New to these forums, so let me know if I'm doing anything wrong

Have a 2002 Civic. The A/C wasn't working well, so I took it in for maintenance and they said that the A/C system likely needed a recharge. After they recharged it, it works better, but it only blows cool air while driving. When idling or stopped at a light, it's certainly not cool air.

I got a gauge to test, thinking I might have a leak in the system, with the vehicle running and the A/C on max, the Low side shows 110 PSI. From what I've read it should be around 40 PSI? Could that be the cause of my issues?



Edit: Forgot to mention that both condenser fans seem to be running, so I don't think it's an issue there (unless they're running slower than they should be?)

Thanks!

 

Condensor fan not working was my immediate thought but you say it is running so...110 PSI on the low side is really high from what i've been taught, did you take that reading while the car was on and the ac on full blast? if the car is off and you took that reading it will read really high PSI

 

Yeah, that was with the vehicle running and AC on max. If I stop the engine I can see the PSI slowly start to climb.

 

Then 110 PSI is way too high, but usually when the PSI is really high on the low side the compressor will cycle on and off. Do you feel it cycling on and off while driving? Ultimately since you paid to have it recharged, i would take it back there and express the symptoms to them and let them know you show the low side to be really high...hopefully they warranty what they did and get it right

 

It may be cycling on and off while driving, but to be totally honest I'm not sure what I'd be feeling if it were.

 

If it is cycling on and off rapidly then you def have an improper charge, both high and low pressures can cause this. If the pressure switch senses too much, it will cut it off quickly, to little the same thing. So take it back and talk to them about evacuating the system and recharge it.

 

Can you confirm if the compressor was engaged when you took the reading?

 

Took it back to the shop, they verified the pressure at 40 PSI so possibly the compressor wasn't running when I took the reading? Even though it should have been (had everything engaged). Since it starts cooling at higher RPMs (even when out of gear) the thinking is that the compressor is weak and needs to be replaced.