A/C help...I'm scolding!!!!!

[soljaboy2000]

Okay I finally fix my idle problem by pluggin up a couple vac lines and everthings running the same as before so far. Well, anyways I just wanted to know how come my idle goes down when I turn the A/C on...isn't it supposed to go up?? The A/C also only gets really cold when I'm on the highway driving fast but once I come to a stop or slow down the A/C gets warmer. I know theres A/C idle screw on the carb but I dont even thinks it moves because I checked the positon it was in and then I turn the A/C on and then check the screw and it was in the same position. Doesn't it supposed pull it or something? And also what are all the components of the A/C and where they are and what they do??? I am not neccesarily going to work on it but I just want to be famliar with all the parts of the A/C system. Please post pics if possible. In the meantime I will search the board for additional info.

[IN_ONE_ACCORD]

Check to see if your condensor fan (small one on drivers side) is running when you turn on AC. Sounds like you're a little low on freon. Go to ebay and get a tapper &
can of R12, many sell it without needing EPA certification. Add can into LOW SIDE port (the line by the battery). Here's a good site for DIY AC.... http://www.bmwworld.com/repairs/ac.htm
Click the jbabs page, 6th or 7th one down. Has good info with pics.
I'm certain you have a leak, but it may be very small and freon does leak thru hoses eventually as they degrade. If you find yourself needing a charge of freon every year or two, you need to repair problem. Finding leaks can be an issue since many only happen when car is moving (vibration). Most good a/c shops can pinpoint problem, then they'll need to evacuate the system and fix leak. Then pull vaccuum to get air/moisture/dirt out of the system...then recharge. Can get very costly in labor, so learn to do as much as possible.

[accordlxi2.0]

do you have r-134a if you do, then just go to autozone or a muray's and get a small can.
as for the idle, it's either your idle boost solenoid or the vac line's are wrong.
take a dmm, and measure volt from the connector's with the a/c on, it should be between 7-12volt's.

[soljaboy2000]

I have r134.......I probaly just need to add a can, huh

[accordlxi2.0]

yep, and check out the connector, for the a/c idle booster solenoid. . .

[88accordlxcarb]

Also remember that with 134a, its going to get less cool when you slow down. It is harder to compress 134a, so when you are driving along fine, it cools nice, but when you are sitting at idle(especially if it is low), it will just kinda blow out sorta cooled air.

Some cans come with a guage attached to them so you can see your pressures. That would be ideal so you can see what your coolant level is(unless you have guages).

[soljaboy2000]

Okay heres somes pictures of A/C tempereature.
At first I turn the air on (no A/C) with lever all the way to cold and temp was about 105F
and then when I press the A/C button I wait for about 15minutes with the car in park the temperature went down to 82.1F and wouldn't go lower....(I will take it for a drive pretty soon to get a temp while driving)


This was the idle while it was in park and A/C on...about 1100 RPM...


The was the idle when I put it in drive and A/C on...about 750-900RPM...


And this my GF sentra A/C temp for comparison while in park...but her's gets low as 42F while driving....brrrr


Finally which one these solenoids controls idle boost and how to test it or where should a vacuum be present while A/C is on?

[88accordlxcarb]

There will only be a vacuum when you use a pump and pull a vacuum. Vacuum is the oppsite of pressure, so if the system is pressurized, you do the exact oppsite. You have to have a pump to find that out. Does your sentra have R12, or 134?

If it is cooling, im gathering the compressor is kicking on, and working. You are most likely low on coolant.

Okay heres somes pictures of A/C tempereature.
At first I turn the air on (no A/C) with lever all the way to cold and temp was about 105F
and then when I press the A/C button I wait for about 15minutes with the car in park the temperature went down to 82.1F and wouldn't go lower....(I will take it for a drive pretty soon to get a temp while driving)


This was the idle while it was in park and A/C on...about 1100 RPM...


The was the idle when I put it in drive and A/C on...about 750-900RPM...


And this my GF sentra A/C temp for comparison while in park...but her's gets low as 42F while driving....brrrr


Finally which one these solenoids controls idle boost and how to test it or where should a vacuum be present while A/C is on?

[accordlxi2.0]

the one near the screw. what your normal rpmwith out the a/c?
but man 1,100 rpm's!
mine normal rpm without anything, was 750-650 in park.
but with the a/c on it kicked it to 600-500rpm's.

plus those are some nice ass gauge's!



*****3 GEEZ 4 LIFE!*****

[soljaboy2000]

without anything the rpm is about 1200-1300 (the warmer the car gets then the lower it gets but always over 1000)
and I dunno what kinda freon in the 03' sentra but its colder than mutha...
oh..thanks about the guages

[howndamane]

i dont think theres a 3gee member who has never had problem with their a/c. i know mine quit working a few months after my brother started driving it a couple years ago.

[soljaboy2000]

Its probaly because our cars originally used R12 and most people convert to R134 and then the A/C temp is lower so they think there's a problem or their compressor gives out because of the R134 and thats when the real problems begin.

[accordlxi2.0]

well check that connector, fopr volt's.
and lower those rpm's, that way too high . . . .

[IN_ONE_ACCORD]

Solution: DON'T retrofit to 134.

[Vinny]

its not the retrofit that causes problems down the line if done correctly. The problem in retrofits that arent done properly.

The universal kits are not a good idea because they are premixed with oil. You are apt to end up with tooo much oil causing a hydrolock, or oil logged sytem which wont cool properly because of all the oil.

Another problem is when you lose freon you also lose oil at the same time. So just adding straight freon to a sysstem thats possibly low on oil can cause compressors to fail.

Its best, in my opinon, to have the system evacuated, flushed, and vacuumed and addind the PROPER amount of the PROPER oil, along with changing the filter drier and posssibly the expansion valve when doing a retrofit, servicing after being open for extended periods of time, or charging a flat system.

[soljaboy2000]

Okay I was in looking in the A/C fluid window while the A/C was on and all I saw was a susdy fliud flowing real fast it was like a river of white suds.....it that normal? If not...then what it supposed to look like??

[accordlxi2.0]

that's normal, your just low so add some more till it get's less sudsy.