Need some help figuring out what is going on with ac system. Was driving home 6 hour trip 3 weeks ago and ac just quit blowing cold. I then spent 3 weeks in cardiac icu so am just now getting around to taking a look at. The compressor is engaging. Freon may actually be a little bit high guy at auto zone tried to put some in for me while on way home from hospital I have since checked and it is reading a little high on the dummy gauge. my auto ac experience has been limited but I have never had one that didn't work when compressor would engage. I have ob scanner and monitoring software as well as access to utilize forscan. What I need is thoughts ideas as well as what parameters to mess with on forscan to see what it is doing or which values are clear indicator of issues once I have base set of correct data. Sorry for long post but I am only running about 40% brain capacity at the moment so my mechanical skills are limited fortunately it is cool enough to mess with if not I'll just have to take it somewhere. Also my truck has an electrical gremlin which they put a new computer in about a year ago and get p0012 or p0022 once a week or so. I also replaced alternator around same week which was less than a year old but alternator charging fine now. I was wondering if I should start by disconnecting negative battery terminal. ah I miss the days of my 80 land cruiser where it had a manual choke and couldn't spell computer

2016 f150 5.0 lariat crew 4x4 200,000 miles

 

Welcome, I would take it to a shop, have it machine evacuated and tested for leaks. If no leaks, recharge to correct amount. Too uch or too little is not good.

 

Most likely it was low on refrigerant which causes the evaporator to freeze up which stops air from moving through it and getting cold. Usually turning it off for 10 minutes unfreezes it enough to work again. This will be worse the more humid it is.

 

I tried turning on and off and drove home with no ac running tested again friday am when was cool and compressor still cycling on off if I hit the button on the dash. I was just hoping I could see up from down with forscan as my phone app for monitoring provides me with info but it is hard to understand what it means sometimes and I know forscan would be easier and for more useful in the grand scheme of things. I was hoping to mess with until monday when local shop can take a look at.

 

Be aware that, when certain fault conditions are present, the PCM automatically disables the compressor. Before taking it anywhere or messing with the charge, both of which *may* be unnecessary, you do need to evaluate what the computer seeing and doing. That's where Forscan comes in.

Start by watching this video, it will get you oriented. He uses IDS but Forscan can do much of what he covers.

 

I suggested what I did because he stated auto zone tried to charge it. Enough with inexperience folks working on it. JMO

 

Or trying to give "advice"...

 

well I assume with that comment you are talking about me so I will add you to my blocked list. Thanks for your kind treatment!

 

Whatever. Suit yourself, you're only hurting yourself by cutting off a source of actual experience and knowledge.

 

sorry guys not sure what going on here on the personal level. I found my Hvac gauge set corrected overpressure to normal range. checked relays and such had to put it in slightly more freon and compressor is engaging. I forgot I need to download license for forscan so I'm working on that now but in simple state I was able to pull a code p1464 which I need to research