Beginning last Summer and continuing over the winter, my '99 S-10 lost its refrigerant charge. I've had the vehicle since new, it's got 52k miles, and the system has never been opened, or even charged, since new.
I expected the compressor was shot after fourteen years, but, I had some free time, so I put my cheap gauges on it, and, at about 70F ambient, gutless 4 banger at idle, a/c on max, fan hi, the system showed 30 low side, and about 90 high side. The system was not cooling. I had some refrigerant on hand, so I added a can, and it began to cool and the high side pressure came up to about 140 or so. I added most of another can until it came up to about 175 on the high side and I quit, since that seemed like a lot of refrigerant for a small system.
Is 175 too high or about right at 70F? Are there any typical leak points on these systems or should I wait it out another fourteen years and not worry about it?
Thanks in advance.
I expected the compressor was shot after fourteen years, but, I had some free time, so I put my cheap gauges on it, and, at about 70F ambient, gutless 4 banger at idle, a/c on max, fan hi, the system showed 30 low side, and about 90 high side. The system was not cooling. I had some refrigerant on hand, so I added a can, and it began to cool and the high side pressure came up to about 140 or so. I added most of another can until it came up to about 175 on the high side and I quit, since that seemed like a lot of refrigerant for a small system.
Is 175 too high or about right at 70F? Are there any typical leak points on these systems or should I wait it out another fourteen years and not worry about it?
Thanks in advance.
