(2061 views)
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While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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Just want to thank you guys in advance for the advice.
While I understand A/C repair is rarely a DIY thing, I am working with a retired mechanic who does have the proper tools to fix most A/C problems. But this one has him stumped.
We're hoping someone can point us in the right direction.
I have a 1996 Ford Taurus that lost its A/C this spring. The air blows out just fine, but its not cool air.
When we attempted to add refrigerant, we got some odd pressure readings that confused him.
When we manually turn on (jump) the compressor, we get NO pressure readings, nothing. When we turn the compressor off, the pressure readings rise to the redline (too much pressure).
Any idea what would cause these pressure readings? We need some help in what we should check or replace first, because right now we're stumped.
Thank you!
--- Steve
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 14, 2015, 10:18 AM
Post #2 of 9
(2051 views)
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Re: While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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K - You have help. Not all changed, some did and critical. What's this "into the red" mean? This isn't kindergarten finger painting it's serious A/C. NO color charge on your whatever toy.
Real gauges, real pressures. If you know the temp of contained refrigerant you know the pressure -no guessing, exactly. Here's the chart. Said "contained" be that the container or your system that does require some to be valid of pure product.
Much older was still doing the same stuff and many had sight glasses taking out guessing and calculating. This is too new for guessing so must know exactly as possible.
Chart:
Spiked could simply be a hot engine! Look at that chart. An exhaust manifold easily is 450F right at engine in general too hot to touch when warm and that heat, heats the refrigerant in lines till in use too so you are just reading temp/pressure relationships I think. If compressor was running and over 2.5X the temp of incoming air thru grille there a problem to be found.
The two year college study of how this all works with the algorithm of relationships of heat, pressure and temps can't be explained on a mostly DIY web place,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 14, 2015, 11:00 AM
Post #3 of 9
(2048 views)
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Re: While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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Have you done anything to this system yet besides just hooking up gauges and trying to charge refrigerant?
EXACTLY what are the high and low gauges doing when you do this?
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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.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jun 14, 2015, 11:01 AM)
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SketchpadsRUs
New User
Jun 14, 2015, 5:08 PM
Post #4 of 9
(2037 views)
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Re: While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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Sorry Tom, I do not have the actual values, although I will get them. By 'in the red' I simply mean it was up to the red range on the gauge, meaning over-pressure/dangerous pressure. It was actually on the line between the green range and the red range. I fully understand that you would need actual values, I hope to get them to you soon.
Hammer, we haven't done anything to the system yet, except we did need to remove and drain the Condenser when we installed a Engine Mount and a Mounting Bracket. The A/C was not working before this, however.
A year to 2 years ago we did replace the Radiator, Heater Core, and Water Pump when we finally fixed the car's overheating and lack of cabin heat problems.
Over this past winter I also got a full coolant flush to fix the heat again.
We didn't even try adding refrigerant yet. We hooked up the gauge, got no pressure (gauge didn't move) when condenser was on and too much pressure when condenser was turned off.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 14, 2015, 5:12 PM
Post #5 of 9
(2033 views)
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Re: While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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So, you are saying you are trying to do this without a full set of professional gauges with high and low pressure readings?
You're never going to accomplish anything but damage with that "death kit" you are using. It's obvious that your buddy knows nothing ab out AC either. This is not a DIY job.
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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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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 14, 2015, 6:07 PM
Post #6 of 9
(2030 views)
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Re: While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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That would explain the readings. If your using your suicide kit gauge, it is connected to the low side of the system. When the compressor is turned off, your going to see static pressure which is going to be in the red range on the gauge. When the compressor is running and you have a low charge or some sort of low side restriction, your going to see close to zero pressure. You shouldn't need to be bypassing the compressor relay to turn the system on if there is enough static pressure in the system. You probably have some sort of electrical problem going on too.
Maybe it might be a good idea to take it in to a licensed professional repair shop, so they can make sure the correct weight of refrigerant is in the system. They also have the knowledge and equipment to diagnose it if there is a problem.
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 Jun 14, 2015, 6:09 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 14, 2015, 9:47 PM
Post #7 of 9
(2019 views)
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Re: While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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OP - you can't just jump head first into this empty pool if you will. Gotta have an understanding of how it should works and tools. Sorry to call it finger painting with color gauge known on those death kits.
Real gauges either rentable or own but prefer if you persue this own even a fair set the also read vacuum. Real cheap ones don't and have bought them just because I needed a hose fast and tossed the gauges.
Some words back some posts are misleading or a mistake. You said you drained condenser? ???? of what?
The approach for this is either go for it and by the end of Summer you may be ready to do something constructive or send it out. Not intending to belittle you just there's so much to know yet the end isle junk (death, suicide kits mentioned) make this all seem like a joke to fix. Anything but. With the junk stuff you wouldn't know a system was right it's so bad - toss that crap.
Learn it as much as possible and understand all the terms. What should be where in what state under what pressure at what temp would spin the head of most folks.
You are capturing heat exchange by the magic of change of state at the point where "superheat" occurs. If that statement cause you some pause you are among the many - clueless how it works and again not trying to hassle you - this is a science to grasp not some game.
Didn't look back but it's totally not DIY friendly or cost effective. This area at this forum best left to high end DIY with a snag of a problem not a school for learning the whole thing from scratch.
Web is full of info up to training manuals and a host of common issues to MVAC = Mobile/Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning.
Yes you could learn it and do it. It's just not a run out an wham it's done part of auto service.
Links not allowed and I haven't even perused latest work at this site intended for sticky issues within the biz. Lots of info and you don't need to sign up (no malice there at all anyway) to read on specific issues and principles of operation. See it you even want to take this much trouble on and the tools needed to possibly find out you are still under equipped for a lot of it!
http://aircondition.com/tech/
Written by mostly friends donating time and experiences much from the desert SW of US and Mexico now organize by Chris B. in Indianapolis, IN.
An analogy might be you might be a great grocery shopper but being the chef is another game entirely.
Decide what's doable from a knowledge base and be realistic for YOU,
T
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SketchpadsRUs
New User
Jun 26, 2015, 11:46 AM
Post #8 of 9
(1953 views)
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Re: While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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Car blew a head gasket and is now junked. I honestly appreciate all the help and took everything you folks have said into consideration. Thank you.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 26, 2015, 11:53 AM
Post #9 of 9
(1952 views)
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Re: While trying to add refrigerant, the pressure readings have us STUMPED!
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Sorry to hear that.
Question closed now
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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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