AC issue

[NOVAhoe]

So im finally get all my problems sorted out with the truck, my last one is the ac, the front ac is not working, the rear is though, so obviously they are completely separate, alright so the front; when i turn the ac on the compressor doesnt cycle on, my first thought was that the compressor was bad, well i accidentally overcharged it by just a little and when the pressure in the system hit the overcharge zone the compressor would kick on for about 5 seconds, but then as soon as a took some out and the charge was perfect, no more compressor haha, so im thinking it might be something electrical, anybody know what would cause this?

 

[gpracer1]

How do you know you overcharged it?

You may have barely put in enough freon for the compressor to kick on, but not enough to keep the pressure high. Actually we don't have enough info to diagnose, but that sounds like it so far. Did you start empty? How much did you put in?

 

[NOVAhoe]

no it was a little low, not empty, so i added some, then i overcharged it a little, vacuumed some out and now i just added some more cause it was still a little low, the compressor still wont kick on, if i add any more it will be overcharged, ive tried it at different freon levels to see if anything would work, but nothing did

oh and im using a manifold gauge set, so im guessing they are pretty accurate, for the most part lol

 

[taylorjm]

What I don't understand is why it would work in the rear, but not the front, and it be a charging issue. I thought they both worked off the same compressor, and if so, it should have enough charge if the rear is working. So I would say it's an electrical issue, such as the panel inside the vehicle. Otherwise, if there was a leak in the front section, all the freon would still leak out and the rear wouldn't work either.

 

[NOVAhoe]

yeah thats what i thought, although i checked it now and the rear is just blowing hot air, i may have been half asleep last night when i was messing with it but i swear the rear was blowing cold air haha

 

[dsltrc]

When working on my A/C I noticed to have to "over charge" the system till the compressor kicks on... Once the compressor is running then you fill to the gauge... When the compressor isn't running then ignore the pressure on the gauge till it is running.....

 

[NOVAhoe]

hmmm thats an interesting bit of info, cause i know that when the compressor kicks on the pressure drops way down

---------- Post added at 01:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 PM ----------

well im an idiot haha, thats what it was, i forgot to actually read the gauge when the compressor was on so now its working again haha, i ran out of freon though, two cans worth and its still not full, but its blowing cool air again

 

[dsltrc]

Glad I could be of some use.... Just make sure you have no leaks..

 

[gpracer1]

hmmm thats an interesting bit of info, cause i know that when the compressor kicks on the pressure drops way down

---------- Post added at 01:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 PM ----------

well im an idiot haha, thats what it was, i forgot to actually read the gauge when the compressor was on so now its working again haha, i ran out of freon though, two cans worth and its still not full, but its blowing cool air again

Reading the gauges when the compressor is on is the ONLY important part!

Low side will be about 40-50 at idle and 28-32 at 2000 rpms and you should be nice and cold.
The lower the psi at idle will give you colder air at idle, but when over 1500 it may then go too low and cycle a lot. Sorry this may be getting too deep for some.