Hey guys I recently had the I30 A/C serviced at a shop thinking I was low on refrigerant. It was near full capacity but I had them evacuate and recharge it anyways because it wasn't getting cold on hot days.

The A/C only gets really cold when the car has been moving for a while or when I drive it hard and get the revs up otherwise it's only cool and seems insufficient for 70+ degree weather especially in an idling car. It was really cold when I left the service shop - they added a dye and there appears to be no leaks and temperature measurements where in spec when they tested.

It almost feels like the system gets less cold as the weather gets warmer but driving around all day today it did manage to get really cold. The performance seems sporatic and I can't say I can replicate the issue repeatedly but I'm going to try it again tomorrow.

What do these symptoms point to?

 

your condenser needs to be clean... they is more likely road grim and bugs clogging it up. Just take your garden hose with high pressure nozzle and spray down the entire condenser of all the grim. Your engine fan is not able to cool it down while idle and the wind from driving helps it out. That why while driving you get colder air and while idle it warms up. Your mechanic should have done that for the money he charged.

It's located in front of your RADIATOR

 

Condenser is clean beforehand but I cleaned it again. I had it done prior to getting the A/C serviced. Compressor engages and the fans go on. I didn't get a chance to check the lines again but the shop said the lines were cold.

While I was waiting I started up my Maxima and ran the A/C too and it's significantly colder..

 

could be a bad expansion valve assuming the shop set your high and low sides at correct presures.

 

It sounds like it. Any chance it could be the compressor also?

The low line is only cold when I rev the engine up, it gets warm at idle. It was nice and cold on the highway.

 

ehh yeah it could i dont know of a good way to test it other than making sure the clutch is engaging/disengaging

 

http://www.familycar.com/ac1.htm

 

Is your evaporator core clean?

It may be dirty, so when you're driving the AC gets enough pressure from RAM air for air to flow through the evaporator, but when idling the air stagnates. Just a thought.

 

lol was just about to post this:

It is a good idea to replace the accumulator each time the system is opened up for major repair and anytime moisture and/or debris is of concern. Moisture is enemy number one for your A/C system. Moisture in a system mixes with refrigerant and forms a corrosive acid. When in doubt, it may be to your advantage to change the Accumulator or receiver in your system.

... to quote that website

 

too much freon buddy... You're getting some cold and then hot. to much freon.