I have a Ranger and the A/C does not work. The compressor keeps cycling on and off every 1-2 seconds. I thought it may just be low refrigerant so I got a recharge kit but I'm still having problems. Whenever the compressor kicks in the pressure guage drops into the "low" 134a area and when it goes of it rises to the "danger" part of the guage. The instructions say to do it with the compressor running so Im not sure if I should continue adding more or not. I don't want to cause any damage to the system.

The pressure gauge on those recharge kits are only meant to measure the suction side pressure (low side). Normal pressure is around 30 psi low would be 20 or less, and high is probably anything over 50 or 60. When the compressor goes off the high side pressure bleeds back to the low side and they end up at a pressure determined by the temperature, usually somewhere around 80 to 100 pounds which would be in the high zone. Only take the readings with the compressor on. You should get a set of gauges that can measure both the high and the low side with the compressor running, that will give you a better idea of whats going on.

How much did you charge into it? Obviously your low on refrigerant which means you have a leak somewhere.

well rmadsen55 i spotted your problem right away, you drive a ford, get yourself a chevrolet and you wont have any more problems!!

well rmadsen55 i spotted your problem right away, you drive a ford, get yourself a chevrolet and you wont have any more problems!!

Hey speedfreek, cutting up in the one thread was kinda fun but let's not polute every thread that mentions ford in it please.

Robin
You also didn't say how old the truck was. I would suspect that you have an orifice tube that is blocked. The low side pressure on that system should be 15 and 30. Meaning the compressor kicks on at 30 and runs till it hits 15 +/-. The cycling is done by a pressure switch. Which means if the orifice tube is blocked, it won't take the compressor long to suck the system down from the restriction. It will fast cycle, every 2-5 seconds The orifice tube is a small tube (1/2 inch in diameter by 4" in length) located in the line leading to the evaporator. Find the inlet of the evaporator, trace it back to the large nut that connects the evaporator to the line coming in. Separate that line and you will see the tube in the line. You can pull it out of the line with needle nose pliers.

Hey speedfreek, cutting up in the one thread was kinda fun but let's not polute every thread that mentions ford in it please.
your right djd, i'm sorry, enough with the ford bashing.

I charged about a can (12 oz) into the system this morning and the air is now cold and the cycling seems to be more normal. So it seems that low refrigerant was probably the main issue. Now I will have to wait and see just how bad a leak I have. Thanks for the responses.