Why does the low-pressure pipe of Honda CRV's air conditioner freeze?
2 Answers
The reasons for the freezing of the low-pressure pipe in a car's air conditioner include damage to the expansion valve, internal wear of the air conditioner compressor, and refrigerant leakage. Damage to the expansion valve: This prevents the formation of high pressure in the system before the expansion valve, and the high-pressure refrigerant cannot reach the pressure of 150Kpa, resulting in the evaporator behind the expansion valve failing to cool down, leading to ineffective air conditioning. Internal wear of the air conditioner compressor: This causes the pressure between the air conditioner compressor and the expansion valve to fail to reach 150Kpa to 200Kpa, preventing the refrigerant in the system from circulating normally and resulting in ineffective air conditioning. Refrigerant leakage: If there is too little refrigerant in the air conditioning system, the amount of refrigerant sprayed into the evaporator from the expansion valve will also decrease. Consequently, when the refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator, the amount of heat absorbed will decrease, leading to a reduction in cooling capacity.
As a Honda CRV owner, I've noticed that when the low-pressure AC line freezes, it's usually due to insufficient refrigerant or blockages in the system. Low refrigerant levels can cause the pipes to become excessively cold, leading to rapid temperature drops and subsequent freezing. Once during summer driving, my AC suddenly stopped cooling—upon inspection, the pipes were frozen, and it turned out to be a refrigerant leak. Sometimes, blockages in the expansion valve or filter can prevent cold air from circulating properly, causing the pipes to freeze. A malfunctioning thermostat can also lead to continuous overcooling. Don't forget to check the blower; if the fan is weak and airflow is insufficient, cold air can accumulate in the pipes and freeze. This issue is quite dangerous and could lead to more severe failures, like compressor damage. That's why I immediately took it to a repair shop, where they refilled the refrigerant and cleaned the pipes. Regular AC maintenance can prevent such problems.
