auto a/c question
- Thread starter deerefan
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OP
deerefan
Veteran Member
Well, the freon was low. I topped it off and it is working fine. As i added freon, the compressor cycles were longer and it quited down some. Hopefully it fixed it. The car has 140k miles and she plans on getting a new one next year. Hopefully it lasts.
timswi
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Sounds like you took the rational approach...I do exactly what you did..Check the load and add a little. Better to evacuate, but it'll work for the year if you didn't have to dump 3 cans in. Done this many times on older 134 cars.
The compressor cycle time is a good qualitative view..Congrats.
dstig1
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Yeah if the compressor clutch is cycling fast that is a very good sign it is low. Especially if the pressure readings back it up. Adding freon is a stop-gap as the system is supposed to be sealed - that means you have a leak and more will still leak out. If the leak rate is low, then it is the cheapest way to fix it (periodic recharge) but it isn't ideal.
That's why it is important to know all the key readings up front - low pressure side, high pressure side, ambient temp, and some idea of the clutch cycling rate and how cold the air is coming out the vents. Diagnosing without that info is more than a bit of a crapshoot. Based on the limited info you had from your relative, there was no way to really say it was low on freon.
Glad you got it fixed.
That's why it is important to know all the key readings up front - low pressure side, high pressure side, ambient temp, and some idea of the clutch cycling rate and how cold the air is coming out the vents. Diagnosing without that info is more than a bit of a crapshoot. Based on the limited info you had from your relative, there was no way to really say it was low on freon.
Glad you got it fixed.
I intend to dont you worry about it and you should stick to whatever it is you do and leave the car advice to the real experts. :laughing:
Btw to the OP you are welcome glad its cooling for you again sorry for the distractions so far its never my intention to educate the peanut gallery when I am attempting to help someone but it happens sadly!
I would leak check the fill ports they are probably the most common leak area I see if you dont have access to a leak detector some soapy water sprayed in will show if its leaking.
A word of caution doing that is do not put a hose back on the ports w/o getting the water out of the ports use spray air a kleenex whatever just get it out first let it air dry works too leave the caps off a week or so.
OP
deerefan
Veteran Member
I will try that. Good idea. The system still had freon in it and has not been touched for 6 years. The level was low, about 1/2 to 3/4 full by my best estimate.
Yeah hth like I said its hard to say what state of charge it is in w/o pulling it out and weighing it and putting it back @ the correct amount, it works now and thats what matters. :thumbsup:
Fwtw I checked on Iatn and didnt see any pattern failures of any kind with that vehicle and 6 years is not a huge problem imho.
These systems ALL leak from the minute they are built some worse than others but Honda and Toyota are tops in quality normally.
Is not like a refrigerator etc anyway thats soldered together hoses and rotating seals leak its just the way it is & for now we are stuck with it. good luck
clemsonfor
Super Member
I have had some nightmares with my 1990 ranger. ITs had everything but a neww liquid line. And i cant test to the fact that the filll shrader valves do go bad, orings on new switches get magical nicks in them even when oiled and assembled, rebuilt compressors leak and ford has black death to deal with.
Bottom line if you added you have a leak, to me a can a year is no big deal. I put in about a can to 1.5 before the leaks on the ranger got bad enough to tell where they were. (oh dont leave the batteries in your freon sniffer to all you shade tree guys like me with one. It will freakin ruin it when the batts corrode.) If she is gonna get a new one fine but that honda is barely at half its life with 140k miles.
Bottom line if you added you have a leak, to me a can a year is no big deal. I put in about a can to 1.5 before the leaks on the ranger got bad enough to tell where they were. (oh dont leave the batteries in your freon sniffer to all you shade tree guys like me with one. It will freakin ruin it when the batts corrode.) If she is gonna get a new one fine but that honda is barely at half its life with 140k miles.
OP
deerefan
Veteran Member
It has been a few weeks but we finally found the problem. While at work the other day, my mother in law started her car and heard a horrible sound and thought the car was on fire, saw something she thought was smoke. Turns out it was freon. The condenser fan went out, causing freon to purge. $250 later it is back together and working fine. Luckily there was a good mechanic's shop right around the corner from her work that diagnosed and fixed it.
