AC issue I haven't found an answer for

I have been googling this for weeks.
my AC turns on, confirmed compressor engages, relay and fuse are fine.
but after a few seconds it shuts off.
I did a low side refrigerant top up and was able to get the compressor to stay on longer with revs. Also after cycling the compressor on many many times I was getting ice cold air.

A lot of posts describing the AC turning on then off and then the light flashing, which indicates a cooked compressor.
I have no blink lights, it just shuts off. Truck is a 2018 sport.
Hope someone has some info! thanks!

 

Sounds like low refrigerate. You need to take it in. Checked for leaks, and recharged. May not have leak, but definitely need recharge. Those cans are a desperation quick fix. Take it in.

 

Agree, the Auto Zone parking lot recharge is hardly a fix. That’s to get the hoopty’s A/C working for that first date, only for it to leak out and die tomorrow.

 

Remember, A/C is coldest when the refrigerant is low but not to the point of icing up. You could be low but not so low that it stops cooling.

 

You gotta vacuum out the air before refilling. Special equipment needed, easy to just have a shop do it.

 

If the refrigerant is low enough to cause the above issues, guaranteed there is (or was) a leak. Don't know if there was previous AC repair work done. Also doubtful it has moisture or contaminates as it is a pressurized system. Nothing should need to be vacuumed out unless you were bone dry to begin with before adding more.

Because your post isn't exactly clear, what turns off exactly? The entire AC system? Just the compressor? Just the controls? Etc.

 

A set of gauges should be attached to high and low side. You may have over charged and it's kicking out on High Head Pressure. Pay for someone's education.

 

Really shouldn't be eyeballing charge levels. Too high or too low and it will do weird behavior.

First step to troubleshoot pretty much any a/c issue is to verify correct amount of refrigerant in the system. Looking at a manifold gauge set will only get you so much info. Technically the correct way is to use a service machine to completely evac the system and then charge it with the specified amount

 

Could have a couple things going on, originally the compressor could have been going off on low pressure switch and after adding refrigerant it ran longer but not knowing how much you added could still be shutting off on low pressure. Either way you need to get a set of gauges on it to see what the pressures are at. I suspect it was going off on low pressure originally so the leak would need to be repaired and refrigerant charge adjusted.

 

Everyone above is correct along with I believe with r1234yf the machines has to have identifiers built in and you could end up getting your warranty voided/ paying extra if you contaminate the system with something that isn't actually r1234yf

 

Mine had a bad 0 ring on the high compression line causing it to slowly leak.