AC Blowing Warm - Won't take R134 when it used to, do I need to clear codes?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
AC Blowing Warm - Won't take R134 when it used to, do I need to clear codes?
I have a 2004 ML350. There's a leak in the AC system somewhere, usually a full-reload lasts me 3-6 months. It went out earlier in the spring/winter, but in SoCal, temperatures were mild and I got lazy. So it's probably been blowing warm/room air for the last 3-4 months.
Of course we hit a heat wave, and I tried to refill it using the usual hose/gauge I use with some cans of R134A. The usual, I have it blowing on COLD on MAX, and hook it up to the LOW Pressure side. Usually here it starts taking the R134A and both the can gets cold, and LOW Pressure side line around the nozzle/connection gets frosty/cold, so I usually know it's going. I also tried a new hose/gauge. Same result.
But right now that's not happening. As far as I can tell visually the compressor is going when I look by the fan? It's all spinning. Did I leave it sitting on such low refrigerant levels that it tripped a code and it needs to be cleared for the compressor to engage/accept the R134a?
A few times the can and low side line got frosty/cold, but then it only took for maybe 10-15 seconds, and both can and low side pressure went warm. And even 15-20 minutes the R134a can was still full. In the past, this usually was never a problem and it would instantly take.
Any ideas of my next steps?
Thanks!
Of course we hit a heat wave, and I tried to refill it using the usual hose/gauge I use with some cans of R134A. The usual, I have it blowing on COLD on MAX, and hook it up to the LOW Pressure side. Usually here it starts taking the R134A and both the can gets cold, and LOW Pressure side line around the nozzle/connection gets frosty/cold, so I usually know it's going. I also tried a new hose/gauge. Same result.
But right now that's not happening. As far as I can tell visually the compressor is going when I look by the fan? It's all spinning. Did I leave it sitting on such low refrigerant levels that it tripped a code and it needs to be cleared for the compressor to engage/accept the R134a?
A few times the can and low side line got frosty/cold, but then it only took for maybe 10-15 seconds, and both can and low side pressure went warm. And even 15-20 minutes the R134a can was still full. In the past, this usually was never a problem and it would instantly take.
Any ideas of my next steps?
Thanks!
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 65
Likes: 8
From: NC Mountains
2000 ML 320/95 Ford F150 4x4/Harley Davidson 03 FLHRCI in vivid black
I have a 2004 ML350. There's a leak in the AC system somewhere, usually a full-reload lasts me 3-6 months. It went out earlier in the spring/winter, but in SoCal, temperatures were mild and I got lazy. So it's probably been blowing warm/room air for the last 3-4 months.
Of course we hit a heat wave, and I tried to refill it using the usual hose/gauge I use with some cans of R134A. The usual, I have it blowing on COLD on MAX, and hook it up to the LOW Pressure side. Usually here it starts taking the R134A and both the can gets cold, and LOW Pressure side line around the nozzle/connection gets frosty/cold, so I usually know it's going. I also tried a new hose/gauge. Same result.
But right now that's not happening. As far as I can tell visually the compressor is going when I look by the fan? It's all spinning. Did I leave it sitting on such low refrigerant levels that it tripped a code and it needs to be cleared for the compressor to engage/accept the R134a?
A few times the can and low side line got frosty/cold, but then it only took for maybe 10-15 seconds, and both can and low side pressure went warm. And even 15-20 minutes the R134a can was still full. In the past, this usually was never a problem and it would instantly take.
Any ideas of my next steps?
Thanks!
Of course we hit a heat wave, and I tried to refill it using the usual hose/gauge I use with some cans of R134A. The usual, I have it blowing on COLD on MAX, and hook it up to the LOW Pressure side. Usually here it starts taking the R134A and both the can gets cold, and LOW Pressure side line around the nozzle/connection gets frosty/cold, so I usually know it's going. I also tried a new hose/gauge. Same result.
But right now that's not happening. As far as I can tell visually the compressor is going when I look by the fan? It's all spinning. Did I leave it sitting on such low refrigerant levels that it tripped a code and it needs to be cleared for the compressor to engage/accept the R134a?
A few times the can and low side line got frosty/cold, but then it only took for maybe 10-15 seconds, and both can and low side pressure went warm. And even 15-20 minutes the R134a can was still full. In the past, this usually was never a problem and it would instantly take.
Any ideas of my next steps?
Thanks!
Keep us up to speed with what you find out.
