Diagnostic assistance....

[DontKnowSquat]

55 psi low side, 120 psi on the high. Ambient temp: 96-98 degrees Fahrenheit. Clutch engaging, system is full. Cool to warm air from center vent. GM Saturn ION2 last year run. Numbers like these point to a possible bad compressor or expansion valve?

Recovered approximately 1 lb refrigerant, (specs are 0.90 lb). Going for the expansion valve first. What should I look for in a failed expansion valve.

[Cusser]

Are those pressure numbers at about 1800 rpm ??? If not, relatively useless.

Check for fan shroud intactness, fan clutch, electric condenser/radiator fans.

[DontKnowSquat]

OK. Had already embarked on replacing the expansion valve and orifice tube. The tube was pretty filthy, (see pic). Couldn't find any visible issues with the old expansion valve. Bolted everything back up and pulled a vac. Charged it up again but no difference other than now the low was 75-80 psi and the high remained at 120 psi. Rev-ed it to a steady 1800 RPM's with no difference. This car has no electric condenser/fans or fan clutch it's a 2007. No visible anomalies on the fan shroud either.

[bohica2xo]

Depends on which engine it has

[Cusser]

This car has no electric condenser/fans or fan clutch it's a 2007.

It has one system or the other.

[DontKnowSquat]

No...really, this car does not have condenser fans like most cars.

[bohica2xo]

If your Ion has no fans, it is missing essential parts. Here is what you are looking for:

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php ... 12&jsn=337

Depending on the engine, it may have the CVC compressor - which is variable displacement, and can exhibit all sorts of symptoms.

YEAR / MAKE/ MODEL / ENGINE - in the first post can help a lot.

[DontKnowSquat]

Hey thanks bohica2xo,

It's 2007 Saturn ION2. One owner car, (me). Did have 3 front end smacks by my daughters. Insurance covered it all with OEM parts. So I don't think it's missing anything. A/C always worked like a charm. Anyway I changed the compressor and the problem is solved. I dont know if it is a CVC type. All I know is that it's an A/C Delco 15940126 and it's OEM. Got a working junker for $80.00 W/guarantee, (same type), swapped it out and bingo! Problem solved.

Thanks guys....

[bohica2xo]

Glad you found some junkyard parts for your car.