General Maintenance & Repairs - AC Problems

Okay, so my AC decided to go out during the hottest week we've had, and right after my cam install. I figured it may just need recharging (yes I know if it is low I have a leak) so I decided to get some stuff from Advance and do it. Well...charged it and nothing. Compressor was kicking on and off repeatedly. Gauge would read in the green, when it kicked off red, etc. The fans were just blowing, but as I gained/kept speed, the air got a bit cooler. Not cold. So I'm told to jump the low pressure switch, assuming that is the one closest to the passenger side...but the compressor isn't turning at all when I start the car. No clicking on and off, no cool air on MAX, just fan and no spinning.

Where do I go from here?

Anybody?

Throw some leak detector in and try that. Freon just doesn't get low, if it's low, there's a leak like you said. Not sure what to tell you, I've been trying to fix my A/C for over a year lol.

If the freon level is very low the computer will disable the compressor. If you disconnect the battery for a little bit and hook it back up it should enable it again for a little bit. You said you charged it though and it was in the green so that's probably not the problem. Get a gauge set and see what the high side is reading vs low side. If the compressor is cycling put some U/V dye in and run it for a while. Makes it a lot easier to find the leak :D

So I put ~20oz in, that was the can size. System takes 24oz I believe...should I get another can? Shit is expensive. :( I'll try the battery though.

if the compressor is cycling alot it could be overfilled. Once enough pressure builds up it will shut off the compressor.

I had a guy come in the shop a few days ago with a Ford F350 pickup. He saw the AC Pros commercial and decided to charge it himself. The AC blew cold when he was at idle but anything over that the compressor shut off (he didnt know this he just thought it got hot when he drove).

He told me he filled it til the guage was in the green. I hooked the gauges up and sure enough at idle it was at about 45psi on the low side. I evacuated it and got almost 4lbs (surprised it worked at all). Thats what the dual AC Excursions called for, his truck only called for 2 lbs 10 oz.

Also had an Accord where when the AC kicked on it damn near stalled the motor. 3lbs came out of that car.

Needless to say the AC Pros commercial has been making me alot of money because everybody is overfilling (and possibly underfilling) their shit.

Check the vacuum lines that go from the manifold to the passenger side of the car. I believe there's one that controls a/c in some way. You might of over filled it the system also.

Vaccuum lines all seem to be good. If I use the throttle with my hand, it seems anything other than idle seems to keep it on.

i think you need to see the pressure on high side and low side to get a better idea.

AFAIK there is only one place to check? But even so, like when I hooked it up to recharge I cannot get a reading because it keeps clicking off and on.

Theres 2 places, the High and Low side line. High is the small line and Low is the larger one. Theres a cap right by the radiator and one on the accumulator. Get some gauges and see what they read...