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So, my 97 SC4 blows air when the A/C and defroster are on thats cool not freezing when cold outside and warmer but not hot when its hot outside
It sounds like a slight whistling noise from the center vents when on as well. I do feel like the compressor is engaging so tried a freon recharge.
Bought 2 cans of freon and the hose/gauge.
Tried to recharge but almost immediately after turning car on and blasting a/c the gauge went to the warning level on the gauge without the air getting any colder, or cool at all.
What could have happened? Did I do something wrong in the charge?
That it was at the halfway mark on the gauge with the car off mean that the systems full?
If its not a freon thing, whats next? No discernable leaks but really need a/c and just want to know whats next step or next thing to look for.
go to a AC specialist and let it retro fit too R134
freon is banned for years now over here because it ruins the ozon layer
those specialist will pressurize your system with gas and dye in it so that if there is a leak you can see it with a blacklight
or with the naked eye if it is a big leak , like i had
i ended up with the replacement of the evaporator , hoses and filter/dryer
goodluck and don't mess with freon or R134 , it will burn your skin
'97 would be R134a already, not Freon. Many people use the terms interchangeably, though. Hopefully, that was just a typo on the OP's part and not what was actually used. I have no idea what effect that would have.
Did you read through the A/C section in the factory service manual? There's a sight glass up front by the radiator that is helpful in determining the refrigerant level.
We did attempt to charge it with r-134a, while the car was on with ad full blast.
The gauge went almost immediately into the "warning" zone and we stopped without any change in the air temp. Before charging, we checked port with gauge with car off and it was in the middle of the gauge.
When I put on air, it blows strong but just isn't cold at all. Only when it's cold outside does it feel cool.
There are no odd sounds other than the typical ad on whistling.
Just wondering if we might have recharged wrong and if not, what's my next step.
Was thinking of heading to Lexus to get an ac checkup or have them do the recharge.
Need the ad, passenger windows no good and I have black leather so we're sweating and it's not even June yet.
Thanx
"Did you read through the A/C section in the factory service manual? There's a sight glass up front by the radiator that is helpful in determining the refrigerant level."
There's no point guessing at other stuff if you haven't done the basic checks.
If it's simply a matter of the air not blowing cold enough, regardless of A/C, you might have the same heater control valve problem I had.
I dont have a service manual, im mos likely just going to go to Lexus and get an evac and recharge done by them, maybe a leak test as well. I dont have anything leaking but last fall when the a/c started to go warm there was always a small pool under the car of water/fluid after using a/c.
As an update I will say that first thing in the morning, the air is decent. Not cold but cooler than it becomes as the day goes on. There is a whistling sound behind the front vents when a/c is on.
Just wondering...
This past summer us when the problem started, the a/c wouldnt cool as well and there was a whistling/humming sound coming from under the hood.
At the time, my car was having alternator issues from being soaked in pw steering fluid and it eventually died in december and was replaced in march.
The serpentine was also replaced around November.
Are any of these things tell tale signs of something that could have occured per the alternator and serpentine having issues, since the a/c issue started right around the time these parts began to fail once and for all.
Really need to get moving on this
Thanks
So, I checked the compressor with air on full blast and saw that the middle clutch part was turning rapidly so on assume that means the compressor and clutch are good to go. So what's next? Bringing to Lexus on Friday for recharge but want to be able to check a few things more on my own.
Thanks
So, final update, I do believe the compressor is working and the clutch as well. The a/c in the morning when its around 45-75 degrees blows ice cold and the slight whistling sound that is heard on warm afternoons when the a/c blows warm is less pronounced and more of the normal a/c on sound.
I am still thiking evacuation of system, leak test with a recharge.
your compressor clutch will only turn over when you have enough pressure in the system , when mine was empty it didn't turn
so you have pressure
did you self test the AC ?
Running the A/C system diagnostics: When switching ignition ON push RECIRCULATION and AUTO buttons together and watch the LCD aircond.
05-09-15, 06:24 PM
A/C Recharging Issue, Whats Next?
