a/c question: compressor quits while idling

sounds like it might be building up too much head pressure, check the high pressure switch check to see if the fan is cycling like it should

 

where would the high pressure switch be on an 03 cummins? I am having the same touble.
I was thinking expansion valve?

 

try leaving the fan on. and see what happens.

when the temp hits 90. i keep my fan on. a/c works better. i also keep it on while idling. gets annoying hearing fans kick on and off.

and no it doesn't burn out the bearings. i haven't seen it happen on any truck i've been driving for 13 years. and the only fan that DID get new bearings. went 1.2 million miles.



when you turn your car a/c on. the fan comes on and stays on till the a/c gets turned off.

 

It's building to much pressure on the high side. It should be cycling the engine fan when this happens but sometimes they don't cycle correctly.
If you can run your engine fan constantly when idling, it will cool better and not build to high pressre. Also better on the fan clutch and they don't wear out from use but from the number of times cycling on and off.
The high pressure switch is usually located very close to the condensor. Also refer to as AC radiator. When it detects pressure to high, it cuts out the AC clutch. Rare for these to go bad. Usually the problem is the charge is slightly low which actually make the system cool better but cuts out quicker if not enough air across the condensor. The hotter the condensor, the higher pressure.
If you don't have a engine fan override, install one. Well worth running it at idle.

 

Totally nothing to do with the engine. What make, model and year of truck do you have? You could have a high pressure switch, or a pressure transducer, it could be under the hood, or under the cab depending on what you are driving.

 

i do all my a/c charging myself. since i'm the only guy in the country that can hit 35 out of the vents. while everyone else shoots for 50.

i have never used my bunks. except one time at the cali mexico border where it was 120.

gonna have to do my new chevy cruz now that summer has hit. it can't even compete with my 97 cavalier. or just park the cruz for the summer and stick to the cavalier.

too bad no one else can do a thorough proper job. none that i've seen so far.

 

Doesn't sound like hi Hd pressure to me wouldn't take 2 hrs, and you have the fan turned anyway. Do you have the air in the front working also might try leaving it on low, it might be Freon is migrating to the front evap if it has two evap's.

 

I've also seen problems with the heat control valves not closing properly.

Can you see the evaportor when it quits cooling? I've run into them frosting up and can't get air through them.