Weird (and annoying) A/C Issue

pty370z · 02-25-2015, 11:19 AM

Hi guys,

Not sure if I'm the only one experiencing this.

My A/C normally works OK and as expected.

HOWEVER, when the weather is TOO hot outside and my oil temps rise to the 200°F range, the A/C compressor simply starts to act up and shuts down randomly and after a little while turns back on, and shuts off again, and so on.

The A/C fan blowers continue to work, it's the compressor itself that stops functioning. So, when it turns off, the "A/C" it's simply blowing "hot" air, and starts blowing "cool" air again once the compressor turns back on.

It becomes a cycle and ranges between 30 seconds to a full minute until it shuts down again and same for it to turn back on.

It will happen whether I'm driving or in traffic, but it's more common during traffic.

I almost never get oil temps above 195°F because I have an oil cooler installed and I've noticed that as long as I'm there or below that temp, A/C works perfectly.

Any insights on what this might be?

Thanks in advance for your input.

kenchan · 02-25-2015, 11:49 AM

is that a stillen gen3 intake? check a/c line in the vicinity for leaks?

the compressor does turn on and off normally though...it's not constantly on.

kenchan · 02-25-2015, 12:41 PM

pty370z · 02-25-2015, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

is that a stillen gen3 intake? check a/c line in the vicinity for leaks?

the compressor does turn on and off normally though...it's not constantly on.

Yes, I do have a Stillen Gen 3 intake, I'll check the line..

I know the compressor does that, but what is not normal is that, when it shuts off, the fans continue to blow air but not "cool" air anymore, but warm or hot.. and when it turns back on, then "cool" air starts blowing again...

Spooler · 02-25-2015, 07:02 PM

You Sir are low on R134a, the real question is why. Where is the leak. May be as stated above.

Smashley · 02-25-2015, 07:12 PM

That sucks.... my compressor wont kick on whatsoever

DjSquall · 02-26-2015, 06:26 AM

Your coolant temp may be getting too high and trips the AC on high pressure. If it was low on freon, it would shut off quickly at any temp.

It doesn't cost much to pull the charge, pressure test, and refill your AC. I would do that first, just to eliminate the guess work. Then, once you know your AC system is 100% properly charged and leak free, I would look at lowering your coolant temps by a few degrees

pty370z · 02-26-2015, 10:03 AM

Thank you for your suggestions, I will check on this and update.

nomodsjk · 02-26-2015, 10:12 AM

Too hot.... Everybody got problems... Just kidding. I'm freezing my *** off up here

jm1fd · 02-27-2015, 06:17 AM

How many non-factory heat exchangers have you installed in front of the condenser?

It sounds like it is shutting down because the high side pressure is too high, probably because of intercoolers/oil coolers/etc dumping heat in front of the condenser, preventing it from being able to shed heat like it should. The pressure of R-134a goes up pretty dramatically past about 120 F.

JWillis72 · 02-27-2015, 07:19 AM

My cars A/C didn't work right when the car got hot, I would work on cooling the car. Your seeing 220 on the street with a oil cooler? Maybe a larger cooler would help? That seems high for a N/A car with a cooler to me.

pty370z · 02-27-2015, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jm1fd

How many non-factory heat exchangers have you installed in front of the condenser?

It sounds like it is shutting down because the high side pressure is too high, probably because of intercoolers/oil coolers/etc dumping heat in front of the condenser, preventing it from being able to shed heat like it should. The pressure of R-134a goes up pretty dramatically past about 120 F.

I only have the oil cooler, nothing else. It is the Z1 34-row oil cooler.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWillis72

My cars A/C didn't work right when the car got hot, I would work on cooling the car. Your seeing 220 on the street with a oil cooler? Maybe a larger cooler would help? That seems high for a N/A car with a cooler to me.

No, not that high. The oil temp. never gets past 200 F. I have the Z1 34-row oil cooler, I think that's as far as I can go on oil cooler, haha..

