A/C stopped working

Tiny
LUVZCATS5322
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 KIA SPECTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
About three years ago my A/C stopped working so my dad and his friend who is a mechanic evacuated the system and tried to charge it and it did not charge it. We replaced the evaporator valve. Someone told my dad that there is not an orifice valve and others say it is somewhere behind the glove box. We have looked but did not want to damage the airbag system taking it apart. So what can my dad do to get the A/C working again? It does blow warm air and the compressor does turn on and off? Help me please, I need A/C in this Texas heat.
Sunday, June 24th, 2018 AT 10:40 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good afternoon.

Are you using a AC machine? If the compressor is not coming on and you are using cans, then it will not take a full charge.

How long did you evacuate the system before charging?

It has an expansion valve that is under the dash. It does not have an orifice tube at all.

Roy

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/air-conditioner-how-to-add-freon
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Sunday, June 24th, 2018 AT 11:05 AM
Tiny
LUVZCATS5322
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The compressor does turn on and off and everything else works. So your suggestion is to replace the expansion valve and where is that locate? They only used an EVAC machine but how can he charge it without cans? Does it have to be charged at a shop and how much does that typically cost?
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Sunday, June 24th, 2018 AT 11:37 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
The machine will charge it exactly to capacity. It will evacuate the system for forty five minutes and then add a little oil and the Freon. Then if it does not turn on, you have an electrical issue that must be checked.

The expansion valve is under the dash passenger side but that most likely will not cause the system from coming on line unless it is stuck closed.

Do you have any pressure in the system?

Roy
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Sunday, June 24th, 2018 AT 11:49 AM
Tiny
LUVZCATS5322
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I will ask my dad to check pressure again, would it lose pressure if it had been sitting for awhile?
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Sunday, June 24th, 2018 AT 11:58 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
No, Freon does not evaporate, it leaks out.

Roy
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Sunday, June 24th, 2018 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
LUVZCATS5322
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
When they evacuated the system they were not able to fill it. My dad's friend who is no longer around told us not to use it until they could fix the problem. So it just sat for about two years until my aunt needed a car to drive.
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Sunday, June 24th, 2018 AT 12:07 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
They most likely did not use a machine to do. As I said, if you use cans, usually only one can will go in and the rest has to be installed with the A/C system running.

Roy
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Sunday, June 24th, 2018 AT 12:09 PM

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