My A/C has developed a problem of not cooling very well. On cool days it blows frosty cold, on scorchingly hot ones (when you need it) it blows air that is barely cool at all. It seems to get slightly colder after it has run for a long time. I took it to a mechanic at work and he recharged it with 134 and it got somewhat better. He suggested that I bring it in this week to dye check it for leaks. If it's not leaking, where do I need to check next. Bad compressor?

 

Hrm, the tempreature related part of it makes me wanna say something is blocking the airflow over your ac condenser.

 

it may be overcharged in that case.

these systems need to run at certain pressure ranges. if it's not cooling when its hotter, you may have too high of a pressure in the system or you may have moisture in it, raising the pressures.

your best bet is to take it to a competent A/C repair shop and explain the problem and see what they can do.

 

I was watching the gauges and he didn't overcharge it. The mechanic who helped me out has 25 years experience and came very highly reccommended. I don't see how it would be a leak issue. Should I check for leaks and if we find none, simply pull a vacuum on the system and recharge it (since labor and 134 are free)? Mechanic seems to think its possibly a compressor issue. I hope not.

 

just because you watched the gauges doesn't mean it wasn't overcharged for the temp and humidity conditions. most likely it's okay, but just because you watched it doesn't mean its not overdone.

it could also be a compressor issue, but my system did this a while back and a vacc + recharge fixed it for me. compressor was just fine in my case.

If labor and R134 are free for you, then I'd say definitely suck it dry and recharge it and see if that doesn't fix it. If not, then put a new compressor and dryer on it and do it again.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll try it.

 

One of the fans not working maybe?

 

Had that happen on another car. Didn't overheat but AC was lame.