air conditioner probs?

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coocooman01

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Jan 17, 2012
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ada,oklahoma
First Name
evan
Truck Year
1985 and 87
Truck Model
1500 silverado 4x4
Engine Size
350
when my air con is on it will blow cold air and few min hot air back and fourth
does this mean my compresser turning on and off if so why,thanks for the help
evan
 

chengny

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NH
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Jerry
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1986
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K3500
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350/5.7
Yes it is turning off/on - as controlled by the low pressure switch.

That switch is what normally turns it off and on - when low side pressure drops to about 25 psi.

But if it stops and starts too frequently (and warm air is discharged from the vents) it's said to be "short cycling and usually indicates a low refrigerant charge.

Add a bit of gas and then note whether the compressor runs longer and the periods of warm air from the vents decreases. Keep adding refrigerant in small quantities until normal operation is obtained.

Don't overshoot the charge.
 
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austinado16

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Todd
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1990 w/307k miles on the clock
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GMC V1500 Suburban SLE
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5.7L TBI/4L60/3.42's
Fire the engine up, turn the a/c to max, roll the windows down, open the hood, and watch what the compressor is doing. If it runs for a few seconds and shuts off, and then turns back on again, it's probably low on freon. If it keeps running, and you still note that the air blowing out of the vents is warm, and then cold, and then warm again, you probably have a blockage at the orifice tube.

I'd put a set of refrigerant gages on it, and watch the low and high pressure while it's running. If you see the low pressure dipping below 25, you know you're low on freon. If you see something else, let us know.

The system is R12, so you can't just add R134a. You have to either find a place that still uses R12, score some R12, or have the system emptied and then retrofit w/ new receiver/dryer, new orifice tube, replace as many o-rings as you can get to w/ green viton versions, and then add a few ounces of Ester 100 oil and then add R134a until you have a steady 25-30 inches of suction on the low side. It'll blow ice cold.
 

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