Air Conditioning question

[Philossifer]

Originally Posted by Ieatcamaros

What makes an air conditioner on a car blow air that is not as cold as it should be? I know nothing about air conditioning except for the parts that make up the system. And that there is a low pressure side and a high pressure side. The system has pressure on both sides and the clutch is not locked up. The drier also drips like it is supposed to. This is my wife's 2003 V6 mustang I am asking about. It used to blow really cold air--like 30 degree air. Now it blows like 45-50 degree air. Does it just need recharging?

First of all, your stang doesn't have a drier, it has an accumulator! That's the can on firewall with two refrigerant lines connected to it. One hose goes to the outlet of the evaporator; the other hose goes to the inlet of the compressor.

You said it's dripping water.....That tells me the system is cooling because moist air around the accumulator is condensing and forming water. If the A/C system wasn't working, you wouldn't get the water dripping.....and if it was low on refrigerant (cooling just a little bit) you would not get any condensation (or water dripping)

Is the compressor engaging? If it is, then the system has refrigerant in it. There is a low pressure cut-out switch that de-energizes the compressor clutch when the pressure drops below a pre-set point. If you're low on refrigerant this switch will cause the compressor to cycle too much or not engage at all, depending on how low the system is.

If the compressor is engaging and water is dripping from the system, you might have a problem with the blend door. It's a vacuum operated door that allows hot air into the ductwork from the heater core when you turn your temperature setting higher. If the door is stuck in its open position (or slightly open), the A/C will not put out cold air!

Let me know if you have any questions, I can walk you through the A/C system.... I know it inside out.
Phil