I have what I think is a strange A/C problem with my 1996 F150 4x4:
When I turn the A/C on to A/C or Max A/C hot air blows out of the defrost vents for about three minutes then hot air starts blowing out of the A/C vents. The compressor does not engage at all. I have been told everything from this could be a problem with the switch, the fuses, or the refrigerant level. I really dont have the money to start changing things and not fix the problem. I have looked through this forum and some of the answers are written in mechanic (a language I don't speak) and I was hoping that someone might have a simple place for me to start looking. Any advice would be helpful as it is somewhat hot in SE Texas and I drive the truck daily. Thank you

 

This is a pre 87 section. But perhaps we can help. First you have to make sure the compressor engages and runs. There is a way to bridge the connectors to make it engage but its been a good while since i did it and have forgotten how. If you get it to click and run but still no ac id say your refrigerant is gone. But if its gone you need to find the leak or any money you put in refrigerant will be wasted. If you have $20 you can maybe stand to lose get a can of refrigerant from a parts store that has a built in gage. When you put it on the high pressure side (only fits this one side) the gage may tell you if its empty. You may have to put some in it to see if the gage will go up a bit to show you have pressure building.

See if this video will help you get your compressor to engage. They do stick sometimes.