A/C problems?

[A1218]

Back in 2016 the original a/c compressor went as it locked up at idle and started smoking. So I replaced it with a UAC brand compressor from Rockauto and it worked fine until June 2019 where it would turn off when the vehicle is idling but if you rev the engine or drive it doesnt cut out. That eventually smoked up as well as the clutch locked up. I replaced that last year with a GDP calsonic compressor and had it recharged. It worked great all last summer and up to now when today while the engine was idling for about 15 min the compressor cut off, so i turned the switch off immediately as i didnt want it to burn like the previous ones. I turned the switch off and on but the compressor wasnt clicking. I waited a few seconds and tried again and it came back on. It worked fine all the way home.

What seems to be the problem here? In 2020 when it was last replaced with the GDP calsonic I also replaced the receiver/dryer and the mechanic hooked up machine to run a vacuum and recharge. From what I recalled the machine didnt pull vacuum for very long, maybe 15-20 minutes for the whole process for the recharge.

Is it slowly loosing refrigerant or something? It blows cold, takes a few min to fully cool down vehicle on a very hot day but it does blow cold once it has. I did also notice it takes a bit of time for water to start dripping as compared to my other vehicles where the a/c system would start producing water very shortly after the system is turned on.

Should I take it somewhere else and have them evacuate and recharge the system?

I don't see any visible leaks anywhere at all and o-rings were changed when system was replaced and the compressor already had its 7oz of oil inside.

[AlanAZ]

Your cooling performance sounds similar to mine, although mine has never never cut out, and has not been replaced.

The schrader valves on the high and low side ports begin to slow leak with age, do you know if they have been replaced? I have the tool to replace them without opening the system, if you're in the Phoenix area, I'll do it for you.

[A1218]

Unfortunately I’m on the other side of the country. In NY. I appreciate it though.

And I’m the first owner so I’ve never had it replaced. Must be a slow leak causing low Freon levels eventually that cause the compressor to cut out. But I don’t visually see anything at connection points or anywhere else.

I’ll have a look at the Schrader valves.

[VStar650CL]

And I’m the first owner so I’ve never had it replaced. Must be a slow leak causing low Freon levels eventually that cause the compressor to cut out. But I don’t visually see anything at connection points or anywhere else.

Low refrigerant will cause poor/no cooling but it won't cause repeated compressor failures. Even old systems have low pressure cutouts to prevent that. Low oil or a lot of moisture are the main compressor-killers. But on a vehicle that old you may just have a garden variety leak. If the place that did your last evac and recharge added UV dye (most places do) then a leak will be easy to find with a magic flashlight. If not, you might want to have it E&R'd again and dye added.

[A1218]

And I’m the first owner so I’ve never had it replaced. Must be a slow leak causing low Freon levels eventually that cause the compressor to cut out. But I don’t visually see anything at connection points or anywhere else.

Low refrigerant will cause poor/no cooling but it won't cause repeated compressor failures. Even old systems have low pressure cutouts to prevent that. Low oil or a lot of moisture are the main compressor-killers. But on a vehicle that old you may just have a garden variety leak. If the place that did your last evac and recharge added UV dye (most places do) then a leak will be easy to find with a magic flashlight. If not, you might want to have it E&R'd again and dye added.

Could it be the relay?

Even when the previous compressor failed and the original one as well I was not having cooling problems. The a/c was still blowing cold until a sudden compressor failure.

Even now with this compressor that I put in last year it’s blowing super cold. And hasn’t given a problem since yesterday when it shut off once. I ran it several times today when driving and also let it idle once for 20 minutes while monitoring it.

[VStar650CL]

It isn't low refrigerant if it just failed to turn on once and now it's fine again. Yes, that could very well be crappy contacts in the compressor relay.

[A1218]

It has been close to two weeks now since I changed the A/C relay and I haven't been experiencing any problems yet. Even when idling with a/c on, no problems.