how can you tell if you have low refrigirant?

[spyghost]

hi,

are there any other ways of telling that you are running low in refrigirant besides loss of cooling?

in my case kasi, i do not feel any loss in cooling, but here's the observation...

whenever the a/c engages (the compressor turns), the engine would idle erratically (even though its running at 900 rpm). no noise in the compressor. as for the frequency of clicks (engagement of the a/c clutch), i can't tell.

[weremanok]

hi,

are there any other ways of telling that you are running low in refrigirant besides loss of cooling?

in my case kasi, i do not feel any loss in cooling, but here's the observation...

whenever the a/c engages (the compressor turns), the engine would idle erratically (even though its running at 900 rpm). no noise in the compressor. as for the frequency of clicks (engagement of the a/c clutch), i can't tell.

try to look at the dryer. usually it has a clear glass on top of it in which you can see the refrigerant. if the refrigerant is somewhat bubbly while the a/c is running, it means that you are losing refrigerant. hope this helps

[weremanok]

sorry double post...

[spyghost]

for how long should the a/c be running? or should it be evident as soon as i turn it on?

[v6dreamer]

how can you tell if you have low refrigirant?
hi,

are there any other ways of telling that you are running low in refrigirant besides loss of cooling

Pag walang refrigerant sa system, the compressor wont turn on

[afrasay]

sa window sa dryer it should have a clear to a few bubbles it means ok pa ng freon level. pag puti na sa sobrang dami ng bubbles bawas na ang refrigerant mo.

[s_quilicot]

mga sir is it normal na pag naka idle hindi masyado malamig ang a/c for diesel engines ..?

[youngrider]

mga sir is it normal na pag naka idle hindi masyado malamig ang a/c for diesel engines..?

If that is not the case when the vehicle was still brand new, then something may be wrong.

'Sight glass diagnosis' may not apply with R134 systems the best thing to do is to use the aircon service gauges and compare it with your vehicle specifications.

As to the erratic idling of 'spyghost' , it could be related to spark or fueling problem, vacuum leaks can also be a culprit. These could adversely affect the idle-up control of the engine as the aircon is switch-on especially with those having non Variable Displacement Compressors (VDC).

BTW, paano ba idle-up mechanism ng kotse mo sir spyghost. Meron bang mechanical or vacuum linkage sa accelerator, throttle opening or carburator, pwede ba i-adjust manually yung idle-up RPM.

[EGcoolmhan]

ako naman pag a/c naka open parang hirap humatak. pinagawa ko kay mang mario yung a/c ko full cleanning pa nga pinagawa ko dun at nagpalit narin ng dryer. anu kaya prob dun.pag patay naman a/c di naman hirap.

pls help.

[shadow]

kung nababawasan ang freon then better have it fix na...since a/c system is sealed hinde pwedeng mabawasan unless meron leak na somewhere...

[youngrider]

ako naman pag a/c naka open parang hirap humatak. pinagawa ko kay mang mario yung a/c ko full cleanning pa nga pinagawa ko dun at nagpalit narin ng dryer. anu kaya prob dun.pag patay naman a/c di naman hirap.

Yan ang function ng 'Idle-up mechanism', to compensate to the increased power need when the A/C is on. Di lang eto sa idle tumutulong, it also helps in providing enough power during acceleration or increasing load first by giving a stroger base torque to begin with, and also by adjusting the spark timing.

Kumporme sa design ng car (diesel vs gas fed, computer controlled vs carburated engine, etc) kung paano ang mechanism ng idle-up or aircon cycling.

Cars with VDC especially w/ computerized engine management may not perceived power related changes (basyo, nginig, RPM hunting) when they switch on the aircon or when it cycles. Halos pareho pakiramdam naka-aircon o hindi.

Whatever the system is, the question is operational ba ang compensating mechanism (like idle-up) to accomodate the load induced by car air conditioning system.

[spyghost]

As to the erratic idling of 'spyghost' , it could be related to spark or fueling problem, vacuum leaks can also be a culprit. These could adversely affect the idle-up control of the engine as the aircon is switch-on especially with those having non Variable Displacement Compressors (VDC).

my problem is NOT the idle up. whether ac is ON or OFF, i have a 900 rpm idle which is the normal for my car. its worth mentioning narin, since i am running a carb engine, my idle up involves a vacuum solenoid that ports intake manifold vacuum to push the throttle plate whenever a/c turns on. no problem with this circuit.

what i am experiencing is i have an erratic idle whenever the a/c clutch engages. imbes na uga uga, e yanig ang nangyayari. take note that this happens even if i am running at 900 rpm. given this idle speed, the engine does not die on me.

i don't think a/f mixture and other fuel delivery circuit is concerned here since i just finished tune up with proper valve clearance, new filters, new plugs. btw, the plugs come out clean after one week of run - so it is safe to say that there are no problems in the engine.

[smirky20]

pag low na po ang freon yung A/C clutch nagpapatay sindi and yung idling up and down din sumasabay sa compressor. and pag totally wala ng pressure sa A/C sytem, d na mag e-engage ang clutch dahil wala ng contact sa pressure switch.

ang nagcocontrol naman sa idling whenever u turn your A/C on is either vacuum on old model na car and sa newer model naman yung IAC (iddle Air Control).

[groucho]

kung nababawasan ang freon then better have it fix na...since a/c system is sealed hinde pwedeng mabawasan unless meron leak na somewhere...

I have a question which is corollary to this regarding a 2000 Toyota Corolla. What if the car's airconditioning was rarely, if ever, used? What if the new owner now wants to use the aircon and finds out that it does not turn cold after all these years of practically not being used? Would it still be assumed that the freon or whatever refrigerant did not leak out?