Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: 1994 Lebaron Air Conditioning (need diagnoses), chrysler lebaron, 1994 chrysler lebaron

Question
I have a 1994 Chrysler Lebaron GTC.  Last year the refrigerant was retrofitted to r134a and the AC worked fine all summer.  Now the AC will blow somewhat cool when the car is moving but stops working altogether at idle.  

The system is fully charged and I have just replaced the TEV(expansion valve), and the AC switch that connects to the TEV.  Before I replaced the AC switch the compressor was cycling very rapidly.  I think the low pressure switch is also bad and I currently have it jumpered. Also, the high pressure line seems to be running excessively hot, and every time I turn on the compressor it seems to drive the engine temp to an overheating condition.  My guess is there is still a restriction somewhere in the system, but I thought I would have eliminated this possibility by replacing the TEV(I sprayed some AC cleaner into the parts when I replaced the TEV, but I did not have access to shop air to blow it thru).  There did not seem to be any blockage as the cleaner emerged from the other outlet on the parts I sprayed it into. A low pressue guage reads in the normal range when the compressor is on but jumps way up when it shuts off). I do not want to spend $75 on guages unless they can definately tell me what is wrong (what can a high pressure guage tell me?).   One shop wanted $300 to fix it without even knowing what might be wrong.  Help!
Jim
jcmartin70@hotmail.com

Answer
You CANNOT "I think the low pressure switch is also bad and I currently have it jumpered". You CANNOT does this as the LOW pressure switch is what controls the cycling of the A/C compressor. Leaving this jumper wire in place ALL THE TIME will damage the A/C components and FREEZE up the system as well as cause excessive HIGH PRESSURE in the A/C system.

GET THAT JUMPER OUT.

Gages tell you EVERYTHING.


You stated: A low pressue guage reads in the normal range when the compressor is on but jumps way up when it shuts off).  THIS IS NORMAL.

Most likely you are LOW on freon of which is WHY the LOW pressure switch will NOT CLOSE and engage the compressor.


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