Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

fredfree on Sat June 29, 2013 5:09 PM

Year: 2000
Make: Dodge
Model: Caravan
Engine Size: 3.0
Refrigerant Type: r134a
Ambient Temp: 80
Pressure Low: 40
Pressure High: 230
Country of Origin: United States

I would just like to say hi to everyone here and that l Have run into problem that doesn't seem to get any better. Van came in with a locked up compressor, replaced compressor, drier, expansion valve, and flushed system, thought the pressures were good when done (low at 40 high at 225 at idle at 80 degrees). Vehicle came back a week later with the belt broken, checked the compressor to see if it was locked up, still spins, put a new belt on and checked operation, this time I noticed the pressures were a little different, Low was 35 high 235 but when revved up the low would go to 5 and high to 300, grabbed the lines to check for restrictions, found the condenser was hot on inlet and almost cool on the outlet, replaced the condenser and also the evaporator cause it was leaking and pressures got better, low was 40 high was 220 at idle and low was 20 and high was 250 when held at 2500, test drove vehicle and noticed if I accelerated pretty heavy for a bit the belt would squeak as if the compressor locked up(but the noise would only last for a second or two), brought back to the shop and held it revved at about 3500 and got the belt to squeal, but the pressures were at 15 and 275 when it happened, also noticed the compressor would keep turning when it would squeal, tightend the belt a bit and seemed to help but still made the squeal if accelerated hard for about 2 blocks, kinda stumped now. The belt feels tight and dont want to over tighten.Any thoughts thanks

iceman2555 on Sun June 30, 2013 12:35 AM

Have you checked your alternator decoupler pulley? Could be a bad decoupler and when the ac is energized it adds extra tension.


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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

fredfree on Sun June 30, 2013 11:56 AM

This van has the separate vbelt for the ac.