I got a certified used car a while back, but the AC sometimes takes a while for it to cool. When it does cool, it doesnt seem to be all that cold. When the car is not moving, i can hear the compressor running for approx 10 seconds on, then 10 seconds off then 10 seconds on and so forth.

I asked around, a honda mechanic said i should take a thermostat and put it on the vent and if it reads 41 degrees, then it's all ok.

I thought about getting a can of r134a from the local auto shop and adding some. it has a gauge on it, but i'm not sure if all AC systems are under the same psi specs.

suggestions anyone? I really don't want to pay the honda dealer 120 bucks to vacuum the system and re-fill.

Suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!
-Brian

p.s. average outside temps are 84-95 (Md/DC area)

 

Shouldn't it be free if it's certified?

 

Given the horror stories of what i had to deal with when i got the car, i'd rather try and see what others had to say first. if i take it to the dealer, there's a standard 36 dollar charge if they don't find anything wrong. The refigerant isnt free, and they won't add to what's in the car. they require you to vacuum it all out then refill it. So, i thought i'd ask people on here first to see if this type of operation is normal, and to see if the compressed stuff in the can i can get at the local auto store will do jsut as well.

anyone have other suggestions?

 

#1 a/c only produces 55 degree cold air not 41 . I work with a/c systems. I know for a fact that washdc/md area is quite humid and if you run a/c using outside air the cooled air is not at its maximum efficentcy. you must run a/c using re-circulated interior air (the button with the arrows) . if the a/c unit is still not cooling (stick a pocket thermometer in the vent it must measure 55degrees). if not, them you may have issue with either the hot gas valve not opening or a compressor issue (the clutch is not engaging).

 

Do the easy inexpensive stuff first. h: What is the pressure on your low pressure side of the A/C? My wife's nissan had a very similar problem with the compressor switching on and off very often and never blowing very cool. Turns out it had too much refrigerant and built up pressure too quickly. Most A/C compressors have built in mechanisms to switch off if the pressure is too high to avoid damage to the compresor. So the switched on and then switched right back off since the pressure built up so fast. The result was exactly what you describe (you'll be lucky if it's that easy). The mechanic drained some refrigirant from the system and voila, worked like a charm, blows like the arctic breeze now . Get an A/C refrigirant pressure guage from the auto parts store and check it. Get the specs for you car from a hayes manual or the internet possibly. If it's a little higher it shouldn't be a problem but my wife's nissan was at about 60psi on the low pressure when it should have been around 32psi. Alot of people get those cans of refrigirant and pump their system up way too high thinking that more is better. Anyway, It's worth a try. It's not a bad idea to keep a pressure gauge around anyway to check your A/C to see if it's too high or low. It could very well be from a low refrigirant level too.

 

The only way to make sure the car has the correct amount of R134 in it is to vacuum out the contents of the car and refill it with the specified amount. That is why the dealer told you this method. The car may be high or low on R134. BTW, is the condenser fan coming on with the A/C running and does it blow strong?

 

i refill my sister a/c system with r134a with the one from the auto part store and it still wasn't cool.. i couldn't figure it out, so i ask her to take into an AC shop call With Pride and the AC guy say that it was okay and the AC valve just need to be adjusted.. after he did that the ac system work great and he didn't charge her for adjusting it. i wasn't there so i didn't know were the ac valve is located at.. hopefully someone on here knows were it's located at.

 

Was that on a Honda? There's nothing like an adjustable A/C valve on a Honda.