what are the symptoms of an overcharged a/c system on a 2003 mazda protege?

Question

Also, what are the symptoms of low refrigerant oil?

Answer 1

Well, the refrigerant oil won't really get low. I'm presuming it's a 134 system. What symptoms are you having? Really need more info. If it's overcharged, the air won't blow as cold and the compressor won't cycle like it should. IF it has an expansion valve instead of an orifice, overcharging won't really effect it.

Answer 2

Overcharge -
The system may shut down because of the sensors in the system telling it of the overpressure state - this would mean the system would kick on for a short amount of time and then shut off very quickly (I have never seen one that would not start up from an overcharge).

I also disagree with 70xbody on the blowing very cold - in order to hold the low side on an overcharged system in that state the high side would have to be well over the rating of the hoses in the system (500+ PSI as a guess with a 1 can overcharge) and the orifice (or other regulator) would have a volume outside its norm (which should cause even more pressure on the high side) and that is without the heat related stress that would be put on the compressor (and its valves - I have seen the seals melt out of a compressor fitting from overcharge related heat).

As the pressure rises the Low Side will have a too high pressure state / pressure is related to cooling, too low in pressure goes below 32F/0C and freezes up (about 28PSI) - too high of pressure never gets cool enough to be effective. When your system is properly charged it should be around 40F on the low side (normally about 35PSI for R12 & R134) - this means the high side should be anywhere from 250 - 350 PSI.
If the system has too much Freon in it, the low side will be more like 50+ PSI and that means a temperature of 60F (all guesses on how much it may be overcharged).

Symptoms (Overcharge)-
Compressor (and maybe its cooling fans) coming on and going back off almost as fast.
Blowing warm air - or pulses of cool air from the vents.
The only way to be sure is to put gauges on it.

Low Oil-
That is not as easy to check - one key issue is to listen to the compressor / rattling noises normally means low oil in a system that is properly charged - however in an overcharged system this noise is caused by stress on the reed valves in the compressor - it can also be the signs of wear. A car only 3 years old with normal mileage in a normal environment - it should not be wear.
The only way to check this properly is with a gauge set with a site window - cycling the Freon from the high side to the low side will show oil in the window.
The old style way to check is use a paper towel and vent a VERY SMALL amount of Freon from both the low and high side, and see if you have oil left on the towel. This is dangerous and could be against the law - IE: not suggested.

Because of the things needed here, I would suggest paying to have the system checked for you - the cost of the check VS the cost of repair involved is worth it.

Answer 3

When the oil gentle comes on is while you flip the engine off. I realize of 1 courtroom case wherein the dealership was once most effective dependable for the drain plug and the oil, now not any extra harm. Usually the very first thing to get harm is both the quantity two or three rod bearing. This is normally the primary one to move out and some of the first locations that the oil is going to from the oil pump and clear out. I have visible 2 circumstances wherein a vehicle was once towed in with out oil and drove out. I do not know what the longer term outcome had been. I labored on one vehicle that was once towed to the store wherein I labored. It had stalled at a give up gentle. The features and plugs had been in quite unhealthy form, so I did a track up on it. (seventy four Rx4) While I was once adjusting the whole lot the vehicle stopped. The vehicle might now not crank over. Battery was once OK. I checked the oil dip stick and no oil was once at the stick. I placed vehicle up on elevate and pulled the drain plug. Nothing. Filled with oil. Started and ran pleasant. Again, do not know for a way lengthy.

Answer 4

your auxilary fans may cycle on and off way too fast and your compressor will cycle on and off. also the pressures will be too high on both high and low sides if you have a guage. the system my also not work at all due to some sensors sensing the pressure and overriding the system to prevent damage. however, if it does work then it should blow very cold just may be causing damage to your compressor. best way to tell is to just evacuate it and recharge it. as for the oil, the compressor may suffer damage and be noisy if its low. other than that there isnt really a way to check it. just have to put some in every time you charge it.

Answer 5

Symptoms of low refrigerant oil = Compressor failure.