A/C Cycling Question

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Mariposa Mike

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My A/C compressor cycles on and off while blowing cold air. Maybe every 10 seconds or so. Is this normal for a 2004 system? My 2004 Dodge truck with a similar system does not do this. Air is cold so does not seem to be a low freon issue but might be and the compressor is just trying to keep up with the demand. Does this in all snowflake modes, even defrost. Sound normal or should I have it looked at?
 
You might be riding the edge with the refrigerant charge, the compressor will operate until the suction pressure falls and the low pressure switch will opens until the the pressure equalizes and resets the switch.
 
It could just be getting a little low on refrigerant. But when it gets low that means it's leaking somewhere since refrigerant is not consumed as it gets used. I'd have an automotive a/c shop take a look and do a leak test. Unless it's just super-hot there when it happens, then it's just trying to overcome the TJ's lack of insulation that allows the interior to warm up too easily.
 
It's very consistent no matter the outside temp so sounds like it should be cycling like this and that was my first thought. It's likely a little low on freon and I thought of adding a little to see if that stops it but that can be damaging as well. Without gauges I don't what the pressure is reading. Since it blows cold I tend to believe it is just low. It is 17 years old so some loss could have worked its way out. A neighbor has a set of 134 gauges and I will ask if we can check it. Just wanted to make sure the system normally does not cycle that often.