A/C blows warm air

Tiny
GROGLIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 CHEVROLET HHR
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
After layoff for two months, A/C blows warm. No "check engine light" blower motor fine, fuses, replaced relays anyway. Under hood, noticed A/C clutch spins, (I do know the electric fan does cycle on in traffic) added Freon that came with gauge, read full before I pulled trigger. Days later purchased Manifold gauge from Harbor Tools to get a pressure reading. Read even 60 high and 60 low while the A/C clutch was spinning. Ran out of time, so disconnected high side and low side.I will mention that the high side shrader valve did leak when I disconnected the hose from the manifold gauge like it is stuck open, put dust cover back. Replace valve? Later, wanted a second pressure test for diagnostics, now the A/C clutch will not turn because too low? The readings were 20/20. I do not have much money to spend on this so trying to go slow and careful.
Saturday, March 31st, 2018 AT 12:17 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
Although I am not technically an AC mechanic, that sounds to me as though the expansion valve is stuck open. You should also fix that leaking shrader valve.
You may need a J 46246 valve core tool.
Of course you will have to recover the Freon for both procedures. Although R134a is supposed to not harm to ozone layer, I still do not think it is legal to just allow it to escape into the atmosphere.
Here are the instructions for replacing that expansion valve.
Recover the refrigerant. Refer to refrigerant recovery and recharging.
Remove the air cleaner assembly. Refer to air cleaner assembly replacement for the 2.2L (L61) engine or air cleaner assembly replacement for the 2.4L engine.
1. A/C evaporator and condenser hose nut.
2. Sealing washer.
Remove and discard sealing washers. Refer to sealing washer replacement.
3 Thermal expansion valve bolts (Qty: 2).
Tighten: (62 lb in)

4 Sealing washer.
Remove and discard sealing washers. Refer to sealing washer replacement.
5 Thermal expansion valve
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Saturday, March 31st, 2018 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Your system is nearly empty of refrigerant due to a leak, probably caused by the leaking shrader valve. The system requires a very specific amount of charge. Too much is a problem, too little is a problem and it will likely need some refrigerant oil added also. The only way this can be diagnosed accurately is to completely evacuate the system, repair the shrader and recharge the system with the exact specified weight of refrigerant charge.
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Saturday, March 31st, 2018 AT 8:15 AM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
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Wrenchtech, when it was charged both the high and low sides were the very same PSI, would not that mean the expansion valve is stuck open?
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Saturday, March 31st, 2018 AT 8:48 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
No, it means the compressor is not engaged.
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Saturday, March 31st, 2018 AT 8:51 AM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
He said, "noticed A/C clutch spins".
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Saturday, March 31st, 2018 AT 9:42 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
He could simply be looking at the pulley but regardless of whether it is electrically engaged or not, it is not creating any suction or pressure so it is doing nothing. Also, depending on what the outside temperature is at the time, that ambient pressure should have been higher meaning it does not have sufficient charge to even reach ambient pressure. If in fact it was very cool outside at the time, that may be a normal ambient pressure but until the system is evacuated and recharged, nobody is going to know if it is charged correctly.
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Saturday, March 31st, 2018 AT 9:48 AM
Tiny
GROGLIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Since I need to evacuate the Freon to replace the shrader valve, why not replace the expansion valve, charge it up to the right Freon specs/oil and try the pressure test again hoping the compressor does its job?
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Sunday, April 1st, 2018 AT 10:51 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Because the expansion valve is not your problem. The symptoms do not indicate anything wrong with the expansion valve. I live in South Florida and I specialize in AC repairs.
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Sunday, April 1st, 2018 AT 1:02 PM

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