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Aftermarket Jeep AC problems

pwilkinson on Sat August 27, 2011 6:40 AM User is offline

Year: 97
Make: Jeep
Model: Wrangler
Engine Size: 2.5
Refrigerant Type: r134a
Ambient Temp: 90
Pressure Low: 37
Pressure High: -
Country of Origin: United States


My jeep ac is giving me trouble. I bought the jeep used back in 2006. The AC wasn't working when I got it. The compressor was bad. I replaced the drier, compressor and some bad lines. There was no high side port on the system. In hindsight I wish I would have added one. The original system was supplied by Clardy MFG. The system uses an H block expansion valve. I was able to find a replacement compressor from Arizona Air. The A/C has never cooled great. I had the system evacuated and charged. On 100 degree days the best it will do inside max fan with recirculation is 60 at the vents. Slow the inside fan down to the next speed temp drops to about 55. If i spray the condenser with water the temp drops to about 50 with max fan speed. The A/C works its best at highway speeds but not where it should be.

I believe my problems could be.
Undersized system
not enough airflow on condenser.
Bad expansion valve

JJM on Sat August 27, 2011 12:26 PM User is offline

I doubt airflow is that much of an issue since the best vent temps you can get are 50F, and spraying down the condenser only drops the vent temps 5F.

It is also possible you're slightly overcharged - though hard to judge without high side pressures - you might want to try recovering 2 oz at a time and see if cooling performance improves, if it worsens, add back.

We're dealing with an aftermarket systems with now different components, charge level might need to be adjusted.

Does the compressor cycle at all?

Joe

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pwilkinson on Sat August 27, 2011 2:58 PM User is offline

The compressor will not cycle at 95 degree temps unless I cut the fan down to low. On high it will never cycle on or off unless the ambient temp is below 80 degrees. I don't know the evaporator coil temp, but it is sweating. It's not sweating as much as my truck though. I have no Idea what the charge level should be. When I had it filled I told the mechanic to just go by low side pressure vs ambient temp. The components should be almost same as original. The compressor was a direct replacement. The drier was slightly smaller as I couldn't find one the original size. I'm going to clam my heater core hose and see if that helps any. Is it possible the fins in the evaporator are plugged with dirt or trash?

TRB on Sat August 27, 2011 4:00 PM User is offlineView users profile

How much refrigerant did you add?

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pwilkinson on Sat August 27, 2011 10:52 PM User is offline

I'm not sure how much refrigerant he added. We didn't have the original specs so I we just went off of the low pressure side. The system didn't have a high pressure port. I have been contemplating replacing the entire system, but I'm not sure if that is needed.

TRB on Sat August 27, 2011 11:51 PM User is offlineView users profile

I would reclaim the refrigerant and do a evacuate/recharge using 22 ounces of refrigerant.

-------------------------

When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

pwilkinson on Sun August 28, 2011 6:25 AM User is offline

If I'm going to draw the system down I will probably replace a few things just to be safe. Such as drier and expansion valve they are both very cheap parts.

pwilkinson on Sun August 28, 2011 5:22 PM User is offline

I discovered something else. The radiator is actually touching the condenser. Every other car I've seen had at least a 1/2" gap.

pwilkinson on Mon August 29, 2011 8:12 PM User is offline

Did a little more checking today with an infrared thermometer. At Idle condenser in temp 165. Condenser out temp was 145. I checked my truck and it was 185/112.

mk378 on Mon August 29, 2011 8:39 PM User is offline

I think the factory system had a (rather small) engine driven fan plus an additional electric fan on the front of the condenser. Do you have two fans?

pwilkinson on Mon August 29, 2011 8:52 PM User is offline

pwilkinson on Mon August 29, 2011 8:57 PM User is offline

My jeep only has the one mechanical fan. I'm not sure if any of that year model had 2. I'm thinking of adding like a 10" auxiliary fan for the condenser. The more I look at the way the condenser is mounted the more I realize it was a hack job. The installer had no Idea what he was doing. He mounted the condenser to the radiator mounting holes along with the radiator. He cut the radiator mounting bracket to route hoses. If he would have installed it to the correct mounting holes the brackets would not have had to be cut and the radiator and accumulator would have had about 1/2" gap.

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