AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDEO)

HVAC, heating, cooling, air handling. Anything air temp related.

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kkamakasi
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AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDEO)

Post by kkamakasi »

A few days ago my 2003 Astro Cargo lost its A/C. I live in New Orleans and the humidity outside right now is like 100% all the time!

Thinking I might have a freon leak, I opened up the hood to re-charge my freon with one of those DIY recharge kits that I purchased from Advanced Auto and noticed my A/C compressor acting funny.

The A/C compressor was cycling on and off every few seconds. To be more precise, it would turn on for 1-2 sec and then turn off for 6-7 sec and then turn on again and keep cycling like that as long as the A/C is on.

What could this be?
Last edited by kkamakasi on Tue May 10, 2011 11:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Smiliesafari
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off

Post by Smiliesafari »

Check the connection on the back side of the compressor. Disconnect the connection at the pressure switch. Run a jumper across the terminals on the wire harness side. The connection on the back side of the compressor on my Safari came loose and I lost the AC. The jumper on the pressure switch will tell you if you need the system charged.
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kkamakasi
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off

Post by kkamakasi »

Smiliesafari wrote:Check the connection on the back side of the compressor. Disconnect the connection at the pressure switch. Run a jumper across the terminals on the wire harness side. The connection on the back side of the compressor on my Safari came loose and I lost the AC. The jumper on the pressure switch will tell you if you need the system charged.
Okay. First, thanks for replying =D>

Now, can I access this "back side of compressor" from the front of the van? Where is this pressure switch?
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off

Post by Smiliesafari »

Yes, you can reach the connector on the back side of the compressor from the front of the van. It's a brail job. You can't see it. Let your fingers be your eyes. Just follow the wires. The pressure switch on my Safari (1996) is by the evaporator. It has a two wire connector.
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off

Post by NotDadsW41 »

If the compressor is cycling off and on, the switch is fine. You are low on refrigerant.
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off

Post by kkamakasi »

I just tried to recharge and noticed something weird.

The gauge on the refrigerant can was fluctuating from low to high. The compressor would kick on once the dial reached the high pressure zone and while the compressor is on the pressure would drop to the low side and then the compressor would cut off, causing the pressure gauge to rise again to the high pressure area.

Here is a video I took of the phenomenon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaIVVNr-9XU

Is this normal?

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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

Post by NotDadsW41 »

Don't know if the pressures you are seeing are out of spec. But that is normal behavior while the compressor cycles.
CD_S
1991 W41
1995 Astro - Now gone, I am Astroless.
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1989 9C1 Caprice
1997 Bonneville
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kkamakasi
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

Post by kkamakasi »

UPDATE:

After recharging to a respectable pressure, it was all gone by the next evening and the A/C was blowing warm air again! Yes. Next evening. There has to be a massive leak somewhere. I'll need to go buy one of those UV leak detectors and get to work.

Any places I should check first?

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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

Post by NotDadsW41 »

The seal on the compressor is the usual culprit. Looks for oil and dirt around the compressor.
CD_S
1991 W41
1995 Astro - Now gone, I am Astroless.
1997 C1500
1989 9C1 Caprice
1997 Bonneville
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

Post by kkamakasi »

UPDATE:

So after filling the AC system with leak sealer + UV dye, I was able to finally see a glimpse of the UV dye leaking from under the car with my UV light. So the dogbox was removed and here is the result:

The part circled in ORANGE is the culprit of the leak. The part I circled in GREEN was where the leak was. The foam on the part circled in orange had melted from touching the back piping underneath it causing a leak. You can see I temporarily managed to reduce the rate of leakage by using electrical tape lol.

Anyone know the name/part number of the part circled in ORANGE?

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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

Post by Cobra »

It's the ac hose assemble I think your part number is 56171 in four seasons
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Topic author
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

Post by kkamakasi »

that's the one but I need GM's part number so I can get OE.

I called the local Chevy stealership and they said it's 15178348. Does that sound about right?

Oh and also what do yall think about using an AC hose splice kit to fix the leak? It's on the low pressure side so I really don't see a problem with using a splice kit to mend the leak but what do you think?

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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

Post by astroturf »

I think if you goto http://www.gmpartsdirect.com that you can find a pdf breakdown and GM part numbers.

Jim
Last edited by astroturf on Wed May 18, 2011 1:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Topic author
kkamakasi
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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

Post by kkamakasi »

astroturf wrote:I think if you goto http://www.gmpartsdirect.com that you can find a pdf breakdown an GM part numbers.

Jim
On certain parts, yes. But this part is not showing up as an illustration.

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Re: AC blowing warm/hot air | Compressor cycles on/off (VIDE

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