R12 replacement
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 433
Likes: 55
From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
Jared, I appreciate all the experience y'all have on this topic and I hate to slow you guys down, but for an old geezer I haven't been around the same block as you folks. Thanks for the HF link I might just order that pump but all I have is a 5HP 20gallon air compressor . I just tried my A/C system and noticed that the air compressor didn't even engage and it's blowing hot air. Doing it your way seems complicated, my 92 hasn't ever been charged and at this point I'm temped to just pump in a couple of cans of r-12 and see what happens, do you think the compressor will start up if it gets any Freon, and if it doesn't does that tell me to get a new compressor.
First thing you should do though is find the charge port for the AC, remove the cap, and push on the Schrader valve to see if it has any pressure what-so-ever. Do it when the car isn't running, if the compressor isn't running, then it isn't going to add any extra pressure but the system should have some residual pressure in it if it doesn't have a huge leak. If it doesn't have any residual pressure, then chances are good that it has a leak and I would go through the motions to locate it before wasting any R12.
If it has pressure, throw a 12oz can at it and see if the compressor will kick on. If the compressor starts cycling on and off, add refrigerant until it stops cycling, or add refrigerant until you get 40 degrees out of your center vents with the AC on max settings.
BTW, your symptoms are identical to what my car was doing before I charged my system. My compressor clutch made a little bit of noise when it first fired up, probably from lying dormant for so long. The noise eventually went away though. Now it kicks on and off normally and noise free.
That's the quick and easy way.
Jared
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 239
Likes: 26
From: Carmel, Indiana
Just to let folks who own a 92 C-4 that if their compressor isn't cycling and the clutch does not engage, make sure ignition is off and locked, then you pull the A/C fuse and the Radio Fuse for one minute or so reinstall fuses and restart car the compressor will and clutch will engage. Mine did now I'm going to add some R-12. No response necessary.
