a/c compressor not kicking on

[akcamaro02]

the driver window regulator is going bad so i'm waiting on that to arrive and in the meantime i was trying to use my a/c and got only warm air. i checked and noticed the compressor isn't engaging...from what i read it's probably the r134a is low...

my question is that i had the motor replaced last year, is it possible that the shop installed something wrong that caused the freon to leak out? or is it an entirely different problem?

[ssms5411]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

Did the A/C work after the motor was replaced? If they put a motor in they probably took the freon out before they installed the new motor. Maybe they didn't put the freon back in.

[akcamaro02]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

i rarely use the A/C but i did use it briefly last summer however, now that i think back, there was something leaking from the back of the a/c compressor, right where the 2 lines fit into the back...but it literally went away within a day or two so i just let it go...

[ssms5411]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

i rarely use the A/C but i did use it briefly last summer however, now that i think back, there was something leaking from the back of the a/c compressor, right where the 2 lines fit into the back...but it literally went away within a day or two so i just let it go...

Yeah that was probably your freon leaking out, I would get another seal for it and then check it for leaks. They make dye for it so finding leaks should be easy. If its warm enough out you should be able to fill it with freon yourself.

[akcamaro02]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

yeah that's what i guess i'll try. but i heard that you can fill it if the compressor isn't engaged? is that true?

[ssms5411]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

If theres not enough freon in the system the A/C won't engage anyway. I had mine with zero freon in it and filled it up and the compressor kicked on. I don't remember how I did it. If I just left the A/C on while filling it or just tried to fill it with the compressor off. I think it took 2.5 cans and used the freon with oil in it for the compressor. I'll see what the Haynes manual says or see if someone else posts up. I did this about 5-6 years ago and my memory is bad. But I know it worked out good though.

[akcamaro02]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

Theres a guy on youtube with a camaro and he stuck a paperclip in his ac compressor relay to kick it in then fill it. Dont know if thats similar to what you did or not. I dont see why u couldn't just fill it without the compressor running..maybe a pressurr issue

[ssms5411]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

Yeah , once you get some freon in it , it should kick on the compressor, I would fix that seal on the back side of the compressor first, then just add freon and see where your at. I wouldn't try and turn it on manually since the compressor needs oil in it so it doesn't burn up thats why it doesn't come on when its low on freeon so it doesn't burn up the compressor.

[akcamaro02]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

i hooked up an A/C gauge i have to the low pressure port and it read maybe a hair over 20lbs, however, the gauge was at 10 lbs when i hooked it up so it could have actually been 10lbs in there. do you know how low it has to be before it trips the compressor off?

[akcamaro02]

Re: a/c compressor not kicking on

haynes manual does say however the clutch needs to be engaged to charge so i'll definently have to replace the ring or gasket, whichever it is first otherwise it'll just leak back out. is it safe to disconnect those lines from the back of the compressor since it's a pressurized system, plus may have freon leak out into the air..