Is this A/C Pressure fine?

[boom10ful]

So this car's A/C has never really cooled well when on a very hot day (Greater than 95F). It would also blow hot air if left idling for 1 hour or more. I would have to turn off the A/C and wait 15 minutes to get cold air back.

This month, anytime that I start the A/C, there is a noticeable hissing sound coming from the glovebox area. It only happens if I turn the compressor on with the A/C button.

The weather here is 65F right now and with lots of humidity. It cools well, but that hissing sound has me worried that it's low on refrigerant or worse. The high side very slowly keeps climbing as well. What would these gauge readings mean? The low side hose feels cold, but not wet or with any frost. It's a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.7L V6.

 

[bullwinkle]

Pressures look a little off, low side should be more like 35-45 PSI-might need an expansion valve, evacuation, and recharge. A dryer would be a good idea too.

 

[Chris142]

Are the electric fans working with the AC on?

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Not good. Low is low and high is too high especially for 65 degrees ambient. Like previous poster said get it serviced before you ruin the expensive parts.

 

[JamesBond]

Originally Posted by Chris142
Are the electric fans working with the AC on?

And is the a/c condenser clean with straight fins?

 

[FlyNavyP3]

Agree with other posters. Low is low, high is high. Would be concerned about fans, air leak, obstructed airflow, all need to be ruled out before doing anything else. Absolutely do not add refrigerant, you'll make the situation worse.

 

[spasm3]

I would clean the condenser first and make sure the fans run.

 

[boom10ful]

Originally Posted by Chris142
Are the electric fans working with the AC on?

Both fans are working, the condenser fan is spinning faster than the radiator fan.

 

[boom10ful]

Originally Posted by JamesBond
Originally Posted by Chris142
Are the electric fans working with the AC on?

And is the a/c condenser clean with straight fins?


I wouldn't say sparkling clean, but the fins are straight. I will give it a cleaning before I do anything else.

 

[boom10ful]

Originally Posted by FlyNavyP3
Agree with other posters. Low is low, high is high. Would be concerned about fans, air leak, obstructed airflow, all need to be ruled out before doing anything else. Absolutely do not add refrigerant, you'll make the situation worse.

Thanks! I will not add refrigerant. I will try to clean the condenser and go from there.

 

[Chris142]

If the condenser is ok Start by getting it evacuated, vacuumed,a little bit of oil and recharged to spec with a scale.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted by boom10ful
Originally Posted by FlyNavyP3
Agree with other posters. Low is low, high is high. Would be concerned about fans, air leak, obstructed airflow, all need to be ruled out before doing anything else. Absolutely do not add refrigerant, you'll make the situation worse.

Thanks! I will not add refrigerant. I will try to clean the condenser and go from there.

Smart move. I would start with that. Then if the system needs charging or a top up because it isn't working properly. See below:

Originally Posted by Chris142
If the condenser is ok Start by getting it evacuated, vacuumed,a little bit of oil and recharged to spec with a scale.

I agree. Call me old school, but with AC problems like this, evacuating the system and weighing the charge is always the best way to recharge the system back to spec.

 

[spasm3]

Evacuating and pulling a good vacuum and refilling is a good idea. If you are not the first owner, someone may have added refrigerant incorrectly by not purging the hoses. There could be some air and moisture in that case.

 

[antonmnster]

I'd start to think about an expansion valve that's not opening correctly.