A/C Fault, help diagnosing please!

[Marcos999]

The A/C wasn't blowing cold when I bought the car around four months ago (it was a cheap 182) so I had the system recharged. I was told it is holding pressure fine but not going cold. I then read on here about the lug the climate control motor goes into breaking and sure enough it had fractured so I repaired that. It goes hot to cold but not below ambient temp. I can hear the clutch engaging which from what I've read means, the pressure in the system should be ok? The temp guage on the dash seems to be reading about right so I guess the outside temp. sensor works.
Anyone had these symptoms or know their way around an A/C system? It would be great to take it to a specialist but money is tight (hence the cheap car!) and winter will probably be here soon!

 

[SkidMarx]

When they say holding pressure i assume they just mean its not leaking? Most places just whip the hoses off after they've gassed the aircon but If you leave the machine on it'll give you the pressure readings from the high pressure and low pressure sides. Ideally you need to get it back on the machine and check the pressures, high pressure is normally 8 - 10 bar on most things, You could do with finding out what a good 182 normally makes. The clutch kicking in is a good sign as it means there is sufficient gas in the system but you could still have a faulty compressor.

 

[sarge64]

Hi i have a similiar issue with a 172.
There is gas in the system the fans running and you can hear the compressor engaging, but the pipes at the backof the compressor feel warm.
There is a pressure sensor to the right hand side of the condenser by the air box its 3 pin from memory is there any way of checking to see if this is working?
Marcoss what is the "broken lug" you mentioned in your post.
The car was stood outside for 3.5 years before i brought it.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

 

[Bobby.]

When it was regassed was it blowing cold then?

 

[Marcos999]

It's never been colder than ambient but with the lug repaired it will go from hot down to ambient now. So if the clutch kicking in means it has sufficient gas I'm looking at a compressor?

 

[Bobby.]

You could have a leak still so you might of lost some pressure in the system but still enough to engage the compressor but not enough to blow very cold.

Hopefully when you had it regassed they put dye in the system so if theirs any leaks the dye will show the leak. You need a special light and glasses to see the dye so your have to take it back to whoever gassed it to check it, they should have the kit.