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  #1  
Old 05-27-2003, 10:22 AM
mhl0125 mhl0125 is offline
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Another A/C Problem

I got the pressure on the low side of my compressor to the right amount. The high side is extremely low. What do I have to do to bring up the pressure on the high side?

Also, I dropped the little green plastic cover for the low side (the one with an "l" on it) into the motor and can't find it. My Subie dealer says he can't order me one and the ones as the auto parts stores are too large. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement cap for the low side of the A/C?
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Old 05-27-2003, 07:28 PM
lee lee is offline
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don't know about the cap, but if the low side is normal, and the high side is too low, then I'm sorry but that usually means the compressor isn't "compressing enough"
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Old 05-30-2003, 12:42 AM
gl1674 gl1674 is offline
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The most likely culprit is the compressor, although it is also possible that the expansion valve stuck in wide open state.
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Old 05-30-2003, 07:37 AM
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rufus rufus is offline
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I have the same problem. I have replaced pretty much everything that could be the culprit except the expansion valve (with new OEM Subaru parts). I unfortunately think I have narrowed it down, now

I am going to be pulling the dash soon on my parts car, and this will be a dry run for the expansion valve replacement on my other car. Anyone have any words of wisdom on expansion valve replacement?

Thanks
Mike
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Old 05-30-2003, 08:50 AM
mhl0125 mhl0125 is offline
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I am going to replace the compressor and the receiver/drier next Monday. I'll see if that works. Let me know the results of your expansion valve replacement, just in case I still have the problem after putting in the new parts.
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1994 Barcelona Red SVX-LSI
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1995 Emerald Green SVX L AWD
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2002 Acura MDX-Touring Edition w/navigation
2008 Toyota Prius
1987 Mercedes Benz 560SL
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Old 05-30-2003, 03:40 PM
lee lee is offline
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I'm far from a certified A/C tech, but usually for a bad expansion valve both the high and low side will be high. Also the low side hose will be colder than normal - even frosting up on some occasions (at least it did on a Ford I once owned).
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Old 05-30-2003, 11:59 PM
gl1674 gl1674 is offline
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They don't teach that on A/C certification - they only teach about ozone hole presumably caused by freon without explaining how such a heavy gas can get so high into atmosphere and stay there..

Now, the subaru service manual does confirm that if the expansion valve is stuck in open state, it will cause excessive refrigerant flow, both sides will have higher pressure and low pressure pipes will be considerably cold or even covered with frost.

If expansion valve is stuck in a closed state, both sides will have low pressure. (Blocked/crushed pipes, receiver-drier will have the same effect).

There isn't actually a case where low side is normal and high side is low...

Couple of additional indicator that might help to diagnose your system are how fast the pressures become equal after engine is shut down and approx temperatures of inlet and outlet pipes (low side before compressor, high side after compressor, before and after receiver-drier).
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