Air conditioning question

I have a o1 caravan that the ac compressor was junk so I replaced it and filled with 134.It was about a can low but was working good for about a day and then stoped working.I thought I sprung a leak so I put a gauge on it and it read about 100 psi when it should be 45 psi or less.Im clueless on what happened.The only thing I can think of is the old compressor had a lot of mettal chunkes in it,I blew out the lines with air but it didnt want to blow through.Maybe the drier is clogged causing the pressure to raise and the pressure switch shutting down the system.Anyone have any experience with this kind of problem?Thanks in advance

It's possible the orifice tube (OT) is clogged with debris since that is downstream of the compressor. It's usually a PITA to get to since it is located right before the evaporator, but compressor failure usually necessitates removing and cleaning or replacing the OT as well. Ditto the accumulator if the system has been exposed to air for more than a brief period...the dessiccant absorbs water and becomes saturated.

I'm just learning auto a/c myself, so take this all with a grain of salt. Backflushing the OT may not be enough if there's alot of crap in there. With that small an orifice, you can't get much air velocity to dislodge any debris from the filter mesh. Discharge, clean or replace the OT, evacuate and recharge with the proper weight (not pressure) of R134a.

What you have said above is fine with the exception that Caravans use an expansion valve and not an orifice tube-- and a receiver dehydrator- not an accumulator. The TXV (thermal expansion valve) is on the liquid line in front of evaporator entrance on firewall- engine side..

My mistake, I assumed that the expansion valve & receiver/drier setup had fallen out of favor on newer vehicles. Apparently not completely.... Thanks for the correction.

If that's the care, there may also be ice forming in the expansion valve due to excessive moisture. I'd still pull it & clean/replace it and the receiver/drier. Evacuate well and check for leaks. Recharge.

Told you I'm still learning this stuff:loser: