High pressure can be the result of loose fan shrouds or air dams. I wonder if my engine is too hot or is there another problem. The cycles are cutting in and out too rapidly, giving those high low side readings. High temperature readings from your AC can indicate damage is occurring to your AC system. Condenser High Pressure Side. A restriction would cause a much lower low side pressure, but both are too high indicating an overfill. If the AC temperatures are abnormally warm, this could indicate an issue with the compressor that might need repair or replacement. I'm not sure if your Lancer is equipped with a high-side pressure switch but the same principle applies. Avoid adding excess refrigerant to the system. Tighten any of the appliances that are not positioned correctly or tightened adequately. After removing the debris, check the readings again. But if you see the AC low side high, high side low, such as the low side is 100 and the high side is 150, there might be problems with any of the inner components. There are legal (Environmental Protection Agency) and safety concerns concerns if you were to do it yourself. Another common cause for a reading with high pressure could be the overcharge of the system.​. Obviously the main issue that people deal with when they have a broken A/C system is that the air coming out the vents is not cold enough. TVGuide.com. What should I do if the condenser fan doesn't turn on? If you need to release pressure from the AC system, it's a good idea to go to a mechanic. In some cases, this can be a simple debris that can be cleaned if removed, while in other cases, it could be due to internal damage. For example, it is currently 81 degrees outside. Hence, a malfunction might reduce its efficiency along with speed. For a specific diagnosis, you need to check both the AC low and high pressure side readings. The high low side readings (with normal high side readings) are a result of thermostat switch malfunction. Second symptom: While the AC cools just fine at relatively lower temperatures (60-85 degrees), it barely cools at high temperatures. In general, higher than usual air pressure is often a result of two situations. Line Technician. To test the overcharge, you might need to take the content of your system and determine instead of putting more coolant to it. 134a High Side Pressure. Most of the vehicles currently use the R134a refrigerant (Amazon Link) in the AC systems. This, in turn, might be a consequence of bad condenser fan motor. I think the best solution is to do a thorough inspection of your AC system before undertaking any repairs. To rectify this problem, you should remove and blockage and clear any debris. Pressures at or Near Equal • A/C compressor failing internally • A/C compressor variable displacement function inoperable • Expansion valve failure. Replace any of the fans that are malfunctioning in … Sounds like it is too full of oil. This means that if it is approximately 80 degrees outside and the engine is at idle the high-side pressure should range between 176 and 200 psi. The pressure on the low side reads 35 PSI while the high side reads 275 PSI! Checking the air from air ventilation in the car. This happens when there is an unusually rapid cutting in and out of the cycle. But I advise that you contact an experienced mechanic for the best results when doing bigger repairs and releasing pressure from your AC system. Photo Credit: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/81068-can-somebody-post-a-picture-of-the-airconditioner-on-l-8/. Check belt and belt tension. What should the low side pressure be on an 01 chevy tahoe with rear air? An excessive amount of refrigerant or coolant and oil in the system is often the cause of overcharging problem. Proper maintenance of the compressor and AC after a certain period is vital to a great extent. The fans and shrouds should be mounted securely in order to work effectively. Avoid this common mistake while testing. It can also be because of excess oil in the system. y or mounting components. Therefore, you should get this part replaced or checked by an experienced mechanic. Another sanity check is that the low-pressure switch activates at 32 psi, which is lower than the 40 psi you are seeing on the low-side. Older model cars from the 90s or older might use R12. You might not be able to rectify this malfunction on your own. Thermostatic switch defective (range between points is incorrectly Rough or Interm inoperative 1. If the ambient temperature is higher or lower than normal (70 to 80°F) the pressures will go up or down accordingly. There is a big difference between a bubbling sight glass and a low flow rate sight glass. Higher than normal air pressure is usually a consequence of two situations. In addition, you can check for leaks yourself doing a visual inspection, using a kit, or an electronic sniffer. These days, most of the car models are made with an R134a AC system. In my opinion it's better to take your time at the beginning and understand all the steps before making a costly mistake. You can personally test the speed of the fan with easily available DIY equipment. On most systems the high side should not normally exceed 250 psi unless the ambient air temperature exceeds 100 degrees. Top 5 Best Impact Driver Reviews and Buying Guide, Top 5 Best 8 Inch Car Subwoofer and Buying Guide, What is The Best OBD2 Scanner 2019? Check to see if anything is blocking the fan from turning. The pressure reading from the low side should be between 25 and 30 psi and the high side between 200 and 250 psi. Metacritic. Over time, this damages the compressor and shortens its lifespan. Yes, the energy inside the AC compressor might result in taking car AC pressure too high. You may need to replace one of these parts or just an O-ring. A high low side reading (with usual high side reading) is often the result of a malfunction in the thermostat switch. If you are experiencing this, this might be because your condenser is not cycling in the correct manner. What do you guys think? Overcharging of the system is usually caused due to an excess of refrigerant in the system. To get normal readings, you would need to get the thermostat switch replaced by a local mechanic. The AC plays an essential role in keeping the interior temperature of your car under control. Check it Yourself With a Pressure Gauge (Amazon Link). CNET. If you are low on refrigerant, it leaked out somewhere. Possibility #3 AC low side pressure is low because of a restriction on the high side. K2500 Suburban 1999 Significance of AC Reading It is essential to examine both the low as well as high reading of the AC. CBS News. If this is an electric fan make sure its on any time the a/c is on; Condenser coil dirty or air flow across coil blocked. If no obvious leak is found, recover the refrigerant and replace the service ports or valves, evacuate and recharge the system, and add dye in case there is another leak. If the system of your car has a restriction or blockage, the reading of the high side might be high while the low one could reduce over time. 3. To get a more specific diagnosis, you should check either the high side as well as the low side pressure reading. When checking for leaks, make sure the look at the lines, hoses, and compressor. Photo Credit: http://rinconrolla98.blogspot.com/2015/03/diy-replacing-ac-condenser-fan-honda.html?spref=pi. This could save you time and money. Do a visual inspection and look for oil leaking from any of these areas, and you'll know there's a leak. User Info. Second, the other reason for a high-pressure reading can be an overcharged system. Mechanics have all the right tools, and experience to diagnosis and repair your car's AC system. If you are dealing with this issue, it would be because the compressor is cycling incorrectly. Related News. Enjoy your ice-cold AC! Latest News from. In the summer we all want a cool car, especially on a long drive. Also, you need to make contents in oil of different components during the process of replacing and repairing. Refrigerant is overcharged; Expansion valve is oversized Check electrical connections. This flashing could be from loss of subcooling or too much static and/or friction pressure drop in the liquid line before it reaches the TXV. If all seems fine, you may need to replace the fan, the temperature sensor, or something with circuity, like the fuse for the condenser fan. High pressure might gradually lead to the failure of the compressor. ​The two reasons mentioned above would help you figure out what is going wrong with the AC system in your car. Do not let any airline open because it would lead to the coming flow of air, which causes high-pressure reading. The higher than usual temperature reading in an independent test might be only the beginning. Tech Republic. Sometimes the system can be purged on the high side to help this problem. 1. On a fully charged system, insufficient low-side pressure is normally the result of a restriction. Sometimes the air conditioning seems like it's not working properly and I get semi cool air temperature. Fans and shrouds are designed to run at specific speeds, so determine if any of the fans are running at a reduced speed. Bleed out the coolant until you notice a heavy stream of bubbles. Causes And Solution, Best RV Sewer Hose: A Must-Read Before Buying, Best H11 Bulb: Your Guide To Making The Right Decision, Best Dash Cam for Truckers: Choosing a Top-Notch Recording Device, When checking pressure using gauges and both the high and low pressure side readings, If you turn your car on and turn the AC to high and check the AC pressure lines, the low pressure side should read, If there's pressure on both sides but the. Top 10 Recommendations For You, Unlock Chevy Stereo and Find Radio Codes For Free, How To Reset My Honda Radio After Putting In A New Battery, Unlock Panasonic Strada GPS and install new maps. An A/C System that is working properly should have 150 PSI on the high side and 30 PSI on the low side. The system should be about 25 to 30 psi on the low side and 200 to 250 psi on the high side. A high amount of pressure inside a compressor would make the evaporator to leak and the aluminum to distort. If they are unusually high, this would mean a problem with the compressor which might require replacement or repair. It is essential to examine both the low as well as high reading of the AC. My question was whether a high-side pressure of 375 is too high, and that question has been answered. The evaporator can cause leakage and burst out as well. Wait 5 minutes or til the car reaches normal operating temperature to see if the condenser/radiator fan turns on. Check engine components. In other words, the cycles are moving out and in too quickly, which cause these high readings at the low side. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yo… In general, high pressure on both high and low pressure AC sides is typically caused by an obstruction in the evaporator. Mark. Possibility #3 AC low side pressure is too high because the condenser has reduced airflow Clogged condenser fins or an inoperative condenser fan can cause low side pressure to be too high. In these situations, we advise you to take it carefully and slowly. Send Private Topic View Profile. Thanks to all who confirmed for me. The thermostat might have the wrong range of temperature. I will evacuate a small amount to bring pressures under 300, as I thought I should have done to begin with. Associate Degree. Higher than normal temperature readings while testing your AC might indicate other problems as well. High pressure would gradually result in the failure of the compressor, which can cost you a lot of money for repairing if not solved in time. Adding excess refrigerant can cause problems with the AC temperature, the condenser, and other components. When I turn the AC on and it's warm, sometimes I turn up the fan hoping things will get cooler faster. If your AC pressure is persistently too high, it points to an underlying issue. If the AC temperatures are abnormally warm, this could indicate an issue … Refrigerant is undercharged; Excessive condenser water flow; Condenser outlet water temperature too low; Air conditioner unit is over capacity; Ineffective compression of compresor or valve is damaged; Ambient temperature too low; Low Pressure Side Too High. TV.com. If everything seems out of control, immediately call for your mechanic.​. A clogged orifice tube is a common cause of such problems. 2. The high side pressure was roughly 150. The high-side pressure may be elevated as the compressor attempts to force the refrigerant past the obstruction. Therefore, if its Pressure is too high, it could be a sign of underlying problems such as diminishing or leakage of coolant, which call for immediate attention. 1. With the engine on, turn the AC to high and open the hood. Overcharging the system and leaks are some common reasons for AC issues. The air conditioning (AC) performance is important because it keeps the vehicle's interior temperature under control. When the pressure of the AC system is too high this might indicate a leakage or diminishing amount of refrigerant, both of which require immediate attention. Jamco Auto Parts. If you have debris near the fan blocking the flow, you will face the same issue. Compressor failure: The compressor is another major component that can be harmed by high static pressure. Ac Low High Side Pressure. After that, recharge with refrigerant till the bubbles in the glass go away. Also, the cost of replacement as well as repair of a compressor is expensive as removing the dash for rectification. If the high side pressure drops from around 150-200 to around 28-psi quickly and then falls gradually after that, you’ve got air in the system. Ac Low Side Pressure Too High. Obviously, that means something is wrong inside the air conditioning unit itself that's throwing this off. Suggestions . too rapidly. The low-side is way too low and the high-side too high. Basic A/C Charging Tips. 799 satisfied customers. Conclusion . If the issue persists, it is highly likely that something in your system needs repairs. Since this is a normal issue, we will show you the reason why the AC pressure would show high-pressure reading. When the engine accelerates the high-side pressure will increase. There are other issues you can solve by yourself with more tools. Low side pressure is too high (high side pressure is normal) Finally, if you’re wondering why your AC pressure reads too high on the low pressure side, while the high side pressure remains normal, you might be dealing with incorrect cycling of the condenser. Check air gap. Obviously this is much too high (or seems to be from every other vehicle I have owned/serviced before.) So I checked the AC pressure with a gauge I picked up from autozone and it was sitting between 80-100 PSI. If not corrected in time, the repairs can cost a fortune. High Pressure Side Too Low. Post: A/C High Side Pressure Too High - 1964 (Topic#249544) dcairns Frequent Contributor Posts: 2206 Loc: Orange CA Reg: 11-07-03. Get a leak check kit or gas sniffer (Amazon Link) to find any underlying leakage. We'll discuss about how AC pressure can determine the health your AC system. Therefore, a malfunction would reduce its pace along with efficiency. In general, it is not common to have a high reading with low side pressure reading and the normal one with high side. Thus, the following tips we suggest have been applied for R134a AC system and would be helpful in other cooling systems as well. Therefore, if its Pressure is too high, it could be a sign of underlying problems such as diminishing or leakage of coolant, which call for immediate attention. After that, check these measurements again. Ac Low Side Pressure Too High. High pressure inside the ​condenser fan can causes the aluminium to distort and evaporator coils to leak. Copyright © 2020 DRIVING LIFE - This site is