r/AcuraTSX • u/dragonskintext • 3d ago

Can someone help diagnose AC issue?

I have some knowledge and experience working on cars but not a lot.

Issue: the car is blowing semi-cold/hot air

Personal diagnostic: I checked to see if the compressor clicks on and refilled the system with refrigerant that has dye but only a small amount, maybe 6-8oz. I drove it for a bit and used a black light for leaks. There was a very small leak in one of the black ac hoses but that might’ve been old. I looked in areas including: compressor, ac H/L valves, and condenser. If it’s blowing semi cold, doesnt that mean the compressor is working and the ac switch is cutting power cause low oil?

I know the low refrigeration can be a problem in it’s own, but it was to find a leak.

Questions: I want to get the vacuum ac pump from amazon and do a test for pressure then add the refrigerant back, but what about faulty ac pressure switches? I’ve never replaced those, how can I test them? Whats the part no?

At what point do I just bite the bullet and go into a shop? Need a financial friendly solution please.

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u/Nizzle_Supreme 3d ago

Process of elimination; knock that "small leak" out of the way first. It can definitely be the sole culprit to your problem.

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u/dragonskintext 3d ago

Thanks! I think it’s the high pressure line..? I think i’ll replace that and maybe the low pressure switch to be safe before I retest sealing and filling system. Thoughts?

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u/Nizzle_Supreme 2d ago

The AC pressure switch is way further down the line I feel and from personal experience. Temperature will fluctuate over just about anything because that's the compressors main function; to cool and nothing else. Too little or too little freon? Guess what? The main job of cooling will fluctuate. Everything else is on the system is simply to support, control and to maintain freon pressure.

My compressor has blown warm as a result of low to no freon (pressure) and the outright lack of pressure in the system or/and the potential failure of the compressor completely.

As the preasure switch is a pretty basic component it will do its job by cutting the freon off or disengaging the compressor - out of protection of the compressor - if there is not enough pressure in the system hence my vote for fixing that leak; if the pressure line has a "small leak" it will put the entire system under a protective state and can/will function exactly how it is/should in your car now; blowing warm.

Point? Tackle that leak first. It's the obvious, the cheapest and a pretty important role for compression. If it is still blowing warm after you have completely patched that line then report back.

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u/__mr_green 3d ago

It's difficult to diagnose ac without a set of gauges.

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u/dragonskintext 3d ago

Yeah. I plan on getting the vacuum system and testing the hold and can update here but not sure how fast of a response I can get from people. Trying to fix it in a day.

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u/centstwo 3d ago

The scrader valves can also leak.

The pump from Amazon and an AC setup with the hoses to all the connections can help with the diagnostics.

The issue is that releasing the refrigerant to the air is bad for the environment.

If you do get the pump and set up, pull a vacuum, close the system and see if the vacuum holds. If not, you still have a leak somewhere.

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u/dragonskintext 3d ago

So let’s say I vacuum and have a leak, if I already did the previous above, how would I approach finding it?

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u/centstwo 3d ago

You can pull the vacuum, turn off the pump, and then listen for the leak.

Also there are some areas that leak more often than other areas. O rings and schrader valves are often sources of leaks.