Hi Ken,
I found the problem.
Kia makes 2 different AC compressors for the same models which appear the same but are very different in operation.
One compressor uses a clutch and needs a relay supplying 12v to it. The other compressor uses no clutch, needs no relay, runs continuously but whose pumping capacity is controlled by a swashplate making it a variable pump compressor. It doesn't need 12v to clutch but needs a 5v ref. Circuit to send signals to ECU which sends command back to compressor swashplate changing pumping capacity.
My Sorento had this variable pump compressor and needed no 12v to a clutch. Thats why I was getting the 4.8 ECU voltage to the compressor and not 12v.
To confuse things further Kia put an A/CON relay in my fuse box that does nothing! Thats what really threw me off. My set up needed no AC relay and yet one was furnished in the fuse box making it appear that it did.
This led me to purchase the wrong compressor (clutch type) and so I have been trying to make it work in a system it wasn't designed for.
So here I sit with a new clutch compressor in a properly vacuum pumped and leak detected system that works perfectly when engaged but is wrong for the control system.
I think it would be easier to make this clutch compressor work than to take everything out and buy another externally controlled compressor and start over again.
I'm presently looking into that.
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Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 AT 2:54 PM