Proper metod to troubleshoot AC system for 01 Dodge 2500 360

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ballyg - 21 Apr 2008 21:02 GMT

The other day I noticed no more cool air, the compressor clutch was
not engaging at all. I purchased a refill system from walmart. I
filled with refrigerant to proper gauge level, now the compressor
clutch engages for about 3 seconds and stops, but still not cooling.
When clutch is not engaged, I nopticed pressure gauge is just at the
top end of filled level, but drops to no fill area when it engages.

What are other possibilities causes the clutch to engauge for 3
seconds and stop if the refrigerant is normal level?

Maybe the inline dispenser hose gauge is reading wrong and
refrigerant is still too low?

thanks

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Tom Lawrence - 21 Apr 2008 21:38 GMT

> What are other possibilities causes the clutch to engauge for 3
> seconds and stop if the refrigerant is normal level?

That's just it... your pressure is still low. When you're as low on
refrigerant as you are, you usually have to jump the low-pressure cutoff
switch to get enough run time from the compressor to suck in the charge.
Pull the electrical connector off of the accumulator, and jumper the two
terminals (on the connector, not the switch itself) to each other (short
piece of wire, paper clip, etc.).

The real question is... what caused you to lose so much refrigerant in the
first place? Unless you fix the root cause, you're going to be back at this
again - probably sooner rather than later.

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olaf - 30 Apr 2008 06:36 GMT

<snip>

> Maybe the inline dispenser hose gauge is reading wrong and
> refrigerant is still too low?
>
> thanks

You should read through the directions in the kit. It sounds like you tried
to charge the system without the a/c turned on. If you have a can of
refrigerant hooked to the system there will be enough pressure in there to
close the low-pressure switch. Don't worry about that.

Air conditioning systems aren't really an off-the-cuff affair. You have a
leak somewhere. The kit you bought will probably get your system working,
but you're going to be adding refrigerant again soon if you don't fix the
leak. You'll also probably overload it with oil if you keep adding it.

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Tom Lawrence - 30 Apr 2008 07:39 GMT

> You should read through the directions in the kit. It sounds like you
> tried
> to charge the system without the a/c turned on. If you have a can of
> refrigerant hooked to the system there will be enough pressure in there to
> close the low-pressure switch. Don't worry about that.

Nope, there isn't. I just did this on a friend's '00 Durango last week,
that had leaked out it's entire charge over this past winter. I had to jump
the low pressure switch before the compressor would even engage at all.

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