1996 Accord A/C Prpblems - High Side Too High
 

My 1996 accord with 2.2l 4cyl has a/c problems. The vent temps only go down to 64.

I hooked up my gauges this morning and I'm seeing the hgihg side real high and the low side fairly low. High side was around 300 and low around 15.

I've read that this can be a bad expansion valve issue? Any way to test that before I open the system up?

Also, I did pour some water over the condensor and it brought the high side down to 180 or so....

Could that point to an issue with air flow over the condenser? The fan seems to be running good.

Not sure what my best plan of action is... anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

When the a/c is running, are both fans on the radiator turning on?

Both fans have to be running for correct idle pressures. If cooling is OK at speeds of 20 mph or more, then condensor cooling is not adequate. Either fans or debris in the condensor.

good luck

Yeah both fans were running. Also I drove it on the highway at 70mph for awhile with no real change in vent temps. Still 64 or so in center vent.

Sounds like it might not be a condenser cooling issue?

Suggest checking system pressures at 1500 rpm, car in shade, doors & windows closed, recirculate, max fan. A cooling fan blowing fresh air into condensor is helpful.

If cooling fans are both running and condensor is clean, good high side pressures would be about 2.5*condensor inlet air temp (degF). Low side should be 30-40 psi below air temp entering evaporator. So if outside temps are 90F, then system pressures might be 225 psi on high side and 55 psi on low side. Vent temps are pulled down 30-40 F (evaporator inlet to center vent outlet), so vent temps would initially be about 55F-60F assuming interior starts at 90F. As interior cools vent temps will gradually decrease and pulldown should improve slightly. This would be a good working system.

Has any work ever been done on this system?

good luck

Good info Texas. I think I was checking the pressures wrong. I was in full sun for one thing. That might have contributed to my high high side pressures. I still think my low side was a little low so it might need some freon but I'm not worried about it now.

I figured out the main issue. It was the adjustment from the mixer knob in the dash. I checked the valve that the cable connects in front of the firewall and it didn't look like it moved much when I put the system on max cool. So I reached down there and gave it a good pull.

Now vent temps get down do 40 - 48 degrees depending on ambient temps and highway vs city driving. Good and cool enough for now. When it hits 110 here in TX I might check the pressures properly and top off freon if needed but it's good for now. :cool:

Thanks!

That's about as good as they will do.

Remember to check pressures at high idle (1500-2000 rpm) to get best measure of cooling/charge.

good luck