AC isn't cold enough after DIY recharge
June 2nd, 2024, 10:22 AM
#1
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AC isn't cold enough after DIY recharge
Hello -
Recently noticed the air conditioning on my 2016 Silverado was blowing cool, but not cold air on warmer days. As a start, I got the R134A (this is what was under the hood on the sticker) AC Pro kit at Auto Zone, and charged it up to about 27-28 PSI on the low pressure line. AC is definitely blowing cooler now, but I did notice that the passenger side vents spat out a few icicles twice shortly after re-charging. I continued to let the vehicle idle and had AC blasting another 5-10 mins, and it didn't happen again. Any thoughts here?
This could also be absolutely nothing or something completely unrelated, but I did notice a small amount of liquid underneath the vehicle towards the passenger side of the front of vehicle. I sat under there for minutes on end while truck was running and saw nothing dripping or leaking at all, and the liquid smelt like regular water / basically no smell.
Recently noticed the air conditioning on my 2016 Silverado was blowing cool, but not cold air on warmer days. As a start, I got the R134A (this is what was under the hood on the sticker) AC Pro kit at Auto Zone, and charged it up to about 27-28 PSI on the low pressure line. AC is definitely blowing cooler now, but I did notice that the passenger side vents spat out a few icicles twice shortly after re-charging. I continued to let the vehicle idle and had AC blasting another 5-10 mins, and it didn't happen again. Any thoughts here?
This could also be absolutely nothing or something completely unrelated, but I did notice a small amount of liquid underneath the vehicle towards the passenger side of the front of vehicle. I sat under there for minutes on end while truck was running and saw nothing dripping or leaking at all, and the liquid smelt like regular water / basically no smell.
June 2nd, 2024, 11:48 AM
#2
Can charging isn't accurate. Proper charge is done by weight not pressure.
If the evaporator is flooded from an overcharge ice can form. The low psi switch should shut the system off b4 that happens.
If the system runs ok... you're fine. If you get performance problems in the future post the symptoms and we can go through it
The system will remove moisture from the air and it will condense and drip out of the evaporator drain tube on the ground under the vehicle. This is normal.
If the evaporator is flooded from an overcharge ice can form. The low psi switch should shut the system off b4 that happens.
If the system runs ok... you're fine. If you get performance problems in the future post the symptoms and we can go through it
The system will remove moisture from the air and it will condense and drip out of the evaporator drain tube on the ground under the vehicle. This is normal.
Last edited by tech2; June 2nd, 2024 at 11:50 AM.
June 3rd, 2024, 8:30 PM
#3
AC Pro kit at Auto Zone, and charged it up to about 27-28 PSI on the low pressure line. AC is definitely blowing cooler now, but I did notice that the passenger side vents spat out a few icicles twice shortly after re-charging. I continued to let the vehicle idle and had AC blasting another 5-10 mins, and it didn't happen again. Any thoughts here?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tec...12-oz/10316793
https://www.walmart.com/ip/EZ-Chill-...ose/3306546159
Also, don't go by what AC Pro tells you is "filled." It could be that 27-28 psi on the suction was too much charge - the pressure depends on the ambient temperature and relative humidity. The icicles you saw are probably indicative of an overcharge.
As mentioned above the real way to get the charge right is to evacuate and then recharge by mass.
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