Car A/C Compressor on most of the time, is this an issue?

LAzn310 on 14/01/2014 - 22:59

Hi all,

Firstly I have search our forum and on the internet, and get mixed results. Maybe some professional Ozbargainer can help me (and others) out once and for all.
Secondly, I haven't had the chance to own new cars so not sure how the A/C compressor is suppose to work.

Here comes the fun part:

I have recently purchased a used car, echo of 2005, and I notice every time I turn the A/C on, the Compressor kicks in and out a lot. It runs more and rest very little. This is what I observe at red lights, not sure how it runs when the car is in motion. Looking at the sight glass when the A/C is on, I can see the freon 'gargling' through the hole (some might refer to it as bubble?)

Some says that it needs re-gas but I find the A/C works satisfactorily, bringing the car back in the cool level on hot days. My question is, if I leave it like this for another year, is the compressor bearings (or any other things inside it) get damaged and potentially fail?

I am a preventative DIY person so I just want to get it right instead of buying a new A/C compressor later.

Thank you for any inputs!

Automotive

Comments

  • npc on 15/01/2014 - 07:13
    +1

    Normally compressor will stay on most of the time without switching on and off often unless:
    Outside temperature is too low ( from memory <-5) or
    Freon pressure is too low or high ( it is a sign or problems) or
    Freon temperature is out of limits ( may happen in hot weather) or
    Compressor electronic switch is faulty or
    Compressor draw too much power from the engine during idling and RPM go below minimum

    The above applies to older cars like yours. Some modern cars will turn aircon off to save fuel or give more power to engine if required.

    Suggest you to buy cheap error code scanner from ebay (elm 327 odb2) and check whats happening.

    • NosDan on 15/01/2014 - 18:42

      The above applies to older cars like yours. Some modern cars will turn aircon off to save fuel or give more power to engine if required.

      my cars a '98 but the same model in '94 (which i wouldnt call modern) did the same thing. a lot of smaller jap cars do it. some like mine have an "eco" AC switch others it just does it automatically.

      OP if its switching on and off a lot its probably not gas related or anything else wrong. if its getting low on gas it will stay on for a long time (caus theres less gas to compress and thus less heat can transfer) and stay off only for a short time (or possibly not turn off at all)

  • jefrileang on 15/01/2014 - 11:52
    +1

    I believe what you heard kicking on and off is your cooling fan. As far as I know echo 2005 doesn't have climate control. What that means is it doesn't have the digital temperature control so your echo compressor is on all the time you turn on your air cond. But your cooling fan for air cond will turn on and off according to the coil temperature.

    If your car has climate control and you have set the temperature to 24. The compressor will turn off when it reaches 24 or 23 and then turn back on when the temperature raise to a few degrees above set temperature.

    • NosDan on 15/01/2014 - 18:47

      I believe what you heard kicking on and off is your cooling fan.

      the sound of a fan is a fair bit different to the laboured motor sound from the compressor turning on but it could well be what it is. the fan will certainly kick on on a hot day with all that extra heat caused by the AC

      so your echo compressor is on all the time

      actually no thats wrong. all AC has a thermostat regardless of climate control or not, otherwise the cold part would ice over and stop working.

  • amaroocars on 15/01/2014 - 13:38
    +1

    Sounds like it might be a little short on 143A gas (not Freon) For an Echo doesn't take much gas loss to cause it to run all time. Will be that for sure if it has been getting slowly worse.
    Cheers and have a reputable A/C business check it for you.

  • Azn310 on 15/01/2014 - 15:03

    Thanks for the inputs guys!

    Andyvolk: Outside temp at my area is 25-35C this summer. RPM doesn't go low at all, it stays at normal level until compressor kicks in. I have an OBD2 scanner (good one $30 from amazon) and funny enough, I never get any codes on all of my cars before (oldest one has gone past 150,000km). Another note: when A/C runs, the A/C line where the L port is runs cold so that indicates A/C is ok? Thanks for narrowing it down for me.

    Jefrileang: Hi, I actually look in the engine bay when A/C is on, and it definitely the compressor. When it kicks in, it runs with the pulley, and when it kicks out, pulley runs but the middle part is not, indicating compressor is resting (i guess). I am just afraid the bearings inside can't take all the kicking all the time. You are right about climate control, definitely not on my Echo :D

    Amaroocars: This is where it is confusing, the guys above says compressor should run all the time, and you say should not.. to be honest, my common sense tells me you are somewhat correct. Being an Ozbargainer, I wanna seek opinions first before taking it to any A/C business, highly doubt that any A/C business will tell me 'your A/C is perfect, take it back, enjoy it for another 3 years' if you know what i mean haha

    Isn't 143A gas / refridgerant is also called freon?

    Again, really appreciate it guys!

    • NosDan on 15/01/2014 - 18:54
      +1

      When it kicks in, it runs with the pulley, and when it kicks out, pulley runs but the middle part is not, indicating compressor is resting (i guess).

      thats exactly what it does, it had a magnet in it which locks it on/off when it turns on and off.

      I am just afraid the bearings inside can't take all the kicking all the time

      they are designed for this and nothing to worry about. if your still worried who go get it checked out by a air con place to to reassure yourself

      the guys above says compressor should run all the time

      yup thats just bad info. definitely should not run all the time if everything is working well (unless maybe its a scorching hot day and the air con is really struggling, which it sounds like yours is handling the weather well)

      highly doubt that any A/C business will tell me 'your A/C is perfect, take it back, enjoy it for another 3 years' if you know what i mean haha

      most tell as soon as you drive in, before they even look at it, that your flux capacitor needs its widget realigned, thats gonna cost ya :)

      • Azn310 on 23/01/2014 - 12:25

        Thanks for your inputs, I appreciate your sense of humour haha

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