Hey everyone, I Just recently purchased a 96 dodge Dakota 4X2 3.9 v6 automatic 131" wheel base and the A/C compressor is cycling on and off continuously.....Checked what I believe to be the low pressure side right on the inside of the passenger fender (only port where the Walmart R134 connector would fit) and its already reading high on refrigerant (between 70 and 100 PSI)......Any suggestions as to what the problem could be? Seems to blow cold when the compressor kicks on.......This truck is in fairly decent shape with low miles but I'm beginning to believe it might have been a little bit abused.....Thanks in advance everyone...

 

https://www.bsntech.com/compressor-r...r-conditioner/

My guess is the system is overcharged.

 

Can the system just be leaked out like a tire probably from the high pressure side? R134A is eco safe......I purchased this truck from a couple younger guys and I have no clue what all they did to it....When I purchased the truck I just figured it was low on refrigerant....Its decent looking driftwood satin metallic, 130,000 miles, no rust.....Typical timing chain noise, needed all new exhaust because they obviously Bo duked the truck at one time or another and completely smashed the exhaust into the floor board Y pipe back...Thanks for the reply robertmee

 

Safer??? It has a good Ozone rating of zero but its other properties are not so good. It is 1300 times more problematic than carbon dioxide as a global warming gas. I would guess it is over filled because someone figured it needed more to make it cold and the rapid off/on is an indicator of low refrigerant. That probably indicates some other problem. I would get a pro to test the compressor as it may be failing and relieve the excess pressure in the system.

 

I just don't want to pour a bunch of money in this thing as I purchased it for 950 bucks as a nice looking beater truck and at 95 degrees 78% humidity here in southern IA.....I'm soaked in sweat after a 20 minute drive without AC.......Last time I looked into it (10 years ago) It cost about 200 bucks just to check and charge an ac system here locally......I am capable of changing the compressor myself but I have no way of vacuuming out the system.....I'm just trying to find to find a cheap backyard way of doing this as the truck was only 950 bucks.....Thanks guys

 

That's the thing a guy can do the work except capturing the gas. Maybe a local guy will evacuate it for you at a lower rate then you can do the rest yourself?

 

Problem solved everyone......I just bled the low pressure side port with a nail and THICK rubber gloves on until the yellow/green oils started to escape the system (AC on full blast).....As soon as the oils started to come out the compressor quieted up and ran continuously and flawlessly.....She's at about 45 PSI now and blowing ice cold......Thank's again everyone......

 

Is it actually blowing cold the whole time? Its supposed to cycle. cycling means its working normal. Unless it cycles on and off alot, which could mean there is air in the system, or overcharged because some dumb dumb put a bunch of off the shelf stuff in there.

 

Hello ThomasKota.......It is blowing cold all the time now after I bled about 45 extra PSI out of the system.....(haven't really paid attention to see if the compressor is kicking off every now and again) but before I bled the system it would engage then disengage roughly every 5 seconds and the compressor would make a slight grinding sound every time it was engaged.......It seems to work great now though......No more compressor noise and cold air....Next step is an aftermarket timing chain with tensioner...I'm just confused as to why the kids I bought it from loaded it with so much refrigerant.....Any suggestions as to What aftermarket company sells the best bang for the buck preferably double roller TC and guide/tensioner set?

Thanks guys

Mike, 66 buick guy

 

I just (well, last August, a mere 40,000 miles ago or so!) had the gears and chain done on my 1988.

I used the Cloyes kit for the gears and chain, and the Cloyes tensioner.

Cloyes has been around since, I dunno, before I was born back in the 50's *grins* And It Just Works.

RwP