owned and operated by LIW LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in California, USA. When the pressure of the AC system is too high this might indicate a leakage or diminishing amount of refrigerant, both of which require immediate attention. Talk to a Dr. Berg Keto Consultant today and get the help you need on your journey. Since it isn't overfull of refrigerant, I could only suspect it is too … If blood pressure is too high for too long, it can cause serious damage to the blood vessels.. Since this is a normal issue, we will show you the reason why the AC pressure … The condenser fan of AC system works at different speeds and capacities. Make it a point not adding more refrigerant to the AC system, unless you know for sure it is low. Do not allow any airline to be open as this causes the air to enter into the system, resulting in high-pressure readings. High side pressure too high; Condenser fan not running. High Side Pressure Too Low . In fact, this action is not helpful for the diagnosis and would make the situation worse for a compressor. If your AC system is not working properly, it's time to do an inspection. If the problem persists, have your car repaired immediately by a professional mechanic. I put approximately 2.7 lbs of 134a in a … read more. Either way, you can use R134a in your car, although you may need an adapter for older cars. When I turn the AC on and it's warm, sometimes I turn up the fan hoping things will get cooler faster. One, your AC system might be facing limited or no airflow through the condenser. This damage can result in a range of complications, some of which can be life threatening. If your AC pressure is persistently too high, it points to an underlying issue. Another way to solve this problem is to replace the dryer and recharge. To deal with this issue, you have to remove the parts and clear the restriction or debris. Take your time and think about different steps instead of making a terrible mistake. The cost of repair and replacement of compressor is high (about $450 plus $700 labor - price fluctuates greatly depending on car) as the dash might need to be removed for repair. It is very uncommon to get high low side pressure readings with normal high side readings. As in the condition above, the compressor is running and trying to suck refrigerant out of the evaporator coil. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Low Side Pressure Low, High Side Pressure High • System restriction. Did the previous owner fill the system too much, or is there something else going on here. Before doing this, however, you need to make sure that the readings of the low side are consistent over time. It’s not a common occurrence, and requires a professional to … If they are unusually high, this would mean a problem with the compressor which might require replacement or repair. If your condenser has blockage or restriction of air flow, the high pressure side reading would be high while the low side readings would drop over time. Why Is AC Pressure Too High? You could check and find out any problems easily with any DIY equipment. That lack of temperature differential could be causing the air to be blowing a bit warm from your vents. Clean coil and check for air flow; Non condense able gases in system. Any information is greatly appreciated. This, in turn, leads to the inability of the fan to effectively cool the system and pass air. A common mistake that many amateur mechanics would make is putting too much refrigerant into the system without removing their systems first. The fist one is that the AC system in your car would face no or limited flow of air via the condenser, which might be the consequence of a broken condenser fan motor. 09-20-10 10:12 AM - Post# 1978546 Not sure if there are any A/C experts here, but I will give this a try. To prevent this problem from occurring, you would apply a leak test kit to find out any leakage at the bottom. High Side Pressure Too Low Ac High Side Pressure High. Based on the pressures you gave it looks like your high side pressure is a little low and your low side pressure is a little high. When both measurements are high, along with bubbles in the system, you should remove all of the refrigerants. The condenser fan in a coolant system would work at different capacities and speeds. If the fan doesn't turn on, turn off the car and wait 30 minutes for things to cool down. The car will not turn the AC compressor on, probably because these pressure are out of wack. If you're finding that when you measure the pressure on the low side of your AC and it's coming up above 100, while the pressure on the high side is down around 150 or lower then you have a problem with the low side being high and the high side being low. Check for intermittent electrical supply. In the process of restoring my 64 Impala, I took my A/C system in to a local shop that is well regarded for old … You can diagnose many problems yourself by using a pressure gauge that shows the high and low pressure line readings. When the airflow is too low, the system may send liquid refrigerant into the compressor instead of gas. Gamespot. He said he has not tried to put any refrigerant in it (I initially thought maybe it could be an overcharged system) I am thinking that maybe there is a blockage somewhere on the low side.