AC maintenance/ Refresh

[Mickey_7106]

Hello all. Wondering what steps i should take to freshen up the AC system? It currently blows "cool" but not ice cold like i remember when i first got the truck. We don't normally have have hot days where i live ( ~72 average) but with this current heat wave of 100* it made me realize the AC isnt blowing like it used to. i would like to try to do things myself before i consider getting rapped at a shop for AC service

 

[swathdiver]

Hello all. Wondering what steps i should take to freshen up the AC system? It currently blows "cool" but not ice cold like i remember when i first got the truck. We don't normally have have hot days where i live ( ~72 average) but with this current heat wave of 100* it made me realize the AC isnt blowing like it used to. i would like to try to do things myself before i consider getting rapped at a shop for AC service

Just replacing the Recirc actuator made the car cooler inside. My condenser fitting sprung a leak a while back and I replaced that with the kids. Truck felt a little cooler with a new condenser. Still running the old accumulator, compressor and other parts.

 

[OR VietVet]

@swathdiver said and I can add more. First, where are the pressures? You can have a very very slow seepage/leak and when the pressure inside the system gets lower because of that, the refrigerant leak can also slow down to almost nil. Make sure the condenser is clean and if have the means, blow it out from the backside out. If has any other cooler in front of it, do the same to achieve the best air flow to dissipate the heat. Make sure your recirc is on. Also, when checking for temp at vents, remember that the air flow is actually cooler at the lower fan speeds. The turbulence of high fan speed will actually have a warmer temp.

 

[Geotrash]

+1 on checking the pressures. I believe the Tech2 can tell you what they are. All r134a automotive systems use the same pressure, so you can grab a chart off the interwebz to see what they should be vs what they are. If your pressures are low, I would suspect a leak at the Schrader valve for the low pressure port (refrigerant fill port) on the accumulator against the firewall on the pax side. Common issue with these that the little rubber seal gets hard and starts to seep refrigerant a bubble or two every few seconds. Easy replacement with a new core from a kit. I bought my kit on Amazon.

If you do end up finding a leak there, then you'll have to evacuate the system, draw a vacuum for an hour, refill by weight, etc etc, so it becomes a PITA. I have all of the stuff I need to do it and did it on my 2007 a few years ago, but would probably sub it out to a shop next time. When it's properly charged and working at full efficiency, that air coming out of the vents is COLD, even on a 95º day.