(2000 Dodge Ram 2500, 5.9L Diesel, Automatic, roughly 224K)
Just to keep it concise, the system is running but isn't blowing cold, and the low side is not getting cool under the hood, either.
To summarize what's been done and inspected recently: it isn't leaking anywhere and the evaporator, high side line and orifice tube were changed out a couple months ago. It was blowing cold until a week and a half ago, then it suddenly became unable to do so. The condenser fins are free of debris, isn't blocked on any side and has no leaks in it, and the fan clutch was just changed out yesterday and is now giving great airflow, and it still isn't getting below 60 at all.
The compressor is also not short cycling and is charged to the correct amount. The temperature blend door works fine as well. The mechanics said the pressures at the shop were too high, and I witnessed this myself. When one of them got in to rev the RPMs up, the high side climbed up into the 400s and the low didn't get below 45. I noticed the condenser felt quite warm to the touch as well after I test drove it around for a bit.
The mechanic said he'd look the issue more over the weekend and told me to keep an eye on the system over the weekend and call them again next week (since they're closed Saturday and Sunday). At this point I'm more trying to make sense of it myself and gather as many informed opinions as I can. Given what I've described, what could be causing this?
Where are you saying the low side is not getting cold so obviously the system is not working mechanically. And if the cold side is not cold, first hook up pressure gauges and see what the pressures are paying mechanic who knows what he's doing because the pressure has to be low for it to get cold and if it's incorrect pressure it can be a restriction anywhere and it could also just be bad compressive with worn out valves inside it won't seal right
Thanks, Scotty! Yeah, I'm gathering opinions as much as I can and another reputable online source also said it sounds like a restriction.