Caravan 2000 A/C issue

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Fred - 25 Jul 2006 23:46 GMT

A/C not working in the rear, not cold in front, cool at best. Hook up a
gauge to the low pressure side and it reads in the zone on the gauge
that says it has enough coolant. Low but in the good zone. I tried to
add more coolant to bring it higher in the good zone but it seems like
the system isn't accepting more coolant.

Compressor seems to be running. But not sure. From time to time I hear
a strang pinging sound from the dashboard, almost every time I put the
rear a/c on I hear a pinging sound that almost drowns out the radio.
Coming from the right rear where the a/c unit is in the rear. Not sure
if related to issue. But when the sound started the a/c stopped.

What should I check next? What could it be?

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Fred - 26 Jul 2006 14:28 GMT

I listen to the "sound" a bit better today. It is more like a hissing
sound. Fred

> A/C not working in the rear, not cold in front, cool at best. Hook up a
> gauge to the low pressure side and it reads in the zone on the gauge
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> What should I check next? What could it be?

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Kevin - 26 Jul 2006 17:12 GMT

>I listen to the "sound" a bit better today. It is more like a hissing
> sound. Fred
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>> add more coolant to bring it higher in the good zone but it seems like
>> the system isn't accepting more coolant.

Was the compressor running when you had the gage attached? The pressure on
the low side (where you had the gage attached) should be around 30psi (good
zone) with the engine running and the A/C turned on and the compressor
clutch engaged. When the compressor is off, the pressure on the low side
should come back to somewhere near 100 psi. SO, if you checked the pressure
with the compressor not engaged and read thirty psi, then the system is very
low. Also, the system will not accept much freon from the can if the
compressor is not running, and the low pressure clutch cycling switch will
keep the compressor from running if the system is very low on refrigerant.
Sometimes you have to put a jumper wire in the harness connector to the
pressure switch for the compressor to come on so it will begin accepting
refrigerant from the can. Once there is enough Freon in the system you can
remove the jumper wire and plug the switch back in. Then the compressor
should continue to run long enough for you to add more if necessary. It is a
bit of guesswork to try and charge up or diagnose an A/C system without a
propper set of A/C gages hooked up so that you can see both the high side
and low side pressures.

>> Compressor seems to be running. But not sure. From time to time I hear
>> a strang pinging sound from the dashboard, almost every time I put the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>
>> What should I check next? What could it be?

I have no Idea what the noise could be. I would have to hear it to even give
a guess, other than maybe the blower motor fan is hitting something.

If it is a hissing noise then it might be the freon passing through the
expansion valve or orifice tube.

"What should I check next?" You should check to make sure the compressor
clutch is engaged and you should check both the high side and low side
pressure readings with the compressor running. That would be the first step
towards diagnosing the problem, unless you can figure out what is making
that noise first.

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Disclaimer:
Due to the nature of solving problems over the internet being mostly
guesswork,
please do not consider the above recommendations as the only possible
solutions.

--
Kevin Mouton
Automotive Technology Instructor
"If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy"
Red Green

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Fred - 27 Jul 2006 02:55 GMT

I have a bit more info and thanks for your help so far Kevin or anyone
reading this.

1. Yes the compressor is turning when I push the AC botton on.
2. It stays on until I push the AC botton off.
3. When I attach the pressure gauge on the low side it reads over 25
and just below 30.
4. There is no condensation on any of the AC pipes.

I'm very handy but I'm not trying to fix the problem. My goal is to
educate myself and not to get ripped off when I go to get my AC
repaired. Can I assume it is not a leak or the compressor? If it is not
the compressor or a leak what can it be? My friend seems to think that
if the compressor is kicking in that it should be functioning.

Thanks

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