Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

"L.W. (Bill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:464123bf$0$16267$88260bb3@free.teranews.com.. .
> Hi Jeff,
> If you have over filled it in the past, as I have and wasted some
> through the pop off valve, then you may have also have ruined the low
> pressure switch that sits on the dyer that is bypassed on the cycles you
> describe.


I've never filled it before. It worked last week, albeit, it was warmer than
I remember from last year. In any case, it has blown cold and now it doesn't
and I've never serviced it, so I doubt the switch is bad.

I can't measure the high side, so I have to go on faith that if the low side
is right, the high side will follow along properly.

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

"Spdloader" <askforit@nospam.triad.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46413491$0$18845$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:1i90i.8227$HR1.3924@trnddc01...
>> The AC compressor clutch cycles on for about 2 seconds then off for about
>> 3 seconds then repeats. It never blows cold. It worked fine a few days
>> ago, so this is a sudden onset of symptoms.
>>
>> I have R134a. I also have a guage that plugs onto the Low Pressure Port.
>> The sad thing is that I've not used it for a few years and I forgot how.
>>
>> I have to connect either the guage or the fitting that connects to the
>> can of stuff, but I can not connect both at the same time. I think I have
>> to take a pressure reading to make sure it is low. My guage has GRN, BLU,
>> YEL, and RED sections. Green is 0 to 25psi, blue is 25 to 45, yellow is
>> 45 to 46, and red is anything above 65, the guage limit is 200.
>>
>> I need to re-understand the directions.
>>
>> I _think_ I want the needle to be in the blue area or yellow area, but by
>> no means in the red or green areas. I have not checked yet, but I suspect
>> it currently is in the green area. Once I ensure that the pressure is
>> indeed low, then I can add a can of R134. One can should bring the
>> pressure to 45ish psi.
>>
>> I _think_ what is happening now is that my pressure is right on the line,
>> and when the compressor kicks in, the result is pressure drop below the
>> threshold of the Low Pressure Switch, so the compressor kicks out. This
>> causes the pressure to rise and satisfy the Low Pressure Switch, so the
>> compressor kicks on again. The problem repeats from there, and the
>> compressor clutch kicks on and off due to activity of the Low Pressure
>> Switch.
>>
>> I've owned the vehicle for a year, and have done virtually nothing to it.
>> It has worked perfectly until today, when the AC elected to go offline. I
>> have no reason to suspect a leak at this time, but if the can of r134
>> does not do the trick, then I'll need to take it somewhere for service.
>>
>> All I can do to the AC system is put the stuff in, and I have to ask to
>> be sure I have the process right.
>
> The short answer is; it's low on refrigerant Jeff.
> What vehicle is it?

It's my '95 Bronco.



> Does it have a sight glass?

I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
sun comes up ...
>

Can it be low enough that the Low Pressure Switch kicks in and out, causing
the clutch to also kick in and out? I'd suppose that such a condition can
only last for a very narrow range of low pressure before the clutch kicks
out for the last time and refuses to kick in again until more juice is
added.

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

"Spdloader" <askforit@nospam.triad.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46413491$0$18845$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:1i90i.8227$HR1.3924@trnddc01...
>> The AC compressor clutch cycles on for about 2 seconds then off for about
>> 3 seconds then repeats. It never blows cold. It worked fine a few days
>> ago, so this is a sudden onset of symptoms.
>>
>> I have R134a. I also have a guage that plugs onto the Low Pressure Port.
>> The sad thing is that I've not used it for a few years and I forgot how.
>>
>> I have to connect either the guage or the fitting that connects to the
>> can of stuff, but I can not connect both at the same time. I think I have
>> to take a pressure reading to make sure it is low. My guage has GRN, BLU,
>> YEL, and RED sections. Green is 0 to 25psi, blue is 25 to 45, yellow is
>> 45 to 46, and red is anything above 65, the guage limit is 200.
>>
>> I need to re-understand the directions.
>>
>> I _think_ I want the needle to be in the blue area or yellow area, but by
>> no means in the red or green areas. I have not checked yet, but I suspect
>> it currently is in the green area. Once I ensure that the pressure is
>> indeed low, then I can add a can of R134. One can should bring the
>> pressure to 45ish psi.
>>
>> I _think_ what is happening now is that my pressure is right on the line,
>> and when the compressor kicks in, the result is pressure drop below the
>> threshold of the Low Pressure Switch, so the compressor kicks out. This
>> causes the pressure to rise and satisfy the Low Pressure Switch, so the
>> compressor kicks on again. The problem repeats from there, and the
>> compressor clutch kicks on and off due to activity of the Low Pressure
>> Switch.
>>
>> I've owned the vehicle for a year, and have done virtually nothing to it.
>> It has worked perfectly until today, when the AC elected to go offline. I
>> have no reason to suspect a leak at this time, but if the can of r134
>> does not do the trick, then I'll need to take it somewhere for service.
>>
>> All I can do to the AC system is put the stuff in, and I have to ask to
>> be sure I have the process right.
>
> The short answer is; it's low on refrigerant Jeff.
> What vehicle is it?

