shakie33

Well I knew this was coming I just didn't know when. For the last 3 years I have had a pesky slow freon leak that I have not been able to find at all. I have been having to fill up the freon about once a year. But now it is full and the a/c is not cooling at all. I have no idea on how to trouble shoot this problem. Any help would be great before I replace something that I don't have too. I know that it is not the clutch because it will engage and disengage. Thanks

pickupsrule

It is most likely the O rings ($ 8.00 a set), or the compressor leaking
($ 185.00 free shipping, new, OEM).
I replaced my compressor, O rings, Dryer, and orifice with brand new parts for under $280.00 total and it is so ice cold you have to cut it down even in 100F weather. My truck had the compressor black death thing so there was no doubt as to the problem. If the gas is all gone, I would replace the compressor and hose O rings that are easy to get to, re-gas it and see what happens. O rings are the most common leak in all auto AC's according to auto AC experts since they are exposed to the heat an vibration of the engine compartment.

JJP9398

If it's clicking on and off quickly then you have low pressure. I'm having the same problem. I tried to find a leak with the dye and uv light with no luck. I finally hooked up an A/C manifold gauges and the high side is low and the low side is high. Looking on the internet it said that my compressor is gone.

shakie33

Cool thanks that sounds like what is going on with mine. I guess i will be replacing the compressor here pretty soon. Now I just have to figure out how to do it. I have a book some where I guess it reading time.

shakie33

Thanks for the help but it has pressure on the low side and it isn't clicking on and off. Like it does when the low side is low.

Good old Bill

Have someone test the high and low side. Rule of thumb, take the outside air temp and add 100 to get a ball park on the high target pressure, low side look for about 30. If your readings are close to these, then look for a plugged orifice tube. Don't forget to pull the system into a vaccuum after any repair. The pump can be obtained from Auto Zone by just leaving a refundable deposit.

shakie33

Thanks Bill, I will get it tested and see what comes up.

pickupsrule

It could also be the low pressure switch malfunctioning, a cheap fix if that is the problem.
Either way, gauges are the only way to tell you.
You can get a GOOD set of gauges and a manifold at an auto parts place for about $80.00, and you will need those to install the compressor anyway so the money is not wasted.
If you can get someone to check it for free that's great, but rather than pay someone I would just buy the gauges.

shakie33

how can you tell if the switch is bad. What will the gauges show?

pickupsrule

You can jump the low pressure switch (the one that is probably on the dryer bottle with the wire like it is on my truck) by pulling off the plastic plug connection and then putting a bent paper clip (like a U ) in the two holes of the plastic like it plugged into the switch prongs. That should force the compressor on (I plug the clip thing in with the AC off and then turn on the AC since the paper clip could get hot and burn your fingers). If the Compressor stays on and it stays cold with the jumper, it is probably the switch and that is cheap and easy. Just like changing a spark plug and you don't even lose enough R 134 to worry about if you are quick. As for the gauges, it goes like this. AC on max high, the high side goes up to about 250-300, drops, then the low side goes from 20 to about 50-60, then it starts all over again. It alternates back and forth like that. That should happen about every 6 seconds or so depending on the outside AC. Usually a fast cycle indicates low gas.
Go to Youtube, search auto AC repair, and there are a lot of really good videos that show everything.