Air Conditioning issue Toyota Corolla 2010

[tempnexus]

So it's quite hot now in New Mexico and my AC is not working correctly (kind of warm air). I connected the AC recharge hose that comes with the guage thingy to show you how much pressure you are getting at the low side to indicate if the AC is low on refrigerant or not. Well mine is showing 20psi and that's at 6000 feet at 95 degrees F. So I start to add refrigerant with all windows down, car blasting AC at MAX (after driving for 20 min) etc etc. Well the PSI gets to 28 PSI and then the clutch in the AC kicks off and turns off the AC.
I wait and wait and I can hear the AC trying to start back up by hearing the difference in the noise and seeing the Pressure guage go from 80lbs down to 30 and then back to 80lbs.

After waiting 20 min, I might or might not have released some of the refrigerant out. Then suddenly the AC starts again and it's working again. However, the pressure is now 25PSI. Now, let me make a note that at that temperature (95%) the "Recommended" pressure is between 40 and 50. So what the [censored]?

 

[Bgallagher]

Stuff like this I prefer to bring to professional.

 

[JMJNet]

I suspect there is a leak or the clutch on the compressor is bad.
You need a sniffer to check for leaks.

I agree, if you are not really sure to bring it to the AC mechanics.

Usually, if the clutch is bad, most people just changed the whole compressor since the price of clutch alone sometimes is more than the whole compressor.

Difference is you need to recharge the whole system.

 

[nwjones18]

I've added to much Freon going by pressure readings on those recommended pressure charts as well.. I'd say you added to much high pressure switch cut off the compressor vented some out now its working again. Adding Freon is a tricky business especially if you just have a low pressure gauge and the 'recommended pressure' chart...

 

[Bebop367]

+1 on the professional

http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/155

 

[Doog]

If it's anything more than a fuse or relay....take it to an AC guy. Unless you have a set of gauges you're just guessing. Those can gauges are totally hoaky.

 

[crazyoildude]

Not to sound like a wise guy but...The "guage thingy"???
It's going to get really expensive...
Bring it to someone who knows a little about a/c

 

[mclasser]

The gauges on those things can be hit-or-miss. I recharged my car and the chintzy gauge read 5 PSI lower than my buddy's professional manifold gauges. I would've overcharged if I followed it and risked damaging something.

 

[Chris142]

Like I always say in these posts. YOU CANNOT PROPERLY CHARGE AN AC SYSTEM BY THE LOW SIDE GAUGE!!!! You need a high side reading and it really should be evacuated and filled after a vacuum using a scale. Whats the capacity of that car? 14oz? 1/2 oz off and it wont work correctly and your not going to get it that exact by guessing with a stupid can from autozone.

EDIT: Capacity is only 17oz

 

[mk378]

The old days of putting 12 oz into a car that has 3 or 4 pounds of refrigerant circulating are no more. Newer cars use very little to begin with, there isn't room for a little more or less. Putting a whole can in as a "top off" is going to be way too much. The only way to be sure you have the right amount is to pull it all out and charge by weight.

 

[chiefsfan1]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Like I always say in these posts. YOU CANNOT PROPERLY CHARGE AN AC SYSTEM BY THE LOW SIDE GAUGE!!!! You need a high side reading and it really should be evacuated and filled after a vacuum using a scale. Whats the capacity of that car? 14oz? 1/2 oz off and it wont work correctly and your not going to get it that exact by guessing with a stupid can from autozone.

EDIT: Capacity is only 17oz


That is the conclusion I came to on my beater. Be safer to take it to a person who knows what they are doing.

 

[artificialist]

I have gotten away with adding small amounts of refrigerant through those Interdynamics kits. I saved my mother a great deal on her 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the year 2009. It is also working in my Mitsubishi.

However, professional diagnosis is best.