AC question, why does mine suck?
 

My Tundra seemed like it wasn't blowing quite as cold as it should so I bought one of those recharge kits. The pressure was about 45lbs and when I charged it, I saw little change even though it took a whole bottle. Now today my AC is even worse, by a large margin.

Then today I tried a different gage and it reads 70psi! This is just past the upper end of "safe".

So what the heck? Any ideas what I did to ruin my AC?

I don't know much about AC's, but I do know that overcharging them is bad, very bad...

Can/should I bleed the whole system and start over? I have plenty of supplies.

I assume you checked the LOW side pressure with the AC running both times?. High side pressure, might typically be 150-250 psi depending on system and temps while low side might be 15-30 maybe. When you shut the car off, after awhile, the pressures will equalize and might read about 70 or so when the AC is off.

Too much or too little will affect how it works.

Do you have book with the correct high and low side pressure/temperature charts? Do you have a gage set that allows you to check both high and low side pressures while the system is on and running?

Book shmook Tim:D

I just released some and got it back down to 45psi. No dye is showing and the compressor is engaging. The sight glass is clear as well.

We'll see if it works again. Oh yea, it was the low side port.

If the AC sucks, could the fan be running backwords?


(That's a joke, len.....)

Well it sucks because when the compressor runs it sucks the freon in and blows it out the other side at a higher pressure...

Oh wait... that's not what you meant... nevermind.

What Tim said, there is a high side and a low side... check i t while running... blah, blah, blah...


Or you could take it to a garage and have someone who knows what they are doing look at it :p :p :p

Oh and don't "dump it and start over", if you get air in the system you will really be forked.

It's supposed to be a sealed system if you are losing refrigerant it leaking out somewhere... and that is a bad thing.

I said "sucks" and "blows" all in one post!

Most auto parts stors sell a gauge kit that comes with instructions.

len..if my mind were not so preoccupied, I could help more. I have cert in automotive A/C. Good luck getting it fixed. Overcharging is a no-no. Usually 70+ on the low side says your compressor is toast. New compressor and dryer installed: $1300 to $1600. Hope this helps.

I don't think Tim would respect me anymore if I did that, atleast until I've lost considerable blood and/or flesh first.:D

Thanks Bob, hope things are going well on your end also.

70 psi to too high when the compressor is engaged. Try 35-45 psi. Do you have the factory Toyota manuals? I bet they have charts to check the charge.

TRU DAT!!!!!:D :D

Pain is only temporary, but pride is forever!c:D

Seriously though, you did check the pressure with the system on and running correct?

hey! do you have a in cab air filtration filter under dash pass. side. may be clogged.

when my 99 GMC K-1500 a/c starts blowing less, its always been the cab filter. nothing to do with a/c high low side, freon, seals, leaks.

replace for a few bucks and a/c blows ice cubes again

Pain is just fear leaving the body!!! :D

Randy