A/C system not blowing cold air?

Tiny
CAR ISSUES
  • MEMBER
  • 2020 CHRYSLER VOYAGER
  • 72,000 MILES
The car is not blowing cold air. It blows fine pressure wise and heats fine. Since November it’s only blown cold air about 5 to 6 times. I’m not a car guy but I’m pretty sure when it isn’t blowing cold the compressor isn’t on and when it is the compressor is on.

Out of the handful of times it has turned on it’s been after about an hour or so of driving. Mostly city with a little highway but when it does start blowing cold it’s out of nowhere and a mix of circumstances (once while parked for a bit and once while driving about 25 mph). If it does come on it stays on the rest of the time the car is on and even will continue to blow cold if the engine is turned off for 45 minutes to an hour and turned back on. The next day it will be warm air again.

Mech inclined buddy had me get a basic gauge and Freon (correct type for my car) to see if it was maybe low. When we hooked up the gauge it said over pressure so it doesn’t appear to be a leak or low Freon.
Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 AT 12:56 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

If the gauge indicated overcharged, there could be a blockage in the system or a compressor issue. By chance, does your friend have a manifold gauge set for the AC? We need to check the pressures on both the high and low sides of the system to make that determination. Keep in mind that you never added refrigerant before this problem, so why would the system be overcharged? (if you tried adding prior, let me know) I have a feeling with both pressure gauges attached, we are going to find the low-pressure side is too high and the high-pressure is too low which is usually an indication of a failing compressor or a blockage in the system.

Here is a link you may find of interest:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

Let me know.

Take care,

Joe
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 AT 3:21 PM
Tiny
CAR ISSUES
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  • 2 POSTS
Sir,

Thank you for a quick response.

My friend does not, his hobbies deal less with ac than other components. We had not added refrigerant prior (my only idea as to why it could be overcharged is I did buy this car around November of 2022 from enterprise rental, so it used to be a former rental and I am unsure of its previous mechanical history.) Either that or just not a very accurate gauge.

I can try to take it to my local hobby shop and see if they have a gauge set, I can use. If it is the condenser what would prompt it to fail so soon? My friend didn’t seem to think it should be the condenser considering the age of the car/miles.
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 AT 3:56 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

I don't feel the condenser is the issue either. I mentioned the compressor or a blockage. Regarding the A/C gauges, I'm not sure where you are located, but often, a parts store will lend them to you.

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 AT 10:55 PM

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