Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

bodyshop1 on Thu July 16, 2015 5:24 PM

Year: 2012
Make: Mazda
Model: 3
Engine Size: 2.0
Refrigerant Type: r134

New here: I have a bodyshop so we mostly just have condensor replacements and recharge. But this car had a leak in the compressor seal, we would recharge every few weeks till we got the new compressor, from the dealer. This may be long but this is what we did, took old compressor off, dumped oil out and hardly any came out. New compressor had 2 oz in it and we left that in it. Measured the correct 134 to put back in on recharge. Cooling a bit but pressures seemed a bit high at 300 and low at about 35. So we bought a new expansion valve, drier, and installed. Recharged again, high side about 270 at idle, low close to 40. 90 degrees outside. Air vent would only get to about 60 degrees but when we drove the car it went up to 70 and 80. Checked the electric fan was working, temp control on side of casing looked functioning. We did notice the passenger side air vents were "slightly" colder than driver but no side control for temp is in the car. Is it possible the compressor is bad but still has good pressures? we are at a loss. any input is appreciated.

Jag987 on Thu July 16, 2015 5:38 PM

Was the system vacuumed? With high side of 300, your compressor must be working.

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I bought a can of 134a at w**-mart that had a stop leak, oil, and dye in it. It also had a hose and a gauge, so now I'm an AC pro!

bodyshop1 on Thu July 16, 2015 6:30 PM

yes it was vacuumed. I had someone tell me a weak compressor can be an issue but didn't make sense to me if it was producing pressure like that.

Dougflas on Thu July 16, 2015 6:36 PM

Mist the condenser with a water hose while monitoring the pressures. engine RPM at 1500. If High side drops like a rock, look at condenser or airflow across condenser. Also monitor vent temps while doing this. Just because you bought a new condenser does not mean it has OEM capacity.

Edited: Fri July 17, 2015 at 4:29 PM by Dougflas

bodyshop1 on Sun July 19, 2015 6:02 PM

I decided to take it to my friends shop, and he has not come to any conclusions yet but he is leaning toward a defective compressor. Even though it does produce pressure but not necessarily the right ones, could this be possible? I paid over $500 from Mazda but it only had issues after the compressor change. The shop I took it to is a full mechanical shop and they do a/c all the time so he did flush the system too, still nothing so maybe I did get a bad part, however, I will ask about Doug's comment.

jsmitty on Sun July 19, 2015 8:07 PM

Could have too much oil in the system. Since the old compressor had none in it when removed, it had to go somewhere. If 2oz. leaked out the front seal, it should be pretty obvious - I would expect that would make a nice pattern on the underside of the hood. If not, then it may be 2oz too full of oil - not alot, but not knowing what was in there to begin with, it could have too much.