ltho1998

So typical symptom-- turn on the AC and it blows warm air.

I hook up manifold gauges, vacuum the system out and recharge with new R134A.

It won't even take the second can fully. The can is only 12 oz.

The pressures between the high and low side are equal, both lines are ambient temperature to the touch. The compressor is turning and when I rev it up, I see that the clutch disengages and reengages. The pressure is sitting at both sides around 90 psi.

I think the compressor is toast.. However, I wanted to ask the wonderful people of HT of their opinion before I shotgun that part.

Ideas of what else it could be?

Edit: Its a 2000 Civic EX

Ryan Lwin

Whoa dude. 90 PSI? You wanna blow up your A/C system? Literally? Your Low side is too high. Did you add freon without measuring???

Former User

^I agree. The pressures indicate that the compressor is not working.

90 PSI on both sides represents the static pressure of the refrigerant. This is normal when the compressor is not working.

ltho1998

Thats what I thought. Another question then for the replacement. Since there are two types of compressors- the sanden and the nippondenso. Are they interchangeable? Or do I have to get exactly a Sanden?

fragmare

I'd go with the OEM Sanden. They're reliable and can be found for cheap. I'm not aware of the Nippondenso type, but I know Four Seasons make some aftermarket compressors. Use Four Seasons at your own risk, though... they got the nickname 'Four Seize-ons' for a reason.

Ryan Lwin

Ah. I thought the results were while compressor is running. My bad.

ltho1998

Update: Got a junkyard compressor with a bad bearing and clutch. Removed my bearing and clutch off my old compressor and used that instead. Flushed the condenser, recharged, works like a charm!

Took apart my old compressor and it was obliterated on the inside.

nealnanoHX

Equal pressures on both high and low side means that the compressor is not compressing, something inside broke. You need to replace the compressor, dryer and expansion valve and flush the condenser. If you dont replace the expansion valve and dryer all the metal from the compressor blowing up will continue to go through the system plugging up the expansion valve and damaging a good compressor. Then guess what you now need to do the job twice. Seen it many times and I have had to redo AC work because of it. Especially since your last post states that you compressor was totally destroyed. Where do you think all the little pieces of metal go??
And the big question is why did the compressor fail like it did? Age, overcharged, undercharged, not enough oil, too much oil, metal in the lines from an old compressor failing??

nealnanoHX

The compressor clutch can still come on even if the insides of the compressor have come apart. That can leave some people puzzled as to why their AC is not working, "clutch is on so the AC should work".