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markus
07-29-2007, 02:12 PM
it barely blows cool. We have a can of that recharge your own a/c stuff. I was wondering if those actually work?

It so bad its not even worth turning on. It blows cool thats about it, I want ice cold.

Qube
07-29-2007, 03:04 PM
I only get ice cold if it's less than 28 deg outside. If it's more, then it's just cool... charge is good.

filip00
07-29-2007, 04:19 PM
recharge and it'll do better. i usually get cool for the first 10mins when i turn it on, and it's really hot outside. after it cools down a bit, it starts freezing :D

Tiger
07-29-2007, 04:33 PM
Yes, you need to recharge... 25PSI is what you are looking for... when AC is on and your AUX fan is running... make sure your AUX fan is running.

filip00
07-29-2007, 04:37 PM
Yes, you need to recharge... 25PSI is what you are looking for... when AC is on and your AUX fan is running... make sure your AUX fan is running.

it doesn't run ALL the time. it only turns on when it's necessary, when it detects an increase in the temperature in the AC cooler.

Robin-535im
07-29-2007, 04:43 PM
:)

Herb
07-29-2007, 09:50 PM
28* with the a/c kickin, damb your hard core or have a severe thyroid problem.













:D JK *C vs. *F... It took me for ever to adjust my a/c in Iraq, even though I knew the temp conversion, just used to seeing the numbers.:)

bigtisas
07-29-2007, 11:33 PM
Mine blows cool also. I just ordered 2 cans of Freeze12 from ebay. Will do a recharge on my AC next weekend. See how it goes.

bsell
07-30-2007, 10:50 AM
it barely blows cool. We have a can of that recharge your own a/c stuff. I was wondering if those actually work?

It so bad its not even worth turning on. It blows cool thats about it, I want ice cold.

I put two cans of r34 in mine a couple weeks ago. The system takes about three to fill from scratch. I had similar symptoms prior to recharging.

Take a look at your sight glass while the a/c is running. If the freon level is low, there will either be nothing moving in the glass or a bunch of foam. What you want is a solid stream of liquid with low pressure in the mid-upper 20's (psi). The high side will be what it is depending on the heat of the day.

To be done right, you and I should find our leaks and fix them before recharging this freon into the atmosphere over time. But we do what we do...

Brian

mikell
07-30-2007, 12:57 PM
Aux is supposed to be on slow whenever the a/c is on, regardless of temp., then goes to high speed when things get hot in slow traffic.

HIe34
07-30-2007, 05:57 PM
it barely blows cool. We have a can of that recharge your own a/c stuff. I was wondering if those actually work?

It so bad its not even worth turning on. It blows cool thats about it, I want ice cold.


Added 2 cans about 1-2 months ago from empty, finally had time to add 2 more. Very cold now.

So, to answer your question, the cans of r134 do work. Got mine on sale at a local store here for $5 each. Can't beat that.

Tiger
07-30-2007, 06:19 PM
Two cans is a hell of a leak. A normal car only takes 2.2 lb... that's about 36 oz total... Each can is 12 oz...and two cans are 24 oz... that's 2/3 of capacity. Find the leak and fix it.

HIe34
07-30-2007, 06:33 PM
Two cans is a hell of a leak. A normal car only takes 2.2 lb... that's about 36 oz total... Each can is 12 oz...and two cans are 24 oz... that's 2/3 of capacity. Find the leak and fix it.

A couple of months ago, we evacuated and fixed a leak. I added 2 cans at the time, but time constraints made us stop there. My A/C has been great until the weather here has gotten a little warmer during the day, so it has taken longer to cool down. So, I added 2 more cans today to get it up to capacity.

No leaks.

Bellicose Right Winger
07-30-2007, 08:22 PM
2.2 lbs might be OK for your 540i, but it's hardly normal. My '90 535 and '93 525 take 4.24 and 3.96 lbs respectively, 5+ cans. Owners need to check the underhood sticker for refrigerant capacity. Both my cars have sight glasses and they are bubble free at about 3 cans, the extra 2 cans of refrigerant simply fill the receiver-drier. Early cars should be charged using the sightglass, don't try to charge to low side pressure.

Paul Shovestul




Two cans is a hell of a leak. A normal car only takes 2.2 lb... that's about 36 oz total... Each can is 12 oz...and two cans are 24 oz... that's 2/3 of capacity. Find the leak and fix it.

Tiger
07-30-2007, 11:04 PM
Ahh... okay.

Tiger
07-30-2007, 11:04 PM
What is your low side pressure after all that refrigerant?

Barney Paull-Edwards
07-30-2007, 11:22 PM
you fill with a can, whats to stop you over-pressuring? Clean the drier,flush the system and it`ll blow ice cubes.

MBXB
07-31-2007, 01:08 AM
Don't forget the "easy-to-change" filter.

Bellicose Right Winger
07-31-2007, 10:04 AM
It depends on ambient temp but, 30-35 psi at 1500 rpm is normal for my cars. The evaporator can freeze if pressure drops below 30 psi. I typically only finish the can that made the sight glass go bubble free. As long as the sight glass is bubble free you've got plenty of refrigerant to get maximum cooling from the AC. Of course there may be other reasons why cooling performance is poor.


What is your low side pressure after all that refrigerant?

John B.
07-31-2007, 11:28 AM
Where do you find the "sight glass" on a 535i?

Bellicose Right Winger
07-31-2007, 01:17 PM
For the 535, on the right side of the engine compartment follow the small diameter line that goes from the receiver drier to the firewall. The sight glass is ~6 inches from the firewall under a black plastic cover secured with (2) 1" dia black plastic nuts with a screw driver slot. A quarter removes the nuts very nicely.
My 525 is identical except there is no plastic cover to remove.

Paul Shovestul



Where do you find the "sight glass" on a 535i?

Tiger
07-31-2007, 02:08 PM
Mmm... that's still within spec... at 35 PSI... that's around 45degree evaporator temperature.