AC not getting cold
chief153
06-22-2010, 12:54 PM
My `97 LeSabre air conditioner is not getting cold, cool, but not cold. Freon is ok, had that checked. I had the compressor replaced last summer and up to now everything has been working ok. I hosed out the condenser hoping that might help, no luck. This of course goes along with not cooling correctly, but there is hardly any condensation on the ac lines. Any suggestions before I take it to a shop and pay $$$$?
maxwedge
06-22-2010, 05:49 PM
The ac high and low pressures should be checked for a proper diagnosis, no other way.
hinton08
06-24-2010, 04:02 PM
Is your AC compressor clutch engaging? As mentioned above, you need to get the high and low side readings to get a good diagnosis.
imidazol97
06-25-2010, 11:06 AM
My `97 LeSabre air conditioner is not getting cold, cool, but not cold. Freon is ok, had that checked. I had the compressor replaced last summer and up to now everything has been working ok. I hosed out the condenser hoping that might help, no luck. This of course goes along with not cooling correctly, but there is hardly any condensation on the ac lines. Any suggestions before I take it to a shop and pay $$$$?
If you want to try a first step measure, get a can of regular 134a freon from Walmart with NO additives, just the standard 134a. Buy the separate gauge with the handle that they sell. Connect the gauge to your low pressure fitting, the big one above the tire area on the large line from the dryer to the compressor. With the car running at above idle, I put a fan in front of the condensor on the front of the car, and put the AC blower on a higher speed. See if the gauge pressure on the freon goes up to the green area. If so, try adding a fraction of the car of freon and just don't add to above the gauge needle in the green area.
My 1998 had lost enough freon with age a couple years back. That's exactly what I did. I had to refill more the next summer, so I added more of a can, even though it didn't seem to change the low side pressure, probably due to the V5 variable compressor and the way it works.
The symptom was that when the temperatures were in the 70s the AC felt like it was able to cool okay. But when the load went higher, then it started to feel lukewarm. Or if I didn't turn the blower speed above low, it would cool the air some, but if the blower speed increased, then it couldn't keep up.
The system probably does need to be checked with both high and low gauges and evacuated and refilled. But since your are getting condensation on both inlet and outlet, I personally would try a do-it-yourself fill.
If you want to try a first step measure, get a can of regular 134a freon from Walmart with NO additives, just the standard 134a. Buy the separate gauge with the handle that they sell. Connect the gauge to your low pressure fitting, the big one above the tire area on the large line from the dryer to the compressor. With the car running at above idle, I put a fan in front of the condensor on the front of the car, and put the AC blower on a higher speed. See if the gauge pressure on the freon goes up to the green area. If so, try adding a fraction of the car of freon and just don't add to above the gauge needle in the green area.
My 1998 had lost enough freon with age a couple years back. That's exactly what I did. I had to refill more the next summer, so I added more of a can, even though it didn't seem to change the low side pressure, probably due to the V5 variable compressor and the way it works.
The symptom was that when the temperatures were in the 70s the AC felt like it was able to cool okay. But when the load went higher, then it started to feel lukewarm. Or if I didn't turn the blower speed above low, it would cool the air some, but if the blower speed increased, then it couldn't keep up.
The system probably does need to be checked with both high and low gauges and evacuated and refilled. But since your are getting condensation on both inlet and outlet, I personally would try a do-it-yourself fill.
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