A/C stop blowing cold air

[M1Accord]

So my Corolla stopped blowing cold air today, right when it is the first day I am even thinking about using it. The fan is blowing, the A/C light turns on/off, and it is a very certain failure with no warning. I cleaned out my car last night and thought I heard hissing sound while sitting on the back bumper. I thought it was some insect/secada noise.

That can't be the A/C leak making noise that loud, can it? The hood was closed so I couldn't hear that. A/C had worked fine this season when I had passenger as well as when someone else drive it. This is actually the first day I want to use it full-time.

What should I check first? I charged the system within 12 months, probably back in March.

 

[Drew99GT]

First things first, check the belt and see if the compressor turns on.

 

[eljefino]

Then see if the radiator/condensor fan kicks in. Grab various ac pipes, some should be hot, others cold.

 

[Skid]

There's a pressure switch in a Toyota (at least my '91) and if enough gas leaks out, then the compressor won't even turn on.

 

[JHZR2]

What is your pressure, high and low? What yr corolla?

Do you run AC tmyear round?

 

[M1Accord]

92 Corolla. I only run it when I have passenger which is about once or twice a week. We have 4 seasons so I only need it from June to September. I can't tell the pressure as I don't have the tool(s) to check. it's also raining now so I am treating it to a free car wash and can't check to see if the belt is running. Honestly, I have no clue where the A/C compressor is on this car. It has been a very trouble free vehicle beside the starting problem, which has been corrected.

 

[mopar_monkey]

look at the easy stuff first, fuses, relays, belt, if all that is good start the engine turn the a/c on and look at the pulley on the compressor, if the center is not spinning then you most likly have low pressure in the system, when low pressure is detected by the pressure switch/sensor the compressor will not be allowed to engage, if not engaging look at the condenser (in front of radiator) if you see any wet/oily spots you have a hole in the condenser, if no then look at the a/c lines for signs of oil as well as the compressor, this will indicate a leak. if everything is good then the a/c clutch may have gone out.

 

[cmf]

If you don't run the compressor for most of the year then all the oil drips off. Some owner manuals actually recommend running the AC once a week in the winter to keep the compressor from killing itself when you start it up in the summer and it's dry.

In this picture of your engine or a similar engine the compressor is bottom right:

92 is about the time of R12 so hopefully it isn't too big of a problem because it can get expensive.

 

[Drew99GT]

Yea, the compressor is on the passenger side of the engine compartment near the lower front of all the belt driven accessories, right below the alternator.

 

[Errtt]

Many compressors run when using the defroster in the winter - so the compressor doesn't sit all winter long for those that don't ensure to run it

add - and system needs a set minimal pressure amount to complete the circuit for running the compressor via pressure switch

 

[M1Accord]

Originally Posted By: cmf
If you don't run the compressor for most of the year then all the oil drips off. Some owner manuals actually recommend running the AC once a week in the winter to keep the compressor from killing itself when you start it up in the summer and it's dry.

In this picture of your engine or a similar engine the compressor is bottom right:

92 is about the time of R12 so hopefully it isn't too big of a problem because it can get expensive.


It was converted before I bought it in 05.

 

[M1Accord]

I am going to look at the fuse. I was messing around with fuses last week when I tried to figure out what killed my 12-volt charger.

 

[M1Accord]

Just check the fuses and they seem to be alright. I am assuming the fuses are the large round one with 4-prong connection and the same as the horn fuse. I swapped the fuses around by putting in where the horn's fuse is and they all work.

Next I check the belts and they are all turnning and there is no smell or noise to indicate damage. I had this happened to my Bronco.

I also check the engine speed and it increased when I turn the A/C on, this mean a load is present. However, I can't feel cold air coming out. Air is coming out full blast, just not cold A/C air.

Finally, I checked the pressure on the A/C line by using the meter that came with the freon refill kit. The pressure registered at 70. I am assuming this is psi. I did a few release to check if the freon coming out cold that it doesn't seem to be so. The pressure is very strong but not cold. The 70 psi registered pressure was measured after about 5 release burst. The air seems a little cool but not cold like when I release that from my Bronco a few months back. I recharged the A/C probably within 6 months and it has been converted to R134A.

Is my Freon bought from Walmart junk? Do I need to empty and recharge again. I had cold air yesterday and last week.

Help.

 

[mopar_monkey]

possibly a stuck blend door? i'm not sure how this car works blend door wise but you might want to make sure everything is opening and closing as it should.

 

[eljefino]

The four pronged things in your fuse box are relays (two pins get low power that control the other two pins that run high power) but your test swapping them should have covered that.

It's possible your engine computer is programmed to boost the idle before AC engages to keep it from stalling. You still have to see if the compressor clutch is engaging.