Might be hard to explain. My friend told me her 2007 Optima AC wasn't blowing cold only warm. I checked it and it wasn't very bad at around 80+ degree's outside early in the morning one day. I'm guessing she didn't turn it on right? Walmart had no cans of the 134 only Autozone had two cans left of the small ones. I added the one can and my cheaper hose with the gauge was right in the middle of the green. I thought the AC was working well. She tells me the next day that it wasn't all that great and had a hard time reaching the back seats.. It's been in the mid to high 90 degrees out and I try to tell her the car bakes inside when hot and all the vents need time to cool also. So here is how I screwed up, besides not having someone to help in case. The setup on this Kia is a little hard where the low pressure valve in right near a pulley. Yes it's a one person job but that valve is hard to get a good snap on with the hose end. Long story is I stupidly decided to try the 2nd can but the AL foil threads were crooked and somewhat stripped. I screwed the hose on the can best I could and thought it would work even though the plunger head was a little crooked. Yes i'm a idiot. I'm pretty sure all or most of the AC coolant leaked out because of the bad seal on the can.. Ended up buying $60 more of 134 coolant. One big AC pro Ice and a smaller can with sealant only because that was the only thing left. Now it won't take it and I think every time the AC clutch compressor kicks in I hear and kinda see a purge of air. Close to the sound of someone purging the NOS at the staging lane. Is there a release valve maby for some reason? I don't know how I would of cracked a AC line and it wasn't leaking before as far as I know. Sorry for the long winded post.
Yes, there is a high pressure relief valve. Are the fans on behind the radiator? You really need to blow the $70 on a set of gauges. Your high side seems high. Charge amount is everything on a car that only holds 1.2 pounds.
Thanx! I have to look on the fans placement.. Have to ask a stupid question, is the the high pressure relief valve a different one than high pressure line with the cap? I'm thinking no unless the cap is designed to relieve?
Yes, vent it through whichever fitting is easiest to get at. Not good to vent freon, but you're not at a shop.
Thanks again Andrew.. I just might do that on the high pressure line with the cap valve which is easier as its right up top.. I didn't open up the hood so I don't know about the fans location. I'll check later but what would the location do? I actually just came back from a shop I use alot.. He is not extremely cheap or expensive but I have trusted the owner for years.. For example if I needed a one rotor he won't just change the one even though the other side might be good. I would do the one but he does it for safety I guess. Yes pads are a different story. I just have so many little issues health wise that alot of work I have done for years I just bring to him now. The only way he will work on the AC is to vacuum and flush the system and look for leaky seals and go from there.. $125 for this step. I will probably vent it at the high pressure valve a bit at first and go from there. The Fricken AC worked a little this morning go figure but still purged a bit. Finding more 134 might be a issue though. Just to say I checked and the fan is behind the radiator on the engine side..
Just to tell you that you were right about the high pressure line and I never doubted you Instead of purging the valve myself I just brought it to the shop. Guy said it was causing a somewhat chaos in the system.. He's Portuguese so some lost translation. Flushed, cleaned etc. and recharged for $130... Thanks again!
