My compressor/clutch won't stay on once the car gets hot. It cycles on/off every few seconds. The freon is full (30ish at 1500RPM).

Any ideas?

BTW - 1992 Accord LX coverted to r134a.

 

Are you getting nothing but hot air coming out?

If not, as far as I know it sounds like it's working fine. The compressor clutch will stay on only till the high side is at it's pressure capacity. When the pressure is built up on the high side of the system, the compressor will kick off untill the pressure goes down. Then it will kick back on allowing the pressure to be built back up. Do you always keep your fan switch on high? I have read elsewhere that doing so will kick the compressor on and off more often.

 

30 psi at the high side or the low side?
Did ya ever find the leak that got you to convert to 134a?

 

if you filled your car with the same amt of r134a that it would take with r12 you are most likely tripping the high pressure switch. You will need to remove at least 10% of the charge.

 

The AC runs great until it gets really hot outside and under the hood. It will run constantly, and get nice and cold. Then, we it gets hot (over 90-95 degrees outside, or sitting out in the sun), then the AC is kind of cold - but warm enough to have humidity in the air and still sweat. You can see/hear the compressor cycle on/off every few seconds when it gets hot.

The pressure switch started leaking on me a year ago, so I went with 134 when I switched that out.

I can get a reading tonight when I get home, but I am in the "safe" range on the low side of my gagues.

 

Any other ideas?

 

Make sure that your condensor fan is running. Both fans should run at all times when the ac is on.

 

Keep in mind that R134 freon will not blow near as cold as its predessesor R12. Especially with a system converted to R134. Also 90-95 degrees with a relative degree of humidity in the air, you will feel a difference in the temperature of the air through the vents. When the car is cold and the air is on, do you say the compressor runs all the time? Engine warm or cold, the compressor should cycle under normal conditions as it's suppossed to. R12 and R134 systems are the same in this aspect.

Mine is a 96 which came with R134 from the factory. I had recently had mine recharged and in such temperatures, mine sometimes has a hard time blowing cold but still much more pleasant than outside.

What color is your interior? Believe it or not but this has a huge difference on how cool the car stays. Also cloth vs. leather makes a difference as well.

 

optimum low side pressure is 34, your compressor should not be cycling on and off that often. It will eventually burn up the clutch if it keeps on

 

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there is a bad a/c thermostatic switch....it is located in the evap case ..

 

Whoever guessed high pressure was right. My gague was telling me 33 PSI, so just for kicks, I got out the Snap On. I was closer to 60 with the good gague. I borrowed one from a neighbor and his read 60 as well.

I got the freon level down and the clutch appears stayed on last night during a long test drive.

Today when it hits 95 degrees will be the ultimate test.

Thanks for all of your help. It appears that I am going to need a new clutch bearing soon. Any tips on this?

FWIW - I evac'd the system before I put the r134 in, and it is just as cold, or darn near, as the R12. I got in a bind once with an older car and did not evac and the AC was not as cold as it could have been.