Give insight to my gauges...
Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2023 1:02 pm
Been a few years since I did an DIY on auto AC but have installed some mini splits over the years!
2012 Honda Ridgeline (220K miles) and it gets cool enough when working as inferred gun says 42-44F at the back of the air inlet. Noted now that we are had a 80F day and had to road trip the kid to camp...AC went dead started to suspect a bad compressor not doing well at RPM but got back to the lake house. Noted clutch is engaging and turning fine and the AC started working again around town. Noted air filter was in terrible shape so a new cabin filter improved air flow (and cooling a lot).
then drove home from the lake at 60mph for 2 hours but when we got to 70mph the ac went out again. Now home and it will not work at all and clutch is still engaging. Now I've got the gauges on it.
Resting (no clutch) at 78F with humidity is 65%
Low Side: 15psi
Hi Side: 210psi
Clutch engaged
Low Side: 0psi
Hi Side: 230psi
After 30 minutes the low side is still 15psi and the high side is still 200psi. Shouldn't this equalize through the expansion valve or filter/dryer side of things or does the compressor and valve hold the pressures on each side?
So I'm holding pressure, seem to have freon in there and hit it with my extra can from the auto zone and the dumb gauge on it had it in the green. Doubt I can trust this but at only 15psi resting...maybe that is terribly low? I mean clutch is engaging wouldn't modern car have the clutch not engage if the low side was too low to keep from damaging compressor?
Does this sound like a leak as my one cheat sheet says or are we thinking a stuck expansion valve maybe?
Cannot attach file so screencast here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h28tdg25hjcwf ... 6.jpg?dl=0
2012 Honda Ridgeline (220K miles) and it gets cool enough when working as inferred gun says 42-44F at the back of the air inlet. Noted now that we are had a 80F day and had to road trip the kid to camp...AC went dead started to suspect a bad compressor not doing well at RPM but got back to the lake house. Noted clutch is engaging and turning fine and the AC started working again around town. Noted air filter was in terrible shape so a new cabin filter improved air flow (and cooling a lot).
then drove home from the lake at 60mph for 2 hours but when we got to 70mph the ac went out again. Now home and it will not work at all and clutch is still engaging. Now I've got the gauges on it.
Resting (no clutch) at 78F with humidity is 65%
Low Side: 15psi
Hi Side: 210psi
Clutch engaged
Low Side: 0psi
Hi Side: 230psi
After 30 minutes the low side is still 15psi and the high side is still 200psi. Shouldn't this equalize through the expansion valve or filter/dryer side of things or does the compressor and valve hold the pressures on each side?
So I'm holding pressure, seem to have freon in there and hit it with my extra can from the auto zone and the dumb gauge on it had it in the green. Doubt I can trust this but at only 15psi resting...maybe that is terribly low? I mean clutch is engaging wouldn't modern car have the clutch not engage if the low side was too low to keep from damaging compressor?
Does this sound like a leak as my one cheat sheet says or are we thinking a stuck expansion valve maybe?
Cannot attach file so screencast here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h28tdg25hjcwf ... 6.jpg?dl=0