2002 Chevy Cavalier Cannot charge AC

IPSIBILLY

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
110,000 MILES

Hello, my 2002 Cavalier air conditioner started blowing hot air while at idle. When I am driving, the air conditioner works fine. I am trying to put refridgerant into it but I can't get it to go. I bought a recharge kit, punctured the can and if I press the end of the recharge hose refridgerant comes out. With the can hooked to the low pressure recharge port, and the engine running with AC at full blast, the compressor kicks on for a few seconds and then turns off. I have done this several times but the can is not emptying. A couple of times the can has gotten very hot. Advice?

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

First of all thank you very much for your donation. Let me ask you this while your a/c compressor is cycling on is your cooling fan running in you engine compartment?Also please don't try charging it anymore it sound's like you have a problem with the a/c with that can getting real hot.

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Friday, July 2nd, 2010 AT 11:30 AM

IPSIBILLY

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I ran the car up to temperature and the cooling fan is not coming on. Good thinking. This is strange though. I pulled the connector to the fan and checked for DC voltage while running and got 0 volts. But with the fan disconnected the compressor comes on and stays and blows cold air. Just not as cold as it used to be. The fuse read 0 ohms accross it. If the motor has a shorted winding or something else wrong inside of it. How is that changing the logic that controls the compressor?

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Friday, July 2nd, 2010 AT 12:15 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

I don't know why your a/c work's better with your engine cooling fan unplugged. Was it the fan on the radiator side you had unplugged?Also we need to see if your car has a code's go to a auto part's store like auto zone and have them scan your car for code's. If you have any write down the number's and let me know what they are. Does your a/c cooling fan ever come on the one on the condensor side towards the front of the car?

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Friday, July 2nd, 2010 AT 12:57 PM

IPSIBILLY

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I went to Auto Zone and they suggested that it was the cooling fan relay. I replaced the relay and plugged the fan back in and everything appears to be working correctly. Thanks for pointing me towards the fan that was a very BIG help.

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Friday, July 2nd, 2010 AT 2:54 PM

SATURNTECH9