HELP!! A/c cooling problem
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: texas
HELP!! A/c cooling problem
Hello guys I am having problems with my a/c it gets ice cold but only when I'm on the freeway for over 15 minutes but when I sit and idle it starts blowing about 60-70 degrees (I have made sure to check my cooling fans and they operate when ac is on) my freon is full to spec...i even installed a 3rd 12" 1400cfm pusher fan on my condenser and no difference at all I have a Ford and my buddy owns a gm and my aunt owns a Toyota Highlander and they are all super ice cold at idle even in 110°f heat and traffic😨...Idk if my condenser is clogged or my compressor is weak, also if I'm at idle and rev up the car to 2-2.5 k rpm's the ac seems to get a little colder by about 7 degrees. any help or thoughts would be great Hopefully i can find a answer soon 😯😵
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,723
Likes: 114
From: NJ
Start with cleaning the condenser with some foaming A/C Cleaner. I use this stuff: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Frost-King...19-oz/20703057
EDIT: Didn't notice that it gets colder by simply revving the engine in park, cleaning the condenser won't have a impact on this.
EDIT: Didn't notice that it gets colder by simply revving the engine in park, cleaning the condenser won't have a impact on this.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: texas
Start with cleaning the condenser with some foaming A/C Cleaner. I use this stuff: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Frost-King...19-oz/20703057
EDIT: Didn't notice that it gets colder by simply revving the engine in park, cleaning the condenser won't have a impact on this.
EDIT: Didn't notice that it gets colder by simply revving the engine in park, cleaning the condenser won't have a impact on this.
Last edited by AnthonyMtz; Jul 26, 2014 at 12:53 AM. Reason: fixed sentence
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: texas
And I don't know if this makes a difference but I have always noticed (on cars with ice cubes coming out the vents lol) always leaves a puddle under it no matter how much moisture is in the air even when the air is dry. My lexus rarely dose this but if I'm on the freeway and exit off and idle the car leaves a darn river under it, air is ice cold but slowly goes back to room temperature when it's at idle....and not one drop so I know for a fact the air is not getting cold enough to make and produce condensation.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
mostly we are enthusiast and tinkerers. AC is a specialized field, requiring special tools and know how. I think that is the reason why you are not getting any feed back on your query.
Have you tried getting into diagnostic mode? Remember to ignore the light sensor fault if you conduct the test in the garage or shine a light on the sensor.
Salim
Have you tried getting into diagnostic mode? Remember to ignore the light sensor fault if you conduct the test in the garage or shine a light on the sensor.
Salim
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: texas
mostly we are enthusiast and tinkerers. AC is a specialized field, requiring special tools and know how. I think that is the reason why you are not getting any feed back on your query.
Have you tried getting into diagnostic mode? Remember to ignore the light sensor fault if you conduct the test in the garage or shine a light on the sensor.
Salim
Have you tried getting into diagnostic mode? Remember to ignore the light sensor fault if you conduct the test in the garage or shine a light on the sensor.
Salim
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Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
Without manifold gauges, it's IMPOSSIBLE to know.
You need to look at those pressures. Wether or not it's idle or on the freeway is insignificant.
Could be some desiccant broke free from the dryer jamming the expansion valve.
Could be A/C compressor getting HOT and refrigerant control valve jamming.
I had similar problems, but I have manifold gauges and a vacuum pump.
6-700 to take it in to any place easy.
Try spraying water on the condenser at idle, after it gets hot inside. Water dramatically improves the efficiency of any heat exchanger.
These are getting old. Most are getting due for an A/C rebuild. I changed the motor on mine, thus I rebuilt the entire A/C system.
You need to look at those pressures. Wether or not it's idle or on the freeway is insignificant.
Could be some desiccant broke free from the dryer jamming the expansion valve.
Could be A/C compressor getting HOT and refrigerant control valve jamming.
I had similar problems, but I have manifold gauges and a vacuum pump.
6-700 to take it in to any place easy.
Try spraying water on the condenser at idle, after it gets hot inside. Water dramatically improves the efficiency of any heat exchanger.
