Fixing to start working on my AC

[xanatost]

Is that any write ups on adding Freon? My AC hasn't been working for about 6 years and it has never bothered me. I'm getting married and would like to get it working. I would like a step by step on what to look for before I get started and when adding it. I have cleaned everything under the dash but I know nothing about what oil to add or even what Freon to get. Its a 98 2 door and I been looking at the stuff that you can get at the parts house. Any help would be grateful. Ill start in this weekend. The AC cluch does work fine. It doesn't make any noises and the heater will run you out in the winter time. I just don't have the time or the money to bring it to a AC shop.

 

[xanatost]

Is there a way I can pressure test my ac before I start buy freon and other parts. I can't believe we don't have a sticky on here for something like this. I need some help with this guys so please some post up to give me a starting point.

 

[Goodinblack]

You have gauges?

Need a set of decent gauges to check pressures.

You say compressor turns on? By itself or you jump it?

If by itself. Means you have some freon left in it.

---------- Post added at 06:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 AM ----------

Buy R134a refrigerant without leak sealer crap in it.

 

[SunlitComet]

and you use r-134a refrigerant. and uh you can still have refrigerant in the system and not have it run.

 

[xanatost]

ok where should I go to get some good gages? is there a name brand I should get as well? I am 99% sure that there is no refrigerant in. I had my pain in the ass brother help me out once to change out something that I don't remember and when I got back he had the AC lines disconnected from the bolt on top of the compressor. ( I was a little pissed when I saw it!!!) So I am going to say that it is bone dry. Would it hurt anything if I was to run a jumper over the compressor just to see if it turns over??

 

[SunlitComet]

yellow jacket or robinair will do just fine. used both in the past on building hvac and trailer reefers.

---------- Post added at 10:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 AM ----------

you need refrigerant an oil in the system but i am gonna say if he had the lines open and they were not capped then the system is likely contaminated and should be properly flushed and a new orifice and dryer installed before replenishment otherwise you may have a compressor failure.

 

[xanatost]

How do I flush out the system or is that something I need to bring to a shop?? When he undid the bolt the to compressor he only had it off for about a min or two. it wasn't off for no long period of time.

 

[Goodinblack]

I would pull a vac on it and see it even holds.

More likely you will have a leak on the system somewhere.

If by chance it holds then I would put in a new office tube and a receiver drier. Seal it up and pull a vacuum. Add dye just in case and then add refrigerant.

 

[SunlitComet]

yeah pull a vacuum for 2 hrs. if it was a very short time the vacuum should boil off any minor moisture that got in there. flushing involve more tools and money best left to shop if you are not prepared to get deep in to the system.

 

[livingez_123]

If you don't know what you are doing, or don't have the proper equipment to do it yourself, you can end up doing more harm than good. People think just because they have a set of gauges there an expert. there is so much more then just plugging in your gauges.