&^%$#@ A/C Unit

[tawcat]

Disregard

The unit is the standard unit put in the 2005 320's. I have all the settings set at factory default settings.

 

[PlayDate]

Generally speaking several things can cause the unit to freeze up:

1) Low air flow over the evaporator coil caused by: 1) clogged or blocked air intake 2) the evaporator coil is dirty (its the part that looks like a car radiator when you look at the unit). 3) Output vents are blocked, restricting airflow.

2) Low freon or bad expansion valve. Low freon will cause the evaporator coil to turn into a block of ice. Not much you can do about this other than call a technican.


It sounds you are at a tipping point where one of the two issues is causing the unit to ice up. What model is the unit?

-John

 

[tawcat]

PlayDate: Model is whatever was standard at the time. Had an a/c guy check it out last summer and he couldn't (didn't) find anything wrong with it. All the output vents are free from obstruction. How would I can I tell if intakes are blocked?

 

[PlayDate]

Usually the system sits in a compartment with a air return grill. When the system is in operation, the compartment has negative pressure and air is pulled in the air intake, chilled and sent out the output vents. On most models, behind the grill is something that resembles a filter. If it is metal, it is washable.

Even if the filter is in reasonably good condition, I would remove the filter and see if the icing problem continues. If it doesn't then we know we have an air flow problem. Let me know what you find.

Did your a/c guy put a set of gauges on the system and inspect for leaks? The better a/c guys will write down the hi/lo pressure readings and the temperature so that you have a baseline. If he didn't put a set of gauges on it, I don't know how he would know what the freon level is.

-John

 

[tawcat]

Yes he put gauges on it. I may have the readings somewhere. I like the thought of removing the flimsy piece that they refer to as a filter. I have some of that foam cleaner, so even spraying each week would be better than going through the frustration of a frozen unit.

I'll keep you posted, thanks.