Hey everyone, im having some trouble with my AC and im looking for some wisdom. My system comes on for a little and cuts off, system is charged..works when is on but quickly cuts off. I have hooked up some gauges and pressure reads 400 hi/ 100 lo, which seems like a big spread to me. Noone seems to know what the deal is, and everyone thinks the compressor is working. I have a friend who said the same kinda thing was happening to his old cruiser, and it was the open orifice/ expansion valve. So do our cars have an open orifice or TXC (T something..) valve? Any ideas on what might be causing this?

 

Im pretty sure 400 is too high, which would explain why the compressor is switching off. My father is really good with ac systems and we could never get my 92-95 ac system to work well.

My belief is with the switch to 134a coupled with the tiny condensor makes for a really crappy ac system, honda really really failed at making a good ac system on these cars (IMO, if you have a good working 92-95 civic ac then props to you haha).

You need to locate the specs on the low and high pressure. Also, if the high is too high, I believe its commonly a plug in the canister in the hole right behind the driver's side headlight, they are about $80 i believe.

Sorry if thats not much help, hopefully it will be a start

All of the info I have given is based on the 5th gen civics. I don't know much about EK ac systems.

 

Damn it honda!

 

Yes, your car does have an expansion valve. It is located under the dash behind the glovebox. It is located with the a/c evaporator. you have to remove the evaporator to get to the expansion valve.

 

Is it something that tends to go out...after 10 years and 108k?

 

yes, it is something that will go out. when mine went out. My compressor would shut on and off alot.

 

Could just be you overcharged it or even worse, overcharged it without first pulling a vacuum on the system. Possible the expansion valve orifice (internal hole) could be blocked, but that usually pulls down the low side of the compresser to way below 100, ie: all suck, no blow. Ideal when a 134a system is running well is low side 25/35psi, high side Under 240psi (@ 80F ambient air over the condenser radiator)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itsmejto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Could just be you overcharged it or even worse, overcharged it without first pulling a vacuum on the system. Possible the expansion valve orifice (internal hole) could be blocked, but that usually pulls down the low side of the compresser to way below 100, ie: all suck, no blow. Ideal when a 134a system is running well is low side 25/35psi, high side Under 240psi (@ 80F ambient air over the condenser radiator)</TD></TR></TABLE>

i second that, the system is most def overcharged. and i would say definately replace the the expansion valve. because even though its over charged there is still way to much pressure on the high side.

 

I have no idea if this helps either but there is always a hissing sound when its on. Normally when you turn your ac off it goes pssshhh for a second or two.....mine always does it. Also how much am i lookin at to get the expansion valve replaced??

 

+1 for an overcharged ac system

400 psi is waaay too high...Like someone else said 240 is the highest the high pressure side should see...
Recover, vacuum, and recharge the system. Then if its still not working, hook upsome guages and post the pressures...

 

Its not overcharged, there is another problem...so im looking for other causes. I dont know why the pressure gets so high but the car only has about a can and a half in it....if anything its probably slightly undercharged.

 

If it was empty and you have 1 1/2 cans in it, did you evacuate the system first, did you put an oil charge in it, run it for a short while, then evacuate it again slowly so as not to pull the fresh oil out, then charge it with gas ? If as you say, it is not overcharged, then you definately have a serious problem, but probably not the expansion valve. It may be the compressor valves are damaged.

 

System is way overcharged (or your gauge is faulty).

 

Well i made a different thread, but apparently the condenser is just getting too hot. :-( somehow i have to relocate the condenser...