Air compressor not working properly

SHELLY PERKINS

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
135,463 MILES

My air conditioner had stopped working. It would kick when I turned it on so I bought some Freon with gauge, soon as I hooked it up, the needle shot all the way over in the red (200) before then I noticed my "trac off" light would come on and the car would get hot, even though I just had a new thermo put in an ignition fixed. Could it be I need a new compressor? Someone said something about getting it equalized? What specifics can I look for? Don't know mechanic terms. Trying to save my baby, please help.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros.

If the low pressure side is that high there must be a blockage in the system or the compressor is bad. I assume the extreme pressure was seen with the engine running and the ac on, correct? Low side pressure really shouldn't go above 55psi. Now, if it was that high and the engine wasn't running, it is extremely overcharged or the compressor is bad.

What really needs done here is the system pressures need checked using an AC manifold set that indicates both the high and low side pressures. If you find the low side pressure to be extreme and the high side pressure to be low, I suspect either a blockage or the compressor itself is bad.

Here is a link showing the gauges I mentioned being used:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

Let me know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe