Very strange a/c problem - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

smeagol · 07-25-2015, 11:19 PM

I have a 2010 camaro and a few months ago my a/c started acting up. i have less than 40k miles on her. Here is the strange details, When the temperature outside is 80 or below the a/c works 100% of the time. When it is 84-95 degree's it works off and on (rarely). Anything over 96-110+ (most every day here) It never works after warm up. When i say warm up, No matter WHAT temperature it is, the a/c will work from a cold start for a good 5-10minutes. Which leads me to believe when the engine warms up it shuts off. The engine is not over heating. it is at the 1/4 mark all the time. plus like i said above even if i am going over 100mph for 10min, if the temperature outside is 80 or below it works 100% of the time. I tried to give it some freon with a/c pro. The gauge was in the red, then i looked at the compressor and the clutch was NOT engaged. it was 106 degrees that day. So it is because the compressor clutch wont engage but only due to the temperatures above. And always 5-10min after a cold start.

Vroom_vroom · 07-26-2015, 06:39 AM

loose plug on the compressor? perhaps it has too much pressure in the system. hotter it gets the more psi in the system too much psi in there and it will not kick on or something will pop. the psi literally doubles between 80 degrees and 110.

http://acprocold.com/wp-content/uplo...rt-33776F1.jpg

derklug1 · 07-26-2015, 07:22 AM

Yeah, my guess is that it is overcharged.

smeagol · 07-27-2015, 07:30 PM

How do i drain a little psi out? Press down on the shreader valve like a bike tire? "Hold breath and wear googles" lol

cajun1le · 07-27-2015, 09:19 PM

Before you blast yourself with PAG Oil and Tetrafluoroethane. Is the compressor kicking on for a split second and then cuts out when its hot (about 10-20 times a minute)?

smeagol · 07-27-2015, 11:16 PM

no, once it is hot, it just shuts down and does not engage anymore. On rare occasions it will pop on for maybe 3-30 seconds. Also if i accelerate too fast it will cut off when it is in the -Med-high- temp range outside. I was gonna wait until it is working (Early in the morning) And put the a/c recharge on it just to look at the gauge it comes with and see if it is over charged.

cajun1le · 07-27-2015, 11:46 PM

Do you see any frost on the suction line close to the firewall? Its the fat aluminum line.

Its rather tricky to diagnose from my end without seeing what is going on within the refrigeration cycle (suction and discharge pressures). Keep in mind that when checking pressures the engine needs to be around 1500RPMs, windows down, blower at full speed and have the recirculate selector on. If the system starts and then a few moments later it stops, then it might be one of the following.

-the system has moisture in it that is freezing at the expansion valve which is stopping the flow of refrigerant.
-the expansion valve is restricting the flow of refrigerant causing the liquid side of the system to over-pressurize and shut down. System restarts later once the refrigerant has normalized.
-overcharged

smeagol · 07-28-2015, 01:46 AM

I will take a look and see if it is freezing tomorrow. I really dont wanna release pressure by hand and get the oil everywhere. The only think that makes me think it is not overcharged is that it has been working fine for the past 4 years. Just this last year it has started to mess up, iv never charged it since i got the car. Unless is slowly builds up a overcharge over time? So it leads me to your first two options. I just moved to Pensacola Florida after getting stationed here, so i dont know my way around yet to get it fixed.

07-25-2015, 11:19 PM	#1
smeagol Drives: 2010 synergy green showroom kit. Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 11	Very strange a/c problem I have a 2010 camaro and a few months ago my a/c started acting up. i have less than 40k miles on her. Here is the strange details, When the temperature outside is 80 or below the a/c works 100% of the time. When it is 84-95 degree's it works off and on (rarely). Anything over 96-110+ (most every day here) It never works after warm up. When i say warm up, No matter WHAT temperature it is, the a/c will work from a cold start for a good 5-10minutes. Which leads me to believe when the engine warms up it shuts off. The engine is not over heating. it is at the 1/4 mark all the time. plus like i said above even if i am going over 100mph for 10min, if the temperature outside is 80 or below it works 100% of the time. I tried to give it some freon with a/c pro. The gauge was in the red, then i looked at the compressor and the clutch was NOT engaged. it was 106 degrees that day. So it is because the compressor clutch wont engage but only due to the temperatures above. And always 5-10min after a cold start.

07-26-2015, 06:39 AM	#2
Vroom_vroom The gritos pollo!!! Drives: Like a idiot Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,215 View My Garage	loose plug on the compressor? perhaps it has too much pressure in the system. hotter it gets the more psi in the system too much psi in there and it will not kick on or something will pop. the psi literally doubles between 80 degrees and 110. http://acprocold.com/wp-content/uplo...rt-33776F1.jpg __________________ https://www.youtube.com/@FredJrsGarage ‘19 Silverado 3500 dmax ‘77 trans am ‘63 c2 Shopping for more Camaros

07-26-2015, 07:22 AM	#3
derklug1 Drives: 2016 GT350 Join Date: May 2015 Location: grand rapids mi Posts: 145	Yeah, my guess is that it is overcharged. __________________ "Life is hard, it's harder if you're stupid" John Wayne

07-27-2015, 11:46 PM	#7
cajun1le The Mechanic Drives: a sports car Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 316	Do you see any frost on the suction line close to the firewall? Its the fat aluminum line. Its rather tricky to diagnose from my end without seeing what is going on within the refrigeration cycle (suction and discharge pressures). Keep in mind that when checking pressures the engine needs to be around 1500RPMs, windows down, blower at full speed and have the recirculate selector on. If the system starts and then a few moments later it stops, then it might be one of the following. -the system has moisture in it that is freezing at the expansion valve which is stopping the flow of refrigerant. -the expansion valve is restricting the flow of refrigerant causing the liquid side of the system to over-pressurize and shut down. System restarts later once the refrigerant has normalized. -overcharged Last edited by cajun1le; 07-27-2015 at 11:58 PM.

07-27-2015, 07:30 PM	#4
smeagol Drives: 2010 synergy green showroom kit. Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 11	How do i drain a little psi out? Press down on the shreader valve like a bike tire? "Hold breath and wear googles" lol

07-27-2015, 09:19 PM	#5
cajun1le The Mechanic Drives: a sports car Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 316	Before you blast yourself with PAG Oil and Tetrafluoroethane. Is the compressor kicking on for a split second and then cuts out when its hot (about 10-20 times a minute)?

07-27-2015, 11:16 PM	#6
smeagol Drives: 2010 synergy green showroom kit. Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 11	no, once it is hot, it just shuts down and does not engage anymore. On rare occasions it will pop on for maybe 3-30 seconds. Also if i accelerate too fast it will cut off when it is in the -Med-high- temp range outside. I was gonna wait until it is working (Early in the morning) And put the a/c recharge on it just to look at the gauge it comes with and see if it is over charged.

07-28-2015, 01:46 AM	#8
smeagol Drives: 2010 synergy green showroom kit. Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 11	I will take a look and see if it is freezing tomorrow. I really dont wanna release pressure by hand and get the oil everywhere. The only think that makes me think it is not overcharged is that it has been working fine for the past 4 years. Just this last year it has started to mess up, iv never charged it since i got the car. Unless is slowly builds up a overcharge over time? So it leads me to your first two options. I just moved to Pensacola Florida after getting stationed here, so i dont know my way around yet to get it fixed.