Hi everyone,
I am still learning to be a mechanic, but I am frustrating because I have no clue on how to fix the vehicle's A/C system, the A/C compressor clutch only engages 1 hit when starting, after that I tried plugging the pressure gauge into the low pressure side, and found out that I did kind of overfill the freon, so I used my key sticking into the valve and lost some freon until the pressure gauge showed 40 - 50 PSI, after that I started getting cold air again (compressor clutch engaging non-stop), but a few moments later, the cold air started becoming warm air. I went back to the engine bay to check the low pressure again, it showed "LOW", it's supposed to be between 40 - 50 PSI, so then I filled it back up again to 40 - 50 PSI, and the compressor clutch went back to where it only engages 1 hit when starting. Is there a leak? I did put the UV dye in it, and have not found any leaks yet.
Please see attached link for videos of compressor clutch only engines one hit when starting.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nHDh8yO3E2fgqRRJ336VyEvpgmP_6nKh?usp=sharing
Vehicle info:
2001 Toyota Corolla S 1.8 Liter, 4 Cylinder with 194k miles.
A/C Compressor has 120K miles only.
Please let me know if I can take more videos of diagnosis for getting more clear problems to fix.
Since you don't mention your high side pressure that implies you are using one of those "recharge cans" that have a cheap low-side gauge. If so, you can't diagnose AC that way and most of those stupid things contain sealers that can plug up and ruin your AC system. You need to get yourself a manifold gauge set to get an idea of what's going on inside the AC system. What if sealer plugged something up, causing excessive high pressure, and a sensor is shutting the system down? You won't know unless you have the proper diagnostic tools.
Do what Scotty says, at this point you really have no idea what's in there, it needs to be evacuated, vacuum drawn, and the proper amount of refrigerant by weight installed. Use only pure R134a with no sealers or additives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IBFLMYZEzI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HCSsv3uYfM
Thanks for the reply, I will take it to the shop for recovering the refrigerant, so I don't dmg the atmosphere, then do it the right way with the A/C Manifold gauge and vacuum pump.
It is pretty clear you need to take the vehicle to an AC professional before damaging the system (and our atmosphere) with the DIY approach.
It may already be too late.
Ya think? @chucktobias. This reminds me of the time when I was 9 and almost completely disassembled my Grandfather's Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engine but couldn't figure out how to put it back together. His advice to me was (and still is) -
"If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it."
Well one you never know what's in the system you have to start doing this evacuate the system with a vacuum pump for an hour to make sure it's completely empty. Then put in a factory load by weight there's a sticker on all cars it'll say like 575 g and you put that amount in. Then you analyze the high and low pressures I have many videos on the Scotty calmer channel about fixing AC you might watch a few of them
Thanks for the reply scotty, I will take my car to the shop for recovering the freon, and use your method to charge the A/C correctly.