I have a 2002 TB with the 4.2L engine, 142K. It has been 95 to 100+ degrees the last week and I have noticed weak A/C performance. A/C seems to be blowing cold at start-up and when idling, but when I start to drive, the air blows erratically, mostly warm, with a few cold spurts here and there. After driving for 15 to 20 minutes, air will start to blow cold again and be fine while I drive around town, or on the highway.
Below is a list of things I have checked:
1) accumulator is frosty
2) when snowflake is pushed, compressor clutch is engaged.
3) low pressure switch was replaced 1 month ago, so when it blows warm, the compressor is engaged, no need to tap.
I took it to a local shop (Firestone complete, don't hate, very good rep around theses parts and across the street from my office), they ran a diagnostic test and said that my compressor was going out. The pressure on the high side was bouncing up and down and not consistent. Low pressure was in the normal range (35/45).
This morning, it was 81 degrees when I ran to the store, ice cold air the entire time, start-up, idle, driving, stopping, etc. so works great!
Here is my question... Does this sound like a compressor that is going out?
I also notice that when the engine is at operating temp, 210 (sometimes 3 notches higher in extreme heat 100+), and the a/c is on, the cooling fan never speeds up. It seems like the fan used to speed up and slow down when I engaged the a/c. I had the fan clutch replaced in 2006 by a dealer, so I am wondering if the fan is supposed to speed up and slow down, and if so, can this affect the operation of the a/c system specifically the compressor getting hot and not functioning properly?
thoughts....
Below is a list of things I have checked:
1) accumulator is frosty
2) when snowflake is pushed, compressor clutch is engaged.
3) low pressure switch was replaced 1 month ago, so when it blows warm, the compressor is engaged, no need to tap.
I took it to a local shop (Firestone complete, don't hate, very good rep around theses parts and across the street from my office), they ran a diagnostic test and said that my compressor was going out. The pressure on the high side was bouncing up and down and not consistent. Low pressure was in the normal range (35/45).
This morning, it was 81 degrees when I ran to the store, ice cold air the entire time, start-up, idle, driving, stopping, etc. so works great!
Here is my question... Does this sound like a compressor that is going out?
I also notice that when the engine is at operating temp, 210 (sometimes 3 notches higher in extreme heat 100+), and the a/c is on, the cooling fan never speeds up. It seems like the fan used to speed up and slow down when I engaged the a/c. I had the fan clutch replaced in 2006 by a dealer, so I am wondering if the fan is supposed to speed up and slow down, and if so, can this affect the operation of the a/c system specifically the compressor getting hot and not functioning properly?
thoughts....
