Car AC Woes
Platinum Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,266
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From: cardboard box
Getting your AC ice cold isn't all that hard. The trick is finding the sweet spot with refrigirant pressure by not having either too little or too much refrigirant in the system.
It's normal for AC temps to get slightly higher when idling since heat dispersion is reduced when less air is flowing through the condenser. It shouldn't be too dramatic though, maybe a few degrees. Get a thermometer (little stick type that they sell at auto parts stores) and stick it in your cars vent. Unless the outside temp is 100+, the AC temp should be < 45F in most cases, even at idle. Also get a pressure gauge to check the refrigirant level, and find out what the pressure spec is for your car.
It's normal for AC temps to get slightly higher when idling since heat dispersion is reduced when less air is flowing through the condenser. It shouldn't be too dramatic though, maybe a few degrees. Get a thermometer (little stick type that they sell at auto parts stores) and stick it in your cars vent. Unless the outside temp is 100+, the AC temp should be < 45F in most cases, even at idle. Also get a pressure gauge to check the refrigirant level, and find out what the pressure spec is for your car.
Then I would use that together with the $20 charge kit, instead of paying a shop >$80 to recharge it.
+1 on cleaning the condeser and flushing radiator.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,692
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From: Bethlehem PA
if you need a refill you may have a leak somewhere.
Buy the r34 refill with the gauge on it. Most cars require around 32-36psi of freon.
btw, if you do have a leak use mighty putty to seal it if its on the aluminum pipes.....
If you want, im going to my in-laws this weekend so if you want to meet me in bethlehem I'll help you out. I also have a few cans of r34 refill that I never used......
ohh and mighty putty.
Buy the r34 refill with the gauge on it. Most cars require around 32-36psi of freon.
btw, if you do have a leak use mighty putty to seal it if its on the aluminum pipes.....
If you want, im going to my in-laws this weekend so if you want to meet me in bethlehem I'll help you out. I also have a few cans of r34 refill that I never used......
ohh and mighty putty.
ASE Certified
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: The 503
Getting your AC ice cold isn't all that hard. The trick is finding the sweet spot with refrigerant pressure by not having either too little or too much refrigerant in the system.
It's normal for AC temps to get slightly higher when idling since heat dispersion is reduced when less air is flowing through the condenser. It shouldn't be too dramatic though, maybe a few degrees. Get a thermometer (little stick type that they sell at auto parts stores) and stick it in your cars vent. Unless the outside temp is 100+, the AC temp should be < 45F in most cases, even at idle. Also get a pressure gauge to check the refrigerant level, and find out what the pressure spec is for your car.
Refrigerantlevel should be checked when the car is warmed up, AC is cranked up to Max and has been on for 5 minutes or so. If the pressure is less than the spec, add a bit, but not too much. Adding too much will cause the compressors safety shutoff to activate due to too much pressure build up in the system. If you add refrigerant and notice the compressor kicking on and off within a few seconds time, you've likely overcharged the system. The compressor will kick on and off but not in a short time, especially if the AC's on max.
Also check for leaves or anything obstructing the radiator and condenser in the front of the car. This would limit the amount of heat the condenser could effectively release. It doesn't hurt to clean the condenser off occasionally with the hose or compressed air either.
I've got my AC running at 38F, 40F at idle. Fucking freezing cold, and that's with a 10 year old accord with all original equipment. AC problems, in my experience, are rarely due to something wrong with components, it's almost always something simple like under/over charged system or a blocked condenser.
It's normal for AC temps to get slightly higher when idling since heat dispersion is reduced when less air is flowing through the condenser. It shouldn't be too dramatic though, maybe a few degrees. Get a thermometer (little stick type that they sell at auto parts stores) and stick it in your cars vent. Unless the outside temp is 100+, the AC temp should be < 45F in most cases, even at idle. Also get a pressure gauge to check the refrigerant level, and find out what the pressure spec is for your car.
Refrigerantlevel should be checked when the car is warmed up, AC is cranked up to Max and has been on for 5 minutes or so. If the pressure is less than the spec, add a bit, but not too much. Adding too much will cause the compressors safety shutoff to activate due to too much pressure build up in the system. If you add refrigerant and notice the compressor kicking on and off within a few seconds time, you've likely overcharged the system. The compressor will kick on and off but not in a short time, especially if the AC's on max.
Also check for leaves or anything obstructing the radiator and condenser in the front of the car. This would limit the amount of heat the condenser could effectively release. It doesn't hurt to clean the condenser off occasionally with the hose or compressed air either.
I've got my AC running at 38F, 40F at idle. Fucking freezing cold, and that's with a 10 year old accord with all original equipment. AC problems, in my experience, are rarely due to something wrong with components, it's almost always something simple like under/over charged system or a blocked condenser.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Dallas, TX
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,428
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From: The 503
I would check to make sure your fans are running. When you turn on your AC one fan should always turn on to pull air through your condenser. It would run fine while driving because of the air do to you being in motion. As said before, if the pressure gets too high your compressor should shut off. Everything has a temp to pressure relationship.