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A/C working better after repairs

Tiny
NOCO2EV
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 SUBARU FORESTER
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 108,000 MILES
Had a leak in A/C system, took to shop, they put in UV dye marker. Lasted 6-8 weeks. Got a UV light and found two leaks, one at low pressure fitting and one at the bottom of the drier. Replaced both low and high pressure hoses and drier/condenser assembly. Recharged to 1.1lb of R134a. Now works for about 15 minutes and the compressor turns off for about another 10-15 minutes. Got home and compressor was off, got pressures gauges attached seam fine, compressor started up again and let it run for 20-30 minutes, didn't shut down again and it was frigid inside car.
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Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 2:08 PM

17 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon.

What are the high and low side pressures while running?

What are the readings with the A/C off?

Roy
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Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 2:25 PM
Tiny
NOCO2EV
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Going to do memory placement. At rest I remember about 90, running low side was 30 and high side was 225+/-10.
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Friday, August 16th, 2019 AT 6:38 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Those pressures are good. You will need to monitor the pressures when it shuts down. Then we can see if the low side drops or the high side goes too high.

Roy
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Friday, August 16th, 2019 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
NOCO2EV
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Well driving around today @94* cooling great, 10 minutes from home it stopped. Got home popped hood and compressor is off ran inside to get gauges, right as I was connecting the first (high side) the compressor came on, connected low side and got readings off 50 low and high was coming down from 275. I have a CAN OBD II and connected it. Got a fault code of U0073, looked it up and I don't think it is related. CONTROL MODULE COMM BUS A. OFF. Found that code to show up in many diagnostic procedures in the service manual
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Okay, unfortunately, you need to have the gauges hooked when the failure occurs. Too much time passed to get any kind of reading to help determine the failure.

Roy
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 12:20 PM
Tiny
NOCO2EV
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Finally caught it down, been off for a couple of minutes, low side =100 high side=150. Also I had read somewhere try jumpering pressure switch with paper clip, so I did and the compressor came on, let it run for a couple of seconds and re-plugged connector and the compressor started up normal.
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Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 AT 2:19 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Okay, replace the low-pressure switch. Sounds like it is bad.

Roy
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Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 AT 2:34 PM
Tiny
NOCO2EV
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
System needs to be bled down, right?
And thanks, I will let you know outcome, will be a few days.
Gary
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Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 AT 5:17 PM
Tiny
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No, there is a Schraeder valve below the switch.

Just remove or unscrew the switch and install the new one.

Roy
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Thursday, August 22nd, 2019 AT 2:13 AM
Tiny
NOCO2EV
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
New symptom update. (Switch only available with complete evaporator line.) Sitting at idle speed everything works fine, car interior becomes an ice box. Run RPM up to 2k and high side pressure goes to 450 and clutch turns off, few seconds later, back on, same thing pressure climbs rapidly to 450 and repeats over and over till clutch shuts off long term. Pressure drops to say about 150 high side, still does not come back on. Turn car off and right back on and compressor comes on and runs fine @ idle rpm, rev up to 2k again and the whole cycle repeats. Does the expansion valve have anything to do with this?
Gary
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
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Not the high side.

What was the low side during this event?

Roy
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 2:57 PM
Tiny
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  • 9 POSTS
Just adding Low pressure side stays around 30-35.
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:00 PM
Tiny
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Okay, that is better.

This is either a clogged condenser or a bad compressor.

Is the fan pulling a good amount of air through the condenser?

Roy
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:05 PM
Tiny
NOCO2EV
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I replaced condenser, dryer, both high and low pressure side hoses. And the fans seem to be fine. There was not much dirt in the radiator area when I replaced those parts.
Gary
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:24 PM
Tiny
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That only leaves the compressor.

Roy
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:40 PM
Tiny
NOCO2EV
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Okay, I will order one and I sure hope this is the last big ticket item. Will be a week or so I and I will let ya know.
Thanks, Gary
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:53 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You are welcome.

Roy
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 4:16 PM

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