My AC did not recharge correctly! what did i do?

dan330 · Jun 12, 2013

ok.. I have a bmw E46...
the AC was not as cold as it used to be..
so I asked my friend to help me recharge the AC.

I got a can of 134a.. he had the cable.
we used this method:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4ew1FYjNEE

tested it.. while parked.. it felt cold (but could not really tell if it was cooler).. but did not test drive it. The car sat there.

2 days later...took the car out. turned on the AC.
it started to blow air... but never got cool!
waited .. drove for 10 mins.. still no cold air.
turned off and on a few times... but no cold air.

so.. what do you guys think is the issue? what can I do to test it?

Thanks

dibblebill · Jun 12, 2013

Make sure you're not leaking refrigerant.

dan330 · Jun 12, 2013

yeah.. that is what I am afraid off.. but it was not leaking before!

I am hoping it is something else.. maybe a blown fuse? that stopped the compressor?

general eclect · Jun 13, 2013

The compressor is belt driven, at least, every automotive air con I've ever seen has a belt driven compressor...

mplevy · Jun 13, 2013

dan330 said:
yeah.. that is what I am afraid off.. but it was not leaking before!

I am hoping it is something else.. maybe a blown fuse? that stopped the compressor?

How do you know it wasn't leaking before? SOMETHING caused you to need to re-charge it. Have you put gauges on it to check the pressures? Have you checked the temperatures at the vents with a thermometer (the way many automakers have their techs check for proper A/C operation)?

dan330 · Jun 13, 2013

ok.. it might have had a leak before.. but it was not a big leak.
the AC was working..just not stronge enough..and with summer coming in Texas, I wanted it to fully recharge it.

update:
yesterday it was 93 degrees when I tried it.. and it was only giving out a very very little cool air. it was blowing air fine.. just not cool.. not enough to help in that temp.
this morning.. outside temp was 80 degrees.. and it worked fine. still not as cold as I remembered, but cold. so.. what has changed?

dan330 · Jun 14, 2013

update:
today.. it was 95 degrees outside.

the AC was putting out very little cool air.. maybe about 10 degree cooler than outside air. Sometimes.. it felt like there was no cool air.

at stop.. in neutral (manual 5 speed).. a few times.. I can see the RPM fall a little. the engine kind of sputters.. and I feel cooler air come out of the vents. it is like the compressor finally kicks in for a few seconds.

maybe the Freon is still low? or we did it wrong and released some of it

mplevy · Jun 17, 2013

You could have a bad pressure switch also.

trophynuts · Jun 27, 2013

still sounds like low freon to me and or moisture in the lines. The best thing to do is pull a vacuum on it. It may be a little too much for a DIY at home thing but most pro's will pull a vacuum on it, make sure that it holds a negative pressure for a certain length of time and then go from there. If it does then you don't have a leak obviously but this also sucks all moisture out of the system. If it doesn't hold a vacuum then you obviously have a leak. At that point using leak detecting dye would need to come into play to see where the leak is.

dan330 · Jun 27, 2013

I am starting to think there is air or moisture in the lines.

I put to much pressure in once.. and bleed it out.. while engine was on.. it was not cold Freon coming out.. it was not very cold to my skin.

trophynuts · Jun 27, 2013

may just want to take it to a professional.

Granite1 · Jun 29, 2013

Dan, check to make sure your pulley on the AC compressor isn't locked up.

dustwun77 · Jun 29, 2013

I actually just had a problem like this on my Ranger.

I looked in the owner's manual and saw which relay controlled my ac compressor. It turns out there were a few relays in there that were the same as it was. One was for lights on a trailer.

I popped it out and swapped it and my ac worked just fine.

Worth a shot.

badblue1 · Jun 30, 2013

Normally when you have to add freon, it leaked in the first place. They sell a kit that has new o rings ,probably right next to the freon. At least that solved my problem.

The kit was inexpensive, but you'll have to buy another can of freon.

rottweilerjim · Sep 28, 2013

dan330 said:
update:
today.. it was 95 degrees outside.

the AC was putting out very little cool air.. maybe about 10 degree cooler than outside air. Sometimes.. it felt like there was no cool air.

at stop.. in neutral (manual 5 speed).. a few times.. I can see the RPM fall a little. the engine kind of sputters.. and I feel cooler air come out of the vents. it is like the compressor finally kicks in for a few seconds.

maybe the Freon is still low? or we did it wrong and released some of it

It sounds like the thermostat is stuck and telling the compressor it's cool enough or electrical open not engaging the clutch except when the wire makes brief contact and that's when it seems too try to work. Try turning on ac high and listen to the compressor click on and off or have someone turn it on and off manually. If no clicking the compressor isn't engaging.

ZeroGeined · Oct 26, 2013

Check the relays for the AC compressor first. Easiest and cheapest thing to fix first. I don't know of any AC compressor that doesn't have an electric clutch. Then check that you didn't add too much freon. It can easily happen. After that, check for leaks.

Hadron · Jan 15, 2020

If they've not done so in the 6 years since the last post they've probably learned to live without it...

cfifq123 · Feb 27, 2020

Hadron said:
If they've not done so in the 6 years since the last post they've probably learned to live without it...

My AC did not recharge correctly! what did i do?

Extreme Android User

Android Expert

Extreme Android User

Android Expert

Android Expert

Extreme Android User

Extreme Android User

Android Expert

Extreme Android User

Extreme Android User

Extreme Android User

Zercron Encrusted Tweezer

Endeavor to Persevere :)

* TRUCKS ARE BEAUTIFUL *

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Spacecorp test pilot

Lurker

BEST TECH IN 2023

Smartphones

Best Android Phones

Upcoming

Best iPhones

Upcoming

Tablets

Best Tablets

Upcoming

Laptops

Best Laptops

Upcoming

Televisions

Best TVs

Upcoming

Game Consoles

Best Game Consoles

Upcoming

Wearables

Best Wearables

Upcoming

Smart Home

Smart Home Tech

Upcoming

Similar threads