These are getting old. Most are getting due for an A/C rebuild. I changed the motor on mine, thus I rebuilt the entire A/C system.
Last edited by jimsRX300; Jul 28, 2014 at 04:12 PM.
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Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: texas
Thanks so much for the help Jim I was thinking about rebuilding my ac system , Also my condenser is a little beat up and when I sprayed it with the garden hoes ac got cold, also my filter was dirty so I got that changed.
Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
Do yourself a favor.
Go on rockauto and look at their Denso A/C condenser part number. Plop that into amazon, it's something like 82 bucks. Comes preoiled and with the dryer ready to go.
You can then buy the A/C compressor off Amazon or off rockauto and buy a new expansion valve & o-rings.
I took my front bumper off, makes it easy to get the lines off the condenser. I put LED bulbs in the side markers while I was there.
Take it in, have the system evacuated. Then gut and replace. It's a day job.
Go on rockauto and look at their Denso A/C condenser part number. Plop that into amazon, it's something like 82 bucks. Comes preoiled and with the dryer ready to go.
You can then buy the A/C compressor off Amazon or off rockauto and buy a new expansion valve & o-rings.
I took my front bumper off, makes it easy to get the lines off the condenser. I put LED bulbs in the side markers while I was there.
Take it in, have the system evacuated. Then gut and replace. It's a day job.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: texas
Lol I got led bulb's in side markers so I guess I'm one step ahead and I got the machine to take out the freon and I got a condenser for 71$ and still looking for a compressor I think I'm going to use fresh new freon (134-a) in my system, also I have a auxiliary pusher fan 12" 1,500cfm for them hot traffic jams to keep my ac a little cooler, what area on the front of the condenser would you think would be good for its new life 
I have it currently mounted dead center on the condenser.
I have it currently mounted dead center on the condenser.
Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
I'm surprised that fits in there with the grill. Initially, I wouldn't even use it. The system is gonna be running at 100% new capacity with a full rebuild.
Do your friends have AUX A/C fans? If not, see how it goes. Those twin fans move air pretty good.
Oh, enjoy changing the expansion valve. It's behind the instrument cluster!!
Do your friends have AUX A/C fans? If not, see how it goes. Those twin fans move air pretty good.
Oh, enjoy changing the expansion valve. It's behind the instrument cluster!!
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 289
Likes: 28
From: fl
instead of throwing parts and money at it, why not consider doing an actual performance test on it? thats how professionals actually diagnose the actual problem. using the mindset of replacing all parts til it works is foolish and costly. not that i care cause its your money. heres a clue, connect gauges to AC system, run engine about 1500 rpms for about 15 minutes with AC on of course. keep windows rolled up and dont be sitting in the sun. by using the outside temp. , the high and low gauge pressures and the center vent temp, this is how a professional diagnoses the problem. 
Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
Normally I would agree with you. However I've got kids, it's THUNDERDOME around here. I schedule this stuff out way in advance. When I do a repair like this, I'm already in there. The last thing I want to do is go BACK in there.
Change the expansion valve at the very least, it's 20 bucks and 5 bucks for new O-rings.
Change the expansion valve at the very least, it's 20 bucks and 5 bucks for new O-rings.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: texas
I'm surprised that fits in there with the grill. Initially, I wouldn't even use it. The system is gonna be running at 100% new capacity with a full rebuild.
Do your friends have AUX A/C fans? If not, see how it goes. Those twin fans move air pretty good.
Oh, enjoy changing the expansion valve. It's behind the instrument cluster!!
Do your friends have AUX A/C fans? If not, see how it goes. Those twin fans move air pretty good.
Oh, enjoy changing the expansion valve. It's behind the instrument cluster!!
Oh no, how far behind the dash any sticky 's for it ?, and I just had a extra cooling fan laying around that I had bought a while back but never used (can post pics if you would like to see it) and they move air good but when I get in the big traffic jams at 110°f+ heat I noticed a good decrease in performance, The extra fan helped quite a bit