problems with my A/C on my C5
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Cape May New Jersey
problems with my A/C on my C5
Hello all,
I have a 1997 Corvette with 52000ml. My A/C has always worked great until now. I try turning it on and the light is flashing but no a/c. I drove it for a bit and the a/c light came on but no cold air. I can hear the compressor wanting to click on but nothing happened. Then the A/C light when off. I am guessing is low freon but i wanted to get all your suggestions. Also my screen in my A/C unit is really dim and i can only see it at night. Please Advice.
Thanks.
I have a 1997 Corvette with 52000ml. My A/C has always worked great until now. I try turning it on and the light is flashing but no a/c. I drove it for a bit and the a/c light came on but no cold air. I can hear the compressor wanting to click on but nothing happened. Then the A/C light when off. I am guessing is low freon but i wanted to get all your suggestions. Also my screen in my A/C unit is really dim and i can only see it at night. Please Advice.
Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA
Hello all,
I have a 1997 Corvette with 52000ml. My A/C has always worked great until now. I try turning it on and the light is flashing but no a/c. I drove it for a bit and the a/c light came on but no cold air. I can hear the compressor wanting to click on but nothing happened. Then the A/C light when off. I am guessing is low freon but i wanted to get all your suggestions. Also my screen in my A/C unit is really dim and i can only see it at night. Please Advice.
Thanks.
I have a 1997 Corvette with 52000ml. My A/C has always worked great until now. I try turning it on and the light is flashing but no a/c. I drove it for a bit and the a/c light came on but no cold air. I can hear the compressor wanting to click on but nothing happened. Then the A/C light when off. I am guessing is low freon but i wanted to get all your suggestions. Also my screen in my A/C unit is really dim and i can only see it at night. Please Advice.
Thanks.
Regarding the light issue, you will probably need a new HVAC unit or to replace the LEDs backlighting.
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: A.R.
If the unit gets low on freon, the compressor will sometimes shut down in order to avoid damage.Mine was doing the same thing and I also have a 97.I unplugged the battery cable for about 10 minutes that will usually reset the compressor then I added freon and now she sits on 40 deg 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
the ac compressor will not turn on and the ac light on the button flashes when you are low on freon. there is a leak in the system somewhere. freon does not just disappear into nowhere without there being a leak somewhere. charge it with freon that has UV dye so you can spot the leak. replace the gasket or o-ring at that location and recharge it again. good luck! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Freon can leak might have leaks at joints or schrader valves
the ac compressor will not turn on and the ac light on the button flashes when you are low on freon. there is a leak in the system somewhere. freon does not just disappear into nowhere without there being a leak somewhere. charge it with freon that has UV dye so you can spot the leak. replace the gasket or o-ring at that location and recharge it again. good luck!
I agree you are probably low on freon. If you can't run compressor when trying to add freon on the LO side simply jump out the LO pressure cut out switch to get the compressor to run.
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Freon leak
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria Ca.
So,once you get the freon situation squared away,you can tackle the dim display:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...splay-fix.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...splay-fix.html
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Cape May New Jersey
thanks for all the replies. Today after work i unplugged the black cap that runs on the a/c line by the batter and noticed bubbles coming out. Can that possibly be a point where it is leaking? my car sat all winter and the a/c ran perfectly last summer. I am going to go to auto zone to buy the freon charge, is there anything