5.0 Idle issues

[sly]

yeah... should be one inside the switch.

[gadget73]

yup, up inside the switch.

[monotonorobo]

Jsut got done.. blowing ice cold. Thanks for the help and information all.

[monotonorobo]

Oh yeah… and high side schrader valve got stuck open so I ended up having to leave the ac hose coupler on it. It might leak but that’s something I’ll worry about later. It’s about to get cold anyways.

[friskyfrankie]

Amazon (among others) sell tools to replace the valves without loosing refrigerant. Not sure how much use you will get from it but better than having to do much of the job all over again!

[monotonorobo]

Yeah. Good thing is that if it does leak out I’ll just have to replace the drier vacuum and recharge, which is no issue. Only other thing is my compressor might be cycling too often. Maybe once every 10-15 secs. Should I adjust the switch clockwise or counter clockwise?

[monotonorobo]

Also noticed today that it seems to get way colder in park than it does while I’m driving.
Edit: just gonna keep sharing what I’m noticing. I took an hour drive with the ac running in 80+ degree heat. Also when I parked after the drive I checked and the compressor kept running and didn’t cycle off at all, I waited maybe 10 minutes to see if it would. Drier is cold. After I turned off the car I heard what sounded like hissing from the low pressure switch. I’m just gonna assume that it just does that because it went away after maybe 10 secs. Checked the temps from the vents in park after the drive and it said about 41 degrees on passenger side and 48 on drivers, still doesn’t feel cool enough though. I was thinking maybe a bit too much refrigerant came out when I took off the high side coupler, but I stuck it back on there as soon as I took it off, also sprayed around it with soap and no bubbles. Maybe I put a bit too little in the system

[monotonorobo]

I’ll hook up gauges as I suppose that is the best way to confirm what the issue is

[sly]

If you have temps in the 40s, you're good. That's about all you're going to get out of 134a on hot days. It will cycle a little initially, but should find an equilibrium after a bit. It may cycle some running down the road as the compressor is turning faster and doing more work than at idle. The hissing after shutting down is the refrigerant equalizing in the system through the orifice tube. This is normal.

[gadget73]

If the charge is just slightly low it might do better at idle than moving. If its just enough to keep the compressor running full time at idle but cycling a little too much while driving it does that. The lower the low side pressure, the colder the outlet air, but overly low pressure makes for a less than fully flooded evaporator so there is less cooling capacity.

[monotonorobo]

If the charge is just slightly low it might do better at idle than moving. If its just enough to keep the compressor running full time at idle but cycling a little too much while driving it does that. The lower the low side pressure, the colder the outlet air, but overly low pressure makes for a less than fully flooded evaporator so there is less cooling capacity.

I think charge is slightly low. When I was originally unhooking my lines a bit of refrigerant came out of the high side so I kept the coupler on, like I mentioned earlier. I guess next time I’ll have to vacuum the system down again, replace the high side schrader valve, and replace the drier again since a bit of air probably got in. I’ll hook gauges and check though.

[friskyfrankie]

Do you have low and high side pressure readings, at idle, after a few minutes? If you get the temps stated, idling and driving I wouldn't worry about it! As already indicated, temps will vary weither you are at idle or driving.

[monotonorobo]

Do you have low and high side pressure readings, at idle, after a few minutes? If you get the temps stated, idling and driving I wouldn't worry about it! As already indicated, temps will vary weither you are at idle or driving.

yeah when I had it hooked up initially I can’t remember high side pressure but low side was at like 48 psi with the refrigerant switch jumped and compressor running and it was 74 degrees outside with low humidity. I know the temp changes between driving and idle because of load I probably should’ve mentioned that it’s drastically different. It’ll go from cold to somewhat cool. That vent temperature that I stated was from idle.

[friskyfrankie]

At that temp, 48 low side psi is high. There is a sheet, available on the internet, that gives low side psi's vs. temps. You may wish to get one and set your low pressure accordingly.

[monotonorobo]

I see. I had put in about 30 oz of r134, or at least I thought I did. Maybe my scale was fucked up.
Edit: I had to read it again you meant adjust the pressure switch w the gauges hooked up