Need Help Diagnosing AC Not Working
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
Need Help Diagnosing AC Not Working
Hey I’ve got a 1996 corvette grand sport, recently when I got the corvette out and the ac was not working. I opened the hood and turned temp down and the compressor clutch was kicking in but kicking right off. I went to the low pressure and used a screwdriver to see if it had pressure and it did, I continued to let off pressure and tried to put Freon in but it would not take it, I was never able to bleed off all the pressure. Does anybody know where to look next?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,890
Likes: 591
From: New Port Richey FL
Do yourself a favor get a set of gauges, for the general person a set from Harbor Freight or Amazon will do. If you're trying to Diagnose with a screwdriver and a fill kit from Walmart you might make yourself crazy.
With a gauge set you can see what is happening inside the system, you can add and loose gas as needed
With a gauge set you can see what is happening inside the system, you can add and loose gas as needed
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 342
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
If the compressor is "kicking in but kicking right off" you are most likely low on Freon.
And why are you trying to let off and bleed off all the pressure? Where do you get that from?
Sorry, but you have no idea how this system works and you will not get educated enough here.
Do yourself a favor and get some professional help from someone who knows a lot more than you do.
And why are you trying to let off and bleed off all the pressure? Where do you get that from?
Sorry, but you have no idea how this system works and you will not get educated enough here.
Do yourself a favor and get some professional help from someone who knows a lot more than you do.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,373
Likes: 2,734
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 104
Likes: 15
From: Sacramento, CA
If the compressor is "kicking in but kicking right off" you are most likely low on Freon.
And why are you trying to let off and bleed off all the pressure? Where do you get that from?
Sorry, but you have no idea how this system works and you will not get educated enough here.
Do yourself a favor and get some professional help from someone who knows a lot more than you do.
And why are you trying to let off and bleed off all the pressure? Where do you get that from?
Sorry, but you have no idea how this system works and you will not get educated enough here.
Do yourself a favor and get some professional help from someone who knows a lot more than you do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,336
Likes: 2,265
From: Central Maryland
The described symptoms point strongly to a loss of refrigerant, in which case there is a leak in the system that will not be resolved by a recharge. The leak must be eliminated, followed by a system purge using a vacuum pump, and a correctly executed recharging of the system, including the correct amounts of the correct refrigerant and correct oil.
There are safety aspects to this work as well. This really isn't a task for anyone who isn't sufficiently knowledgeable and equipped.
Live well,
SJW
There are safety aspects to this work as well. This really isn't a task for anyone who isn't sufficiently knowledgeable and equipped.
Live well,
SJW
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
I’ve actually built cars for a living all my life and have people that work for me that do know more than me. no I’m definitely not a a/c expert. I’ve seen about everything go wrong that can but I’ve not been hands on in fixing it. Yes I have gauges and have filled cars with Freon for a long time. I didn’t know if there was a common problem with these c4’s or not. Thank you for all the arrogant comments.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 809
From: Saskatoon Sask.
I’ve actually built cars for a living all my life and have people that work for me that do know more than me. no I’m definitely not a a/c expert. I’ve seen about everything go wrong that can but I’ve not been hands on in fixing it. Yes I have gauges and have filled cars with Freon for a long time. I didn’t know if there was a common problem with these c4’s or not. Thank you for all the arrogant comments.
You talk about "never being able to bleed off all the pressure". What pressure exactly are you trying to get rid of? You mean the pressure from the refrigerant that you are trying to put IN?
What exactly do you think the gauges you have used "for a long time" are reading? The person that told you to "close the hood and step away from the car" has it right. You can get assistance here but first you have to store the butt hurt.