A/C not working, Compressor comes on when jumped

[Dirtman]

Correct, had to jump it to start pulling fluid in. Compressor squealed like a pig. Figuring bad compressor, what else do you think I should take a look at? Thanks for your help!

Every O ring in the system, expansion valve, orifice tube, compressor, dryer, condenser, high and lo pressure lines, and evaparator. Replace those first.

 

[Mhfco6]

Every O ring in the system, expansion valve, orifice tube, compressor, dryer, condenser, high and lo pressure lines, and evaparator. Replace those first.

Alright alright, I catch your drift. Thanks for the help.

 

[Dirtman]

Alright alright, I catch your drift. Thanks for the help.

Im just ball busting dont take offense lol, but kinda serious... Once an AC sits dry for that long they just tend to rot from the inside out. I'm not an hvac expert but seen a ton of people spend fortunes trying to fix old AC systems like yours and in the end it goes one of 2 ways.... Giving up and removing the AC system, or completely rebuilding from condensor to evaporator.

 

[Mhfco6]

Im just ball busting dont take offense lol, but kinda serious... Once an AC sits dry for that long they just tend to rot from the inside out. I'm not an hvac expert but seen a ton of people spend fortunes trying to fix old AC systems like yours and in the end it goes one of 2 ways.... Giving up and removing the AC system, or completely rebuilding from condensor to evaporator.

None taken, I was afraid of that. Hoping I’d get lucky. This is my hunting truck, heat works great. My commuter car needs a lot of work (2-3 weeks worth) Looking to escape the heat on the way home from work, might just have to tough it out.

 

[Denisefwd93]

I would first determine if the compressor is still good, easy enough to do.

At the very least, replace all the refrigerant lines, they're just not that expensive, you get new shrader connections, and they come with O-rings. Also, get a new orifice, red or green both work.

There's a good chance most of the oil from the compressor is in the accumulator and the compressor sump small as it is, may be dry. the squealing you heard may have been the clutch, belt, or both on the compressor.

The only thing I did not replace on my truck was the compressor.

 

[Golfdonwon]

Relay?

Mine was a bad relay.

 

[Mhfco6]

Pulled a vacuum, and was only able to hold at 20in. I first used the vacuum to pull some PAG oil with dye, then pushed a can of refrigerant. I turned AC on and compressor short cycled rapidly.. the truck actually died from the compressor draw. I revved the truck up at the throttle body and added 2 more cans of refrigerant until the short cycling stopped and compressor cycled on and off normally.

Compressor makes a bit of noise and might not last too long, but the ice cold air will freeze you out of the truck! I couldn’t believe it.

 

[franklin2]

Pulled a vacuum, and was only able to hold at 20in. I first used the vacuum to pull some PAG oil with dye, then pushed a can of refrigerant. I turned AC on and compressor short cycled rapidly.. the truck actually died from the compressor draw. I revved the truck up at the throttle body and added 2 more cans of refrigerant until the short cycling stopped and compressor cycled on and off normally.

Compressor makes a bit of noise and might not last too long, but the ice cold air will freeze you out of the truck! I couldn’t believe it.

Apparently you didn't listen to anyone in this thread. A amateur asking questions, reading and learning how a A/C system works and then working on it themselves and actually getting it to work? It's impossible for that to happen. Congratulations.

I would suspect you have a leak somewhere. It may cool all summer, and need a can of freon next year. R134a is cheap, a can a year is not bad for A/C. If it doesn't last that long, the leak is larger. You can start investigating where that might be, while you are enjoying the A/C for as long as it lasts.

 

[Mhfco6]

Apparently you didn't listen to anyone in this thread. A amateur asking questions, reading and learning how a A/C system works and then working on it themselves and actually getting it to work? It's impossible for that to happen. Congratulations.

I would suspect you have a leak somewhere. It may cool all summer, and need a can of freon next year. R134a is cheap, a can a year is not bad for A/C. If it doesn't last that long, the leak is larger. You can start investigating where that might be, while you are enjoying the A/C for as long as it lasts.

Rough crowd, now that’s it’s working I’m going to enjoy it. The pag oil has dye so I’ll be looking around. Although I agree, lucky!

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I read the tech article and resurrected my a/c. Rolling down the window does doesn't help when its 112F....I just didn't drive it in the summer.

I didn't replace everything, but did get a new compressor, o ring kit and accumulator/orifice tube. The lines looked good, as did my condenser.

My first attempt adding freon using gauges failed.

My buddy does HVAC, he added the freon by weighing it in according to what we found on sticker labels and online (I think it was 36oz). After that it blew ice cold. He had a big tank of R143a, and set it on a HVAC scale tared out.

 

[golley]

look, if the system leaked that bad, air got in. you have to fix the leak and pull a vacuum on it before adding the gas. also, if you lost oil you have to pull the compressor, drain it and add new oil first. and hope the dessicant bag in the accumulator (the silver tank) is good and didn't bust. if the switch had just been bad, you jump it and the ac runs fine, of course.