Hi,
I was charging my R134A system with the A/C running on high and due to the fact that the clutch cycles on and off every 10 seconds or so the pressure guage fluctuates with this cycling from a low reading all the way up to the caution side of the guage but not quite to the danger limits. I stopped work due to this and am curious if I should continue to add refridgerant based on the low reading (Compressor off) or if this is indeed dangerous due to the increased pressure when the compressor turns on?

Thanks.

Any gauge that says "caution" or uses color scales should have a skull and X bones on it as it's commonly called and Google searchable as a "DEATH KIT" lacking enough information to cost you injury and trash the whole A/C system.

What kind of car/vehicle is this. There are ways to keep compressor running while charging or the best way is to weigh in the exact amount by known listed weights posted on the car which is only known when charged from empty into a perfect vacuum - those kit's kinda don't tell you that! At a minumum you need gauges ($75 and up) to first determine what's wrong to begin with and proceed from there,

T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
_________________________________________

http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

http://www.autoclimas.com/...igerant%20charge.php

That's a must read for anyone attempting to charge refrigerant into automotive air conditioning,

T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
_________________________________________

http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

That's right Tom. And, even with a junk gauge if the pressures shoot up into the DANGER range there is very possibly a head pressure problem. at any rate a decent manifold set is mandatory for a/c work. no suicide kits please!!!!! rick

http://www.acsource.com/index.asp <<<< Here's a link for assorted stuff including the guage set shown below. It's just $75 bucks delivered to US addresses! This shows fittings for for use with both 134a and R-12/R-22, with a sight glass. Owner admits it's basic and cheap but it works fine. This price just can't be beat and there's no excuse for not having a set like this which will also work with vac pumps you can rent and can route 12oz cans of 134a (pure stuff please) with tap thru the gauges so you can tell what you're doing. Short bucks even if you don't get to the full repair this is THE diagnostic tool for performance problems.

Just answered a post where a person was told it would be $100 to $200 just to diagnose a system! This little purchase would look cheap - huh?

BTW - If 1,000 of these are sold and you tell them I sent you I still won't get a buck and you'll tick them off. Nice folks at ACSource.com ,,

T



Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
_________________________________________

http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/


(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on May 18, 2008, 2:49 PM)