just hooked up ac system on my car and the AC system isnt wanting to take more than about 1 can of freon.
High/low line pressures seem strange.
MORE INFO BELOW.


STEPS________

1. Pulled a vacuum of -28 iHg on the system
2. Turned on car and turned ac on full blast
3. Fed 1/2 empty can of freon into system no problem.
4. Hooked up 1 new can of freon and it took it down to ~35 psi on the freon gauge with ac compressor kicking on but it wouldn't take anymore than that.
At this point it has about 1 full can in the entire unit. AC wasn't blowing "cold" per se but was blowing slightly "cool".
*5. As i was feeding freon into the system the ac compressor kicked off and the pressure on the freon gauge jumped from 35 psi up to 70 psi then compressor-cycling began again.
*6. I hooked up the gauges to test the high and low lines and the gauges red as such - low side (20 psi), high side (160 psi).
7. added a can of r134a and checked pressure - low side (130 psi), high side (150 psi)
8. completely drained system and added 1 can, pressure - low side (100 psi), high side (110 psi)

my last civic took around 2 cans of freon so its odd to me that this barely took 1 can.
Im no expert with A/C systems so i dont even know where to start with this problem.

ANY help would be greatly appreciated!
This TEXAS weather sucks so rolling without ac is miserable

Thanks in advance!

- Josh

 

Are you adding the R134a to the low side? Have you tried warming the can in hot water while adding R134a to the system?

Is the condenser fan running with the A/C turned on and the compressor clutch engaged?

 

Yes i am adding the r134a to the low side, and no i have not tried warming the can while adding freon yet.

The condenser fan IS running with the a/c turned on and the compressor clutch IS also engaging.

- Josh

 

Try immersing the R134a can in hot water to accelerate the process. Don't turn the can upside down. You only want R134a gas not liquid entering the low side.

FYI - Freon is R12.

The stock 98 A/C system takes 21.1-22.9 ounces, which is less than two 12 oz cans.

 

Ill give that a try right now and see what she does

and thanks for the FYI, didnt know that haha

 

Quick question, what should ideal PSI read for low and high side when read on a gauge set?

 

Depends on engine speed and outside temp. Pressures are read with engine at 1500 rpm with doors open and A/C running on MAX cool (pre-cooled for 10 min before taking readings).

 

25 - 40 psi low side and 225 - 250psi high side, if I remember correctly

 

65 degrees F outside with engine at 1500 rpms, 1 can of R134a the gauge set read:

Low - 100 psi
High - 110 psi

im no professional, but those readings dont sound "ok" haha

 

with those numbers, I would evacuate the system, draw down a nice long vacuum (1 hour or so), also make sure it holds that vacuum. Then recharge it to confirm those numbers. IMHO, there is a problem with the compressor.

 

Unexpected because the numbers in post #8 indicate that the compressor was working earlier. These^ numbers reflect static pressure. The system has only half the needed R134a. Was the compressor clutch engaged and the condenser fan running during the test?