Help! A/C no worky

[FuriousMojo]

Well... it does at first. Putting a cooking therm reveals a 60 degrees starting out and then it slowly skyrockets to 90-100 degrees (I'm in FL).

What is wrong? I did a lot of searching on these forums and the quickest solution was to check the refrigerant. So, I bought a kit w/ pressure guage from Discount Auto parts for $32. It's the EZ Chill 134a kit. I found the low side hookup (on the left with the larger hose) and started the car and left the engine and air running full blast for 3 minutes. I then hooked up the can and the guage reads 0 until I press the trigger to release the contents for a split second.. then it's in the yellow right away (above full).

As far as I know, the refrigerant hasn't been refilled/charged since the last service visit (which was over 2 years ago). I would think it would be due for another filling. If not, what else could it be? Am I just using the refill kit wrong?

Doh!

PS. Yes, I am a car n00b.

 

[orng1]

Sounds like you have a leak, did the kit come with dye in the refrigerant. (more than likely yes) Look for a spot that has yellow or green pigment to it, that's where it will be leaking from. It happens quite often, you hit something floating along in the road and it will crack the condensor (radiator looking thing for the car noobs). Hope that helped a bit, get out there and look for the colored spot. If nothing maybe you did do something wrong but that's all I can think of right now.

 

[mSHOCKERp]

Does your AC even kick on? Mine won't even turn on and the only thing I have done recently has been bent one of the AC lines VERY slightly to make room for FMIC piping. I was about to post a new topic but this was the first one and I thought I'd chime in here.

Mike

 

[MikeBlueP5]

The compressor will only run if it has enough freon in it. If it is below a certain psi it wont kick on. Also the reading you are getting from the gauge is when the freon is travelling through it. the low side psi will show when you let off the trigger. it should read somewhere along the 35 psi mark. it could be a little higher like 45 just depends on the outside ambient temp.

 

[Bakrauf]

If you push the button in will it work or does the light have to be on, MY light was flickering onand off today for some odd reason and at first the air seemd not to work then it started.. Short?

 

[MikeBlueP5]

proteges had a problem with that specially on number 2. there was a tsb on it and you could generally get it repaired under warranty.

 

[Turtle of Time]

could be your thermostat is shot