Ok so my AC has always worked fine never had a problem until yesterday I was taking a road trip and realized my AC wasn't getting cold...and in Florida right now thats not good. So when I got back home the next day I scanned it for codes got a Code 61 so i figured ok I guess I need to refill the system. Well I go buy a can of the R134a and I reset the code so the compressor will kick on and I connect the gauge to and it fine right at like 40-42psi....so what else would cause this code?

The only thing I have noticed lately is that when using the air in very hot outside temps. you can feel the AC get warm for like 5 seconds or so then go back to cold, and then will eventually just stay cold. I'm sure this is probably part of my problem any ideas? thanks

 

Well the AC is still working today, but the air will still go warmer for a couple seconds then go back to cold, and it will just keep doing that.

 

Well, if you only have a low side reading for the R134a pressure, then you're only getting part of the picture. You really need to get both the high and low side readings relative to the ambient temperature and humidity. Given that you're in Tampa, on a hot humid day, your low side pressure is right at the top of the range. Check this chart on Shoebox's site for the proper specs.
http://shbox.com/1/ac_performance_chart.jpg
If you have other problems in the system, you could be causing a overpressure situation on the high side.

 

Don't know about the code, but had a similar problem with a Grand AM. Would intermittently blow cold, then hot, then cold, etc. Turned out to be a bad relay for the compressor. Just a thought. Good luck.

 

Thanks guys ill check out your suggestions.

 

Still having problem relay was good high pressure reading is also in the accpetable range,but is it supposed to jump around a lot? cause the low side stays constant pretty much but the high side flucuates quite a bit but stays in the range of the link from shoe's site. air blows 76 degrees then drop to 72 then i can feel it get warm to 76 or so then cold and drop back down to 70, and it keeps on doing that.

 

When the compressor engages, the high side will start building pressure and the low side will drop down in pressure. That's because the compressor is pulling refridgerant from the low side and pushing it into the high side. There can be some fluctuations or bouncing in the needles of the gauges, but it should be resonably low. By that I mean no more than maybe 20 psi and that's pretty high, but I'm trying to give you some idea of what to look for. If you bring the engine RPM up off idle to about 1,500rpm, it should smooth the readings on the gauges out. If you've got wild fluctuations in pressures, it indicates there's a problem with the valves in the compressor. They have one way valves on the output side of the compressor to hold the pressure. If that's your problem, you'll need to replace the compressor.