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High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek


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jkordzi
Novice

Jun 27, 2022, 6:27 PM

Post #1 of 13 (1145 views)
  post locked   High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

Hi,
First time poster. The AC isn't blowing cold on my 2014 Subaru Crosstrek with 102,000 miles. I hooked up my manifold gauges and both the high and low pressure were the same at 105 psi, with an ambient temperature of 75F. The compressor was running and the clutch was engaged. When I shut off the engine both the high and low pressures stayed 105 psi. This model has a known issue with the clutch not engaging (apparently the windings on the clutch aren't sufficient to power it) and the TSB states that a compressor replacement is required (clutch not sold separately). It does appear that in my case the clutch engages/disengages but there is no change in either the low or high side pressure. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

Retested a bit later. Ambient temperature 65F high pressure at 100 psi and low started at 100 but dropped to 89 after five minutes.


(This post was edited by jkordzi on Jun 27, 2022, 7:51 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 27, 2022, 6:48 PM

Post #2 of 13 (1138 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

I'm not so sure that compressor is actually engaging but if you are convinced it is, then the compressor is junk and you will have to replace the compressor and the condenser.

After you get the system up running again, then you need to look for the reason the compressor failed in the first place. An inop condenser fan would be the first thing I would look for.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



jkordzi
Novice

Jun 27, 2022, 7:57 PM

Post #3 of 13 (1132 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  


In Reply To
I'm not so sure that compressor is actually engaging but if you are convinced it is, then the compressor is junk and you will have to replace the compressor and the condenser.

After you get the system up running again, then you need to look for the reason the compressor failed in the first place. An inop condenser fan would be the first thing I would look for.

Thanks. The fan turns on when the AC is turned on. I don't know how to test if the compressor is actually working other than observing that the clutch engages when the AC is turned and and disengages when off? I've only experienced compressor failures which caused the compressor to seize up and at that point, I assume "black death" and the system has to be flushed and the condenser replaced. Are you saying that the compressor can fail but not seize up and I should still assume a black death scenario?


(This post was edited by jkordzi on Jun 27, 2022, 7:59 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 28, 2022, 3:04 AM

Post #4 of 13 (1114 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

Quick read may have missed something: Those are just static pressures you see with a warm engine. Both the same compressor isn't on or junk. Watch carefully if it is or isn't really engaged - no guessing. 65F ambient is also too cold for good info IMO for A/C issues wait till warmer like 80F as if we can choose is about where the standard knowns for things are best,


T



Hammer Time
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Jun 28, 2022, 3:38 AM

Post #5 of 13 (1110 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

The compressor is a pump. It pulls from one side and pushes from the other. If the pressures do no change at all when engaged, then the compressor is doing nothing at all. The most likely reason for something like that would be a broken crankshaft in the compressor.

Just double check that the clutch is engaging and you don't have both valves open on the gauges.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Jun 28, 2022, 6:20 AM

Post #6 of 13 (1101 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

Argh - Both valves open while checking - forgot that's a common mistake. I've never seen a compressor totally do NOTHING that also didn't explode, or wild noises but guess one could. OMG if shaft broke I would have to wobble around aimlessly I would think?


T



Hammer Time
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Jun 28, 2022, 6:37 AM

Post #7 of 13 (1097 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  


Quote
OMG if shaft broke I would have to wobble around aimlessly I would think?


No, it just disconnects from the impellers.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Jun 28, 2022, 6:43 AM

Post #8 of 13 (1093 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

I've never seen that - by chance or IDK why not? T


jkordzi
Novice

Jun 28, 2022, 7:52 AM

Post #9 of 13 (1080 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

Thanks. When I checked it the second time, I ensured both valves were closed on the gauges. The ambient temperature was 65F, the high pressure was at 100 psi and low started at 100 but gradually dropped to 89 psi. I'm sure the clutch is engaging but have no idea what's going on inside the compressor, except that it isn't making any unusual noise. I should add that I bought the car at 14K miles and the AC has never had any work done to it except change out the cabin filter. Never heard of one of these type compressors breaking such that the clutch can engage but the pistons don't move - maybe a broken shaft?


Hammer Time
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Jun 28, 2022, 10:14 AM

Post #10 of 13 (1064 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

Not much question, it needs a new compressor and condenser



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



jkordzi
Novice

Jun 28, 2022, 7:44 PM

Post #11 of 13 (1033 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

Thanks. Do you think I should change the expansion valve as well? Any recommendations for a flush solvent and do you know where I can go to find out the oil type and how much to add assuming a compressor and condenser replacement and a system flush?


Hammer Time
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Jun 28, 2022, 7:50 PM

Post #12 of 13 (1029 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

I wouldn't worry about the expansion valve for the time being. They rarely get clogged from compressor failure.

You're going to use PAG oil. I would put 4 ounces in the compressor and another two through the low port during charging.

There are plenty of flushing solvents out there but to tell you the truth I usually don't bother if I'm changing the Condenser. You can't flush through the expansion valve and it's not necessary to flush the evaporator as it's too hard to get all the solvent out.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Nacho
User

Jun 30, 2022, 6:55 PM

Post #13 of 13 (995 views)
  post locked   Re: High and low pressures same on 2014 Crosstrek  

If the clutch is engaged and you get those readings, the compressor will have to be replaced. It's doesn't use a refrigerant control valve.






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