Air Conditioner not working? Condenser? Charge?

[tacks]

Hi folks. I did a search on this and didn't find too much.
My air conditioner works very well for about 20 minutes. Then after a while it doesn't work. Meaning it's blowing out very cold air for about 20 minutes. Then it blows warm air.

So I turn off the AC because it's blowing warm air. I drive with the windows open for a few minutes.

But then if i turn it on again later it will blow cold air again.

Do i need a new compressor? Do i need a new charge?

(The blower motor seems just fine.)

 

[daman]

What kind of car?, you need to get pressures checked so we
know what's going on inside there..

 

[tacks]

90 Honda civic

 

[daman]

Ok, you may just be uder charged, like i said it would be nice to see some pressure readings..

 

[chrome]

Pressure readings will tell a much clearer story, as daman has suggested. You may be a tad undercharged as already indicated, or possibly you have moisture in your system, which increases the system pressure (esp. on a hot day) to trip the over-pressure switch which shuts off the compressor.

 

[Chris142]

Bad low or high pressure switch or the clutch air gap is too wide.

 

[alanu]

Sound like its over charged.

Get a thermometer and put the fan on low. is it 40f??????? if its colder you may have too much refridgerant and its freezing the evaporator on the inside of the heater/AC box. Frozen parts do not allow air to flow.

 

[tacks]

Thanks very much to all of you.


So it sounds like i should have some tests performed on the AC system before i pay someone $$$$ to replace the compressor (which would suck). The Honda stealership would charge more than book value of the car to replace the compressor.

 

[tacks]

This morning when it wasn't so hot i put the AC on low. When i got to work it was still working.

So apparently it works as long as it's not hot out.

 

[Chris142]

Quote:

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This morning when it wasn't so hot i put the AC on low. When i got to work it was still working.

So apparently it works as long as it's not hot out.

---

Well the charge is ok. Someone else said that it might be over charged. Impossible. If it was over charged it would not cool. Next time it's not cold look at the compressor clutch. If it is not turning bump it with a stick and see if it clicks and starts turning.

 

[wiswind]

A/C clutch, and the circuitry that drives it.
Also, look into the possibility that the evaporator coil (inside the car) could be icing up in hot, humid weather.

 

[daman]

Quote:

---

This morning when it wasn't so hot i put the AC on low. When i got to work it was still working.

So apparently it works as long as it's not hot out.

---

You still need your pressures checked, your under charged.

with a light load on the system(cool/low humidity) like you mentioned above it will seem to work ok, you need to get it fixed right..