Recharged AC today but temp won't drop below 80°

[Strizay]

About 4 years ago my serpentine belt frayed and cut the AC hose to the high pressure side clean in half. The refrigerant just poured out and I haven't thought about using the AC ever again. I did hit a salvage yard and got a replacement hose right after it happened though. But lately it's been seriously hot and I wished I had cool air again, so today I bought an AC charge hose with the gauge and a few cans of refrigerant and went to work. I went through a full can and a half can, 12oz. The compressor slowly started spinning until it eventually went non stop. I had a thermometer in the vent when I first turned the Jeep on and it read 120°. After driving for a while, with the setting on recycle and high, the lowest it got was between 75° and 80°.

Am I stuck with this temp or will driving it more lower the temp? The gauge was at the high end of the blue area, I don't think I can get more refrigerant into it without hitting the red area. Maybe I'll wait a few days and try it again. But if you guys know more about what could be going on, I'd appreciate a few comments. Thank you guys for all the help.

 

[lfhoward]

Hi, I also am without a working AC and tried filling the system with the R-134a can with the gauge on top, just as you did. It didn’t work either. The problem (I did some more research into this) is that we didn’t pull a vacuum on the system before refilling. Because both systems were completely empty there was air in there, and air + refrigerant doesn’t really work.

We’ll have to get the refrigerant sucked out of the system at a garage, and I have to find my leak before I can really get it recharged. I suspect my compressor is bad because it is covered in oil. If yours holds a vacuum, they can recharge it and you should be good to go.

 

[Strizay]

Hi, I also am without a working AC and tried filling the system with the R-134a can with the gauge on top, just as you did. It didn’t work either. The problem (I did some more research into this) is that we didn’t pull a vacuum on the system before refilling. Because both systems were completely empty there was air in there, and air + refrigerant doesn’t really work.

We’ll have to get the refrigerant sucked out of the system at a garage, and I have to find my leak before I can really get it recharged. I suspect my compressor is bad because it is covered in oil. If yours holds a vacuum, they can recharge it and you should be good to go.

Of course. I should have known it wouldn't have been just that easy. That was a waste of money. Now it's probably going to cost another $120 or so to get it done. Oh well, I don't care. I've already gone this long without AC, may as well not worry about it. I've never had heat either. I've owned this Jeep for 6 years and it's needed the heater core replaced.

 

[lfhoward]

I should have thought of that too! LOL

The lure of a quick fix got us.

I also will not be fixing the AC until next summer at the earliest.

 

[Strizay]

I should have thought of that too! LOL

The lure of a quick fix got us.

I also will not be fixing the AC until next summer at the eaThank y o========

I should have thought of that too! LOL

The lure of a quick fix got us.

I also will not be fixing the AC until next summer at the earliest.

Thank you for responding and letting me know what's going on. If you wouldn't have spoken up and straightened it out for me, I never would have known.

 

[KJowner]

You can't just put gas in a system that's been open to atmosphere, ideally you need to replace the dryer because it will be full of water then vacuum the system down, check for leaks and regas and oil.
Don't run it as it is you will do expensive damage to the system circulating water.
The topup canisters are great for systems that are just a little low but useless on anything that has been open.

 

[budget76]

I agree that a contaminated system, or leaking system will not work. Expensive to replace, and normally easy to fix with proper shop equipment ($$$). As for heat, yea easier to fix before winter comes around.

 

[Turboman280]

Should have been evacuated and probably some correct oil added if it blew a hose. Beyond that I need to see pressures to know what is going on.

Getting warm at idle is a sign the fan is not pulling enough air over the condenser.

When I bought the jeep a year ago the AC pressure switch was out. Replaced it and it was good until recently. Then I noticed that it was colder at idle than running down the road. I thought the charge might be low, but when I checked it I saw that the AC low pressure switch was cutting out at 40 PSI. Specs printed on switch said it should cut out at about 25 PSI. Replaced again with a (hopefully better) brand and it is better.

Anyway, my point it that seeing low and high side pressures is the only way to make a proper diagnosis.

 

[BigMopar440]

And since the system has been open to air everything should be flushed that you are not replacing.