'96 Sport 1.8L AC does not blow adequate cold air

[rasmeidirtrider]

My 96 Sport 1.8L does not blow adequate cold air! I bring the car to get checked by a mechanic shop. They connect a gauge set and check the system. The gauge on the left side (if we stand in front of the car) points to the number of more than 30 and they said the compressor is weak which is required to be replaced with a new one and there is no way to repair it.

They also said that they can modify a compressor from other cars to fit into the Sport engine and charge a very high price.
Is it true that the number 30 means the compressor need to be replaced right away? Or Is there any way to repair it?[/font]
Your help is highly appreciated!
__________________
'96 (07/95) Sidekick Sport 16V, 1.8L, 4 auto, 4x4, 4dr, A/C, ABS, 87K on odometer.

[fixkick]

always find a second shop, for a second opinion.
weak A/C
is the air flow from the blower good, nice and strong.?
i believe this is r134 freon. get the freon kit and read the instructions, on the label. (papers)

try this, kit the fitting only fits one of the 2, Freon fittings.
if it keeps losing freon, there is leak there is dye you can use to find that too.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-Pro-Profess...t/20461354

the charge dial shows 25 to 55 for green, good. that number is PSI, pounds per square inch. its a pressure gauge.
mine liked 40. FIY. (was humid here)
if you overcharge it, the cooling drops.

make sure the dampers are working right and air does flow through the A/c EVAP CORE, freely, no leaves or other dirt in there blocking the air flow.
im sure he checked that first. but.....

and of course the 1st check is not freon, its.
1: air blockage to the evap core.
2: then make sure the compressor shaft spins fast. (no belt slip) the pulley spins full time but not the compressor shaft.
3: if the compressor, shaft cuts out,stops spinning , we need to do more checks at the A/C amp (logic box) for why? ASK.



see the core>? here, it must flow air.
http://www.fixkick.com/AirCond/96-97set/...lowups.pdf


here is the pressure chart in the manual.
http://www.fixkick.com/AirCond/r134-1996-chart1w.jpg


what is the outdoor temp
and humidity.

say its 80F and 50% humidity
the low side pressure would be 43 psi at 2000 RPM (engine RPM)

---

it might be a 10cent fix, a simple wire loose. that cuts out the compressor.
always watch it.

the center of the pulley in electric clutch, (on or off) if the compr. shaft stalls, the clutch is cutting out. (ask for more tests)

[rasmeidirtrider]

Thanks for the reply.
The answers to your questions:
This is R134a freon under the hood.
The air flow from the blower is strong in all positions.
The compressor shaft spins fast.
the outdoor temp here is always between 30c to 40c, real hot!
When AC is engaged, bubbles appear through the glass at the receiver dryer for several minutes before they stand still.
However, the air is not really cold!

Could it be a problem? Because I have bypassed the coolant tube for heater core back to the engine.
I don't need heat all years, need only cold air!
__________________
'96 (07/95) Sidekick Sport 16V, 1.8L, 4 auto, 4x4, 4dr, A/C, ABS, 87K on odometer.

[fixkick]

sorry, the heater is separate.
40c. or 104F

so chart shows, 49PSI , so 30 is 19 low.
add more.
on R134, add until it gets better,, then stop, if you put in too much, the cooling effect starts to lessen.

for humility, go to your radio station dot com and see that.
or here,
go here
look up your temp and your humidity
then use the chart above.

50H + 38C + 2000 RPM = 69F (21C) outlet temp. that is as good as it was, day one out the factory floor. R134a is not all that good.
38-21C = 17C drop, in air temp from top of cowl to dash vent, use dash lever RECIRC mode to get better cooling.

---

go to walmart, see that top shelf and those new products, on A/C?
see the big one, with nice gauge, and nice, built in oil, and leak protection (hope in can if ever).
getting one with a nice accurate gauge, can really help with 134.

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OMG i forgot 2 questions do you get full cooling moving fast.
yes , then does the front fan work, the one in front of car, in front of the condenser core? this fan gives you up full cooling from 0 mph to slow veh. speeds.


btw , this is not pro advice, im an electronics guy and mechanics 2nd.
And A/C loop (ive had the school) would say (might)

1-Get all that unknown coolant out the loop. into the capture, tank.
then look for particles of metal there, suggesting compressor damage. (react accordingly)
2- then a new receiver/ drier.
3- pump it down (hard vacuum) (this gets out the moisture, a real killer of A/C performance)
4-new universal oil (the kind that works with all others) added.
5-Charge it per the book. (see chart)
see if it works now. if not, the compressor can be bad or the expansion valve clogged.
replacing the exp. valve, means taking the dash off, and costs explode,

the above early post is just a HOPE, method, put in the correct R134a at your air temp and humidity.
Hope can work. good luck to you.


PS , bad act 1: (previous owners) Unknown coolant horrors. 101.)
Some owners (PO's) put in BBQ propane, fuel as Freon. sure it can work, but BBQ is loaded with water (moisture)
this don't work , at all right. (there is dry propane, but you wont find it at walmart, LOL)


all hacking comments are to non USA posters. In the USA hacking the system is illegal, as is venting to the atmosphere.
Be sure to watch for black helicopters, etc.....

[rasmeidirtrider]

OMG i forgot 2 questions do you get full cooling moving fast.
yes , then does the front fan work, the one in front of car, in front of the condenser core? this fan gives you up full cooling from 0 mph to slow veh. speeds.

all hacking comments are to non USA posters. In the USA hacking the system is illegal, as is venting to the atmosphere.
Be sure to watch for black helicopters, etc.....

Thanks for the reply.
Your above-mentioned two questions are both yes.
The fan in front of car or the condenser core usually gets moving even when the engine runs without engaging the AC.

Here, the government cannot afford a heli for its military, how can they have one hanging overhead to catch someone venting to the atmosphere??

[fixkick]

yes, if the cond. fan is dead, moving fast makes the system full cool

good thing with your heli, here its used for bad things, in places we don't belong.

hoping your A/C wakes soon but me, time for bed.

cheers !

[rasmeidirtrider]

Thank you very much for the information.
My last question, the sticker under the hood said:

SAE J639 Charge R-134a Refrigerant Oil
Max 0.65kg (143lbs) 0.15kg (5.3oz)
Min 0.55kg (121lbs) Model No. SS10V1

Are these the maximum and minimum capacities for charging the refrigerant oil? And Do we need to monitor these exact numbers for proper AC performance?
__________________
'96 (07/95) Sidekick Sport 16V, 1.8L, 4 auto, 4x4, 4dr, A/C, ABS, 87K on odometer.