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2001 Kia Spectra A/C temp drops 10 degrees when compressor

Tiny
TMAJ9447
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  • 2001 KIA SPECTRA
Air Conditioning problem
2001 Kia Spectra 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 160k miles

Big Sigh. Ok. Here's the history;
Replaced the following;
compressor, high/low switch, dryer, and tx valve, because it seemed like the a/c was not colling correctly.
the a/c is not cooling correctly still. This has been going on for about 2 years now. When the compressor is on the temp is cold when the compressor is cycles off it raises about 10 degrees, then the process repeats. I also noticed tonight in the pouring rain the windows fog and unfog everytime the compressor comes on. Please help, sincerly destressed.
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Friday, February 12th, 2010 AT 8:16 PM

22 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
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If the a/c is cycling it may be low on 134a. Has the system been dye tested for leaks? Would need to know the system pressures before taking too many guesses at this one. The temp going up when a/c is off is normal, but if you can feel itin ashort time, I would guess that the system isnt getting real cold when it does work either.
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Saturday, February 13th, 2010 AT 9:07 AM
Tiny
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Okay sorry for not being clear. It seems to cycle normally. It has been dye tested, no leaks. My problem seems to be not with the cooling system. We weighed in the proper amout of 134a. Seems to be fine, not sure what the pressures are since they change with the out side temp. I was thining that it may have something to due with the temp switch. Since, I have to turn it all the way to about 5 o clock to get heat. And it seems to blow out the front window dash board when it deels like it is not cooling. Any ideas?
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Saturday, February 13th, 2010 AT 8:00 PM
Tiny
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Sorry about hat. So let me clarify, you cant get any heat out of the dash, even with the temp turned to the hot?If so it may a problem with eithe the blend door or the controller int ehdash. Is there any sound difference when you move selector from hot to cold?
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Saturday, February 13th, 2010 AT 11:07 PM
Tiny
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I dont knotice any change in sound, I do have toturn the temp all the way to hot to get heat. Interesting though is that the system cools and heats fine in the evenings. This is why I thought it way the ac not beeing able to recover, but not the case. There is no happy medium in temp; either all the way hot or cold. It is really bad when it rains not being able to defrost the windows because it seems to change temp from hot to cold by it self.
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Sunday, February 14th, 2010 AT 12:38 PM
Tiny
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Sounds like an issue with the blend door.I have seen the actuators get weak and move over by themselves when the fan blows through.
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Sunday, February 14th, 2010 AT 4:51 PM
Tiny
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Okay so, is the blend door something a novice can replace, is it a dealer item? Or what do I ask for?
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Sunday, February 14th, 2010 AT 10:45 PM
Tiny
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Also, do you know how and where I can get a blend door actuator?
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Sunday, February 14th, 2010 AT 10:55 PM
Tiny
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First you should be sure that is the problem.I looke dit up adn there is a cable that operates thetemp door according to Mitchell, get under thedash and be sure that it is workin gproperly by visually inspecting it. TX valve? Was that the expansion valve that was repalced? The valve uses a temp sender attached to the evap core under tehdash, if that isnt reading correctly it could be cauing the comp to cycle. These a/c issues are hard to figure out without knowing what the pressures are doing
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Monday, February 15th, 2010 AT 7:25 AM
Tiny
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Can I check the pressures with my 410a gauges? Also I how is the TX valve control? I mean it was just an expensive piece of aluminum that I bought and installed.
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Thursday, February 18th, 2010 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
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The car should use 134a which uses different fittings to attach on the lines. The TX valve. Sounds like it is the expansion valve, a block that bolts between the lines from the engine compartment to the evaporator core under the dash. Does the cooling (electric) fan come on when the compresor is engaged?
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Thursday, February 18th, 2010 AT 10:24 PM
Tiny
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Yes you are correct about the fittings. I have adapters, since my brother owns an a/c company. Yes the motor does come on, although I was thinking maybe it could be the motor. Hummm. You are correct about the TX being an expansion, that sounds familar. Another thing I was thinking, I did replace the dash board assy because the original was degluing itself. I was wondering if there could be anything possible that I could have missed or disconnected etc.
Thanks Tommie
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Thursday, February 18th, 2010 AT 11:05 PM
Tiny
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If you can put gauges on it that would help to figure this out. Need low and high side readings with a/c running and engine up to temp. As far as the dash goes, that would be something you would have to inspect to see if there are any left over connectors without homes
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Friday, February 19th, 2010 AT 7:35 AM
Tiny
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Okay sorry for my delay. Here is some info for you:

outside temp: 81 F

a/c temp at vent on max cool
comp. Off: 59.6 F
comp. On: 55.6 F

Pressures:
High 145 psi comp. Off
High 175 psi comp. On

Low 45 psi comp. Off
Low 30 psi comp. On

thanks so much for your support!
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Friday, April 23rd, 2010 AT 11:19 AM
Tiny
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Sounds as if it may be alittel bit low. The low side should be around 35-40 and the high should be 200-225. If there isnt enough high side pressure it wont get cold and it will cycle the comp off and on. Also be sure the cooling fan is running when the a/c is on.
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Saturday, April 24th, 2010 AT 9:45 AM
Tiny
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Okay thanks for the input. I will add some freon and re check the pressures and reply tonight.

Thank you!
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Saturday, April 24th, 2010 AT 10:34 AM
Tiny
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And the pressures where:

high 275-255
low 25-28

it seemed to keep us comfortable on our 40 mile round trip. Any input as to why the low is not in the range you suggested? Should add/remove any liquid or gas, if so from which side high or low?

Thanks again so much!
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Saturday, April 24th, 2010 AT 9:02 PM
Tiny
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May be theway the expansion valve is set to keep it. It is more of the high side pressures that make it happen, its all about the heat exchange through the orifice.
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Sunday, April 25th, 2010 AT 8:16 AM
Tiny
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HI again,

Okay, after sweating thru the summer so far I took on the challenge to see if the evap was dirty. Found that it was and was leaking freon.

Installed a new evap, with 1 lb 9 oz 134. Every thing else has been replace thus far.

Psi low side 30
psi high side 230

temp now between 55-60 degrees

i was wondering about the temp prob on the evap, could it be controlling when the comp turns on and off and causing the temp not to be constant?

PLEASE HELP!
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 7:15 PM
Tiny
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Yes, that is possible, my Honda does that, Im just too lazy to take it apart and fix it. LOL The temp probe controls the expansion valve action, which in turn can cause thecompressor to cycle to keep it from freezing the evap core
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 8:57 PM
Tiny
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Okay thanks, or should I say thanks alot! . Lol
Seems I need to break into my dash again. Sigh
oh well I am getting pretty good at it. I am sorry for calling it evap when I think it is called condensor. Hopefully you did catch that and we are talking about the same thing. I will call around tomorrow and see where I can get the probe and when I i get it all back I will reply and leave you Posi feedback!

Thank you so much for sticking with me on this one!
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 9:32 PM

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