AC question - HELP PLEASE
I have a 2004 XL-7. On a road trip from Florida to Chicago last December it experienced extreme cold, one of the coldest times around 10-20 below zero F. During the whole time, the heat and defrost worked fine.
On the trip back to Florida, also in December, as soon as we entered Georgia and it started getting warm, we started running the AC and noticed it wasn't getting cool at all. It seemed momentarily when we stopped at a rest stop, the engine just revved high on its own then went down to normal before I shut it off. I checked the AC fuse (compressor fuse?) and it wasn't busted. It never did that again though (the high rev).
I stopped at a Discount Auto during the roadtrip and got one of those R134a refill cans with the pressure gauge and showed it was low on R134a, as the pressure was reading low while the engine was running with the AC set to max cool. I was suspecting that maybe in the extreme cold somehow coolant leaked around the seals? But now we're in warmer weather those seals sealed up again?
Since that trip, I haven't had to refill it with R134a but the pressure seems to stay at around 45 psi (measured at the low side), when I thought that it should go down to 25 psi when the compressor kicks in? I don't recall or notice the compressor even kicking in, as I let it run 15-20 minutes and it maintained 45 psi, indicating it's filled with R134a. But, I don't hear any belt squealing and I am getting it comfortably cool, but not as "ice cold" as it used to be, and it also takes a little longer to cool.
Is there anything wrong? Should I check the fuse again, or could it be the compressor considering there is no belt squealing or any visible indication that something is wrong like the check engine light? I'm a little concerned because we're making that 1200 mile trip back to Chicago, this time in the hot summer and don't know if I'm risking anything though I can't notice anything visibly wrong.
Sorry for the long explanation, but if anyone knows or could advise anything ASAP I would appreciate it as I leave this Saturday. I'll be checking this forum often or my e-mail for any responses. Thanks.
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