Replacement AC compressor short-cycling

[davel]

I bought a 2017 V6 from Carmax. Four months into owning it the AC compressor seized, damaging the serpentine belt. Both were replaced at a Carmax approved. Independent shop. When I first picked up the car, the AC system would cycle on and off at idle every two minutes or so. This seemed kind of odd to me, but I didn’t know whether it was normal or not for this car. Fast forward four months, and the system was cycling on and off at idle every 15 seconds. This was right before the compressor failed. The replacement compressor that’s in the car now is starting to do the same thing. Sometimes at idle it cycles every 10 seconds. I’ve read old posts on this forum about early sixth generation cars having evaporator core problems, I’m wondering if that’s what’s going on here. I have an appointment to bring the car back to the independent shop that replaced the compressor. They guarantee their work, but I’m not sure what that would mean in this case. I’m wondering what kind of conversation I’m going to have to have with the service manager there about this issue. It’s my assumption that the Carmax warranty will pay for replacement of a defective evaporator core. Apparently, this job is a huge pain in the butt. I’m wondering if the shop might be reluctant to do it.

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[horsepower addiction]

They should have changed the compressor, flushed the system, changed the orifice tube or expansion valve whichever one you have, change the dryer. With it cycling every few seconds it is probably leaking Freon. Is it blowing warm?

 

[Basspro302]

I bought a 2017 V6 from Carmax. Four months into owning it the AC compressor seized, damaging the serpentine belt. Both were replaced at a Carmax approved. Independent shop. When I first picked up the car, the AC system would cycle on and off at idle every two minutes or so. This seemed kind of odd to me, but I didn’t know whether it was normal or not for this car. Fast forward four months, and the system was cycling on and off at idle every 15 seconds. This was right before the compressor failed. The replacement compressor that’s in the car now is starting to do the same thing. Sometimes at idle it cycles every 10 seconds. I’ve read old posts on this forum about early sixth generation cars having evaporator core problems, I’m wondering if that’s what’s going on here. I have an appointment to bring the car back to the independent shop that replaced the compressor. They guarantee their work, but I’m not sure what that would mean in this case. I’m wondering what kind of conversation I’m going to have to have with the service manager there about this issue. It’s my assumption that the Carmax warranty will pay for replacement of a defective evaporator core. Apparently, this job is a huge pain in the butt. I’m wondering if the shop might be reluctant to do it.

You can call them or drive up and ask them.

 

[davel]

They should have changed the compressor, flushed the system, changed the orifice tube or expansion valve whichever one you have, change the dryer. With it cycling every few seconds it is probably leaking Freon. Is it blowing warm?

They flushed the system but didn't replace anything but the compressor. I don't think the Freon is leaking, it blows as cold as ever. But that's what happened with the previous compressor, it worked fine until it didn't, then it imploded. I'm taking the car back to the shop tomorrow.

 

[Roadsign]

As mentioned already, if the compressor has failed the evap core and lines can be flushed, pretty much everything else will need to be replaced. Debris from the compressor can not be fully cleaned from the other components so they need to be change or there is high probability for future compressor failures.

 

[SCP440]

It could be switching off because its going over pressure and then switching back on when the pressure drops. Did they put the correct amount of Freon in ?
Is the fan cutting in to keep the condensor cool ? I dont know if its supposed to run all the time with the A/C on but a correctly functioning cooling fan is critical to the system working properly.
A decent scan tool should be able to monitor the system so you can see what is causing the compressor to cut in and out.

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