It's my '95 Bronco.



> Does it have a sight glass?

I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
sun comes up ...
>

Can it be low enough that the Low Pressure Switch kicks in and out, causing
the clutch to also kick in and out? I'd suppose that such a condition can
only last for a very narrow range of low pressure before the clutch kicks
out for the last time and refuses to kick in again until more juice is
added.

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

"Spdloader" <askforit@nospam.triad.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46413491$0$18845$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:1i90i.8227$HR1.3924@trnddc01...
>> The AC compressor clutch cycles on for about 2 seconds then off for about
>> 3 seconds then repeats. It never blows cold. It worked fine a few days
>> ago, so this is a sudden onset of symptoms.
>>
>> I have R134a. I also have a guage that plugs onto the Low Pressure Port.
>> The sad thing is that I've not used it for a few years and I forgot how.
>>
>> I have to connect either the guage or the fitting that connects to the
>> can of stuff, but I can not connect both at the same time. I think I have
>> to take a pressure reading to make sure it is low. My guage has GRN, BLU,
>> YEL, and RED sections. Green is 0 to 25psi, blue is 25 to 45, yellow is
>> 45 to 46, and red is anything above 65, the guage limit is 200.
>>
>> I need to re-understand the directions.
>>
>> I _think_ I want the needle to be in the blue area or yellow area, but by
>> no means in the red or green areas. I have not checked yet, but I suspect
>> it currently is in the green area. Once I ensure that the pressure is
>> indeed low, then I can add a can of R134. One can should bring the
>> pressure to 45ish psi.
>>
>> I _think_ what is happening now is that my pressure is right on the line,
>> and when the compressor kicks in, the result is pressure drop below the
>> threshold of the Low Pressure Switch, so the compressor kicks out. This
>> causes the pressure to rise and satisfy the Low Pressure Switch, so the
>> compressor kicks on again. The problem repeats from there, and the
>> compressor clutch kicks on and off due to activity of the Low Pressure
>> Switch.
>>
>> I've owned the vehicle for a year, and have done virtually nothing to it.
>> It has worked perfectly until today, when the AC elected to go offline. I
>> have no reason to suspect a leak at this time, but if the can of r134
>> does not do the trick, then I'll need to take it somewhere for service.
>>
>> All I can do to the AC system is put the stuff in, and I have to ask to
>> be sure I have the process right.
>
> The short answer is; it's low on refrigerant Jeff.
> What vehicle is it?

It's my '95 Bronco.



> Does it have a sight glass?

I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
sun comes up ...
>

Can it be low enough that the Low Pressure Switch kicks in and out, causing
the clutch to also kick in and out? I'd suppose that such a condition can
only last for a very narrow range of low pressure before the clutch kicks
out for the last time and refuses to kick in again until more juice is
added.