02-25-2015, 11:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
pty370z Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Panama City, Panama Posts: 654 Drives: over the speed limit Rep Power: 17	Weird (and annoying) A/C Issue Hi guys, Not sure if I'm the only one experiencing this. My A/C normally works OK and as expected. HOWEVER, when the weather is TOO hot outside and my oil temps rise to the 200°F range, the A/C compressor simply starts to act up and shuts down randomly and after a little while turns back on, and shuts off again, and so on. The A/C fan blowers continue to work, it's the compressor itself that stops functioning. So, when it turns off, the "A/C" it's simply blowing "hot" air, and starts blowing "cool" air again once the compressor turns back on. It becomes a cycle and ranges between 30 seconds to a full minute until it shuts down again and same for it to turn back on. It will happen whether I'm driving or in traffic, but it's more common during traffic. I almost never get oil temps above 195°F because I have an oil cooler installed and I've noticed that as long as I'm there or below that temp, A/C works perfectly. Any insights on what this might be? Thanks in advance for your input. __________________ 2010 Solid Red 370Z * *Touring-Sport-6MT Black Interior Performance:** STILLEN * BERK * UR * MISHIMOTO * K&N * Z1 * ZSPEED * UPREV * DBA Interior: GT-R Red Start/Stop Button * MSA Floor Mats * PW:JDM Exterior: INGS+1 * SEIBON * FUJIMURA * PW:JDM * UAM * KICS * VOLK

02-26-2015, 06:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
DjSquall A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tottenham, ON Age: 36 Posts: 1,340 Drives: My first car Rep Power: 22	Your coolant temp may be getting too high and trips the AC on high pressure. If it was low on freon, it would shut off quickly at any temp. It doesn't cost much to pull the charge, pressure test, and refill your AC. I would do that first, just to eliminate the guess work. Then, once you know your AC system is 100% properly charged and leak free, I would look at lowering your coolant temps by a few degrees __________________ My Z did p0rn

02-26-2015, 10:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
pty370z Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Panama City, Panama Posts: 654 Drives: over the speed limit Rep Power: 17	Thank you for your suggestions, I will check on this and update. __________________ 2010 Solid Red 370Z * *Touring-Sport-6MT Black Interior Performance:** STILLEN * BERK * UR * MISHIMOTO * K&N * Z1 * ZSPEED * UPREV * DBA Interior: GT-R Red Start/Stop Button * MSA Floor Mats * PW:JDM Exterior: INGS+1 * SEIBON * FUJIMURA * PW:JDM * UAM * KICS * VOLK

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02-25-2015, 11:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	is that a stillen gen3 intake? check a/c line in the vicinity for leaks? the compressor does turn on and off normally though...it's not constantly on.

02-25-2015, 12:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520

02-25-2015, 07:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Spooler A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ga Posts: 13,512 Drives: 2013 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 2684391	You Sir are low on R134a, the real question is why. Where is the leak. May be as stated above.

02-25-2015, 07:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Smashley Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 347 Drives: mt/sport/tour MB Rep Power: 11	That sucks.... my compressor wont kick on whatsoever

02-26-2015, 10:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
nomodsjk Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: martinsburg wv Posts: 2,073 Drives: 2011 370z MB/7at Rep Power: 19962	Too hot.... Everybody got problems... Just kidding. I'm freezing my *** off up here

02-27-2015, 06:17 AM	#10 (permalink)
jm1fd Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 23 Drives: 1977 REPU White M5 Rep Power: 13	How many non-factory heat exchangers have you installed in front of the condenser? It sounds like it is shutting down because the high side pressure is too high, probably because of intercoolers/oil coolers/etc dumping heat in front of the condenser, preventing it from being able to shed heat like it should. The pressure of R-134a goes up pretty dramatically past about 120 F.

02-27-2015, 07:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
JWillis72 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fort Myers FL Posts: 2,002 Drives: 2009 370Z yellow 7AT Rep Power: 44	My cars A/C didn't work right when the car got hot, I would work on cooling the car. Your seeing 220 on the street with a oil cooler? Maybe a larger cooler would help? That seems high for a N/A car with a cooler to me.