Cruisair 1/2 ton A/C codes out HI PS on 1998 Sundancer 270 widerbeam

[Judy K]

I just got this nice used boat and everything seems to check out great, but the Air Cond codes out HI PS after a while. Easy thing for the inspector to miss I guess since it runs cold for a while.
It's a Cruisair 1/2 ton 120V. I read the manuals and pulled the inline strainer, it was pretty clean already but I made it better. I turned the air on and it seemed to be getting ready to code out again, so I gave a gentle whack to the pump or whatever the next mechanism in line is, and then the AC ran for about an hour and brought the temp down, so I figured I was set.
Today I went to check it out again... codes out same HI PS after 20 min or so.
So I read this next thing in line is the seawater pump...the boat is pushing a good amount of water overboard... is this serviceable or cheap to replace?
I also read about a dirty condersor? Is that a tough job?
BTW the air filter is clean, I can see through it.

Thanks. This is my Second Sea Ray I think they're great. My first one was a 96 240 Overnighter with a 7.4L and it hauled out. This new one is comfy but it drives like I'm dead.

 

[Judy K]

I know my post was wordy, but d

 

[Judy K]

I know my post was wordy, but does anybody have ANY ideas? My sailboater friend saud try it with the cover (dinette cushion in this case) off the unit so it ruuns cooler, so I did and it ran longer than before, Eventually though it started making a bunch of vibration noise and I tried to make those stop, then it coded out " HI PS" again... the water wouldnt pump out the side anymore...

I shut it down for half an hour or so, then it came to life and pumped water over and cooled great again... then coded out... ? ? ?

 

[MonacoMike]

My first one was a 96 240 Overnighter with a 7.4L and it hauled out. This new one is comfy but it drives like I'm dead.

Do not have answers for your AC problem, but can give you a bump. It is a holiday so there will be far fewer members online until next week. Your OV had the same powerplant and weighed 3200 lbs. less, think that may have something to do with it?

MM

 

[Loneranger]

Everytime I have gotten that error code it has been from no flow through the heatexchanger usually because my pump lost prime. It sounds like you are getting good water flow through the AC unit correct? If so it would seem the flow is either inadequate yet still present or there is a problem with the heat exchanger at the AC unit.

John

 

[jg300da]

THe fact that it takes so long to code out High Pressure indicates to me that you have a scale build up in your condenser coil which blocks heat transfer but not necessarily water flow. The fact that you see plenty of water flow through the hull fitting supports this. Feeling cool water coming from this fitting will prove that there is no heat being transferred to the water.

There are several products like Rid Lyme that can be used to descale the condenser. You have to set up a way to connect hoses to your system and circulate the chemical in a loop for an hour or so depending on the level of scale.

 

[Judy K]

Thanks I like this info I will get on my inner-tube and work my way around to that side and chech the temp of the water being expelled, that makes sense!

THe fact that it takes so long to code out High Pressure indicates to me that you have a scale build up in your condenser coil which blocks heat transfer but not necessarily water flow. The fact that you see plenty of water flow through the hull fitting supports this. Feeling cool water coming from this fitting will prove that there is no heat being transferred to the water.

There are several products like Rid Lyme that can be used to descale the condenser. You have to set up a way to connect hoses to your system and circulate the chemical in a loop for an hour or so depending on the level of scale.

 

[Judy K]

THX MM. No doubt... same engine pushing almost twice the boat with twice the wind resistance... I guess I should be happy. trading up was for sure worth it.

 

[Judy K]

THX for the help loneranger. after I check the temp of the water going out the side, the exchanger will be the next thing on my list. that might be out of my league though.

With my luck as soon as I get this thing working temps will cool off and I'll have problems with the HEAT!

 

[MonacoMike]

THX for the help loneranger. after I check the temp of the water going out the side, the exchanger will be the next thing on my list. that might be out of my league though.

With my luck as soon as I get this thing working temps will cool off and I'll have problems with the HEAT!

The good news (if you can call it that) is the heat exchanger is used for both heat and air, so it won't be for naught. MM