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

"Spdloader" <askforit@nospam.triad.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46413491$0$18845$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:1i90i.8227$HR1.3924@trnddc01...
>> The AC compressor clutch cycles on for about 2 seconds then off for about
>> 3 seconds then repeats. It never blows cold. It worked fine a few days
>> ago, so this is a sudden onset of symptoms.
>>
>> I have R134a. I also have a guage that plugs onto the Low Pressure Port.
>> The sad thing is that I've not used it for a few years and I forgot how.
>>
>> I have to connect either the guage or the fitting that connects to the
>> can of stuff, but I can not connect both at the same time. I think I have
>> to take a pressure reading to make sure it is low. My guage has GRN, BLU,
>> YEL, and RED sections. Green is 0 to 25psi, blue is 25 to 45, yellow is
>> 45 to 46, and red is anything above 65, the guage limit is 200.
>>
>> I need to re-understand the directions.
>>
>> I _think_ I want the needle to be in the blue area or yellow area, but by
>> no means in the red or green areas. I have not checked yet, but I suspect
>> it currently is in the green area. Once I ensure that the pressure is
>> indeed low, then I can add a can of R134. One can should bring the
>> pressure to 45ish psi.
>>
>> I _think_ what is happening now is that my pressure is right on the line,
>> and when the compressor kicks in, the result is pressure drop below the
>> threshold of the Low Pressure Switch, so the compressor kicks out. This
>> causes the pressure to rise and satisfy the Low Pressure Switch, so the
>> compressor kicks on again. The problem repeats from there, and the
>> compressor clutch kicks on and off due to activity of the Low Pressure
>> Switch.
>>
>> I've owned the vehicle for a year, and have done virtually nothing to it.
>> It has worked perfectly until today, when the AC elected to go offline. I
>> have no reason to suspect a leak at this time, but if the can of r134
>> does not do the trick, then I'll need to take it somewhere for service.
>>
>> All I can do to the AC system is put the stuff in, and I have to ask to
>> be sure I have the process right.
>
> The short answer is; it's low on refrigerant Jeff.
> What vehicle is it?

It's my '95 Bronco.



> Does it have a sight glass?

I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
sun comes up ...
>

Can it be low enough that the Low Pressure Switch kicks in and out, causing
the clutch to also kick in and out? I'd suppose that such a condition can
only last for a very narrow range of low pressure before the clutch kicks
out for the last time and refuses to kick in again until more juice is
added.

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

>> Does it have a sight glass?
>
> I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
> sun comes up ...
>>

Telling me it's a '95 Bronco tells me it doesn't have a sight glass.

Yes. It's kicking out when the system realizes that system pressure is too
low. Saves your compressor.

It's undercharged. Impossible to tell how low from here, but I'd add a can,
and you should get your cold back. I'd do that without gauges, and I have
gauges and the whole setup. If it's low enough to give only the symptoms
your describing, it'll hold a can. Try charging gas first, (hold can
upright) you can tell it's moving if the can gets cold near the top. If it
takes a while, like more than 15 minutes or so, flip the can upside down and
hold for a few seconds at a time, charging with liquid, back and forth until
the can is empty. You can feel the liquid inside sloshing, and you can tell
when it's empty.
Those trucks blow cold enough to "hang meat" when they're working right.

Spdloader

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

>> Does it have a sight glass?
>
> I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
> sun comes up ...
>>

Telling me it's a '95 Bronco tells me it doesn't have a sight glass.

Yes. It's kicking out when the system realizes that system pressure is too
low. Saves your compressor.

It's undercharged. Impossible to tell how low from here, but I'd add a can,
and you should get your cold back. I'd do that without gauges, and I have
gauges and the whole setup. If it's low enough to give only the symptoms
your describing, it'll hold a can. Try charging gas first, (hold can
upright) you can tell it's moving if the can gets cold near the top. If it
takes a while, like more than 15 minutes or so, flip the can upside down and
hold for a few seconds at a time, charging with liquid, back and forth until
the can is empty. You can feel the liquid inside sloshing, and you can tell
when it's empty.
Those trucks blow cold enough to "hang meat" when they're working right.

Spdloader

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

>> Does it have a sight glass?
>
> I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
> sun comes up ...
>>

Telling me it's a '95 Bronco tells me it doesn't have a sight glass.

Yes. It's kicking out when the system realizes that system pressure is too
low. Saves your compressor.

It's undercharged. Impossible to tell how low from here, but I'd add a can,
and you should get your cold back. I'd do that without gauges, and I have
gauges and the whole setup. If it's low enough to give only the symptoms
your describing, it'll hold a can. Try charging gas first, (hold can
upright) you can tell it's moving if the can gets cold near the top. If it
takes a while, like more than 15 minutes or so, flip the can upside down and
hold for a few seconds at a time, charging with liquid, back and forth until
the can is empty. You can feel the liquid inside sloshing, and you can tell
when it's empty.
Those trucks blow cold enough to "hang meat" when they're working right.

Spdloader

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

>> Does it have a sight glass?
>
> I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
> sun comes up ...
>>

Telling me it's a '95 Bronco tells me it doesn't have a sight glass.

Yes. It's kicking out when the system realizes that system pressure is too
low. Saves your compressor.

It's undercharged. Impossible to tell how low from here, but I'd add a can,
and you should get your cold back. I'd do that without gauges, and I have
gauges and the whole setup. If it's low enough to give only the symptoms
your describing, it'll hold a can. Try charging gas first, (hold can
upright) you can tell it's moving if the can gets cold near the top. If it
takes a while, like more than 15 minutes or so, flip the can upside down and
hold for a few seconds at a time, charging with liquid, back and forth until
the can is empty. You can feel the liquid inside sloshing, and you can tell
when it's empty.
Those trucks blow cold enough to "hang meat" when they're working right.

Spdloader

Re: Charging my Air Conditioner
 

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:xlb0i.8410$Q96.4526@trnddc04...
>
> "Spdloader" <askforit@nospam.triad.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:46413491$0$18845$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> >
> > "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> > news:1i90i.8227$HR1.3924@trnddc01...
> >> The AC compressor clutch cycles on for about 2 seconds then off for
about
> >> 3 seconds then repeats. It never blows cold. It worked fine a few days
> >> ago, so this is a sudden onset of symptoms.
> >>
> >> I have R134a. I also have a guage that plugs onto the Low Pressure
Port.
> >> The sad thing is that I've not used it for a few years and I forgot
how.
> >>
> >> I have to connect either the guage or the fitting that connects to the
> >> can of stuff, but I can not connect both at the same time. I think I
have
> >> to take a pressure reading to make sure it is low. My guage has GRN,
BLU,
> >> YEL, and RED sections. Green is 0 to 25psi, blue is 25 to 45, yellow is
> >> 45 to 46, and red is anything above 65, the guage limit is 200.
> >>
> >> I need to re-understand the directions.
> >>
> >> I _think_ I want the needle to be in the blue area or yellow area, but
by
> >> no means in the red or green areas. I have not checked yet, but I
suspect
> >> it currently is in the green area. Once I ensure that the pressure is
> >> indeed low, then I can add a can of R134. One can should bring the
> >> pressure to 45ish psi.
> >>
> >> I _think_ what is happening now is that my pressure is right on the
line,
> >> and when the compressor kicks in, the result is pressure drop below the
> >> threshold of the Low Pressure Switch, so the compressor kicks out. This
> >> causes the pressure to rise and satisfy the Low Pressure Switch, so the
> >> compressor kicks on again. The problem repeats from there, and the
> >> compressor clutch kicks on and off due to activity of the Low Pressure
> >> Switch.
> >>
> >> I've owned the vehicle for a year, and have done virtually nothing to
it.
> >> It has worked perfectly until today, when the AC elected to go offline.
I
> >> have no reason to suspect a leak at this time, but if the can of r134
> >> does not do the trick, then I'll need to take it somewhere for service.
> >>
> >> All I can do to the AC system is put the stuff in, and I have to ask to
> >> be sure I have the process right.
> >
> > The short answer is; it's low on refrigerant Jeff.
> > What vehicle is it?
>
> It's my '95 Bronco.
>
>
>
> > Does it have a sight glass?
>
> I don't know the answer to that one right now. I'll have to look when the
> sun comes up ...
> >
>
> Can it be low enough that the Low Pressure Switch kicks in and out,
causing
> the clutch to also kick in and out? I'd suppose that such a condition can
> only last for a very narrow range of low pressure before the clutch kicks
> out for the last time and refuses to kick in again until more juice is
> added.
>
I am not myself familiar with Ford systems but according to the Mastercool
manual there are Ford systems (FFOT, no idea what this means) that are
supposed to cycle the clutch, but not as fast as you are reporting. This
does appear to be a case of low refrigerant. Basically, these systems run
until a reservoir is full of liquid refrigerant, and then rest until it is
exhausted. Typical cycle times are 2-3 times per minute at low ambient
temperatures up to continuous running at high ambient temperatures. Yours
is cycling much faster than this and probably low on refrigerant.

These Ford systems appear to be a little "different" in operation so maybe a
Ford news group might be a good source.

Although I recommend a full manifold gauge set, there are setups
intermediate between what you have now and hi-low gauges. A few years back
I got a low side coupler, hose, gauge, valve and can tap from J. C. Whitney
pretty cheap. I have seen similar rigs at Autozone. This lets you view the
low side while filling at the same time. It doesn't show the high side, but
it is a lot better than filling "blind".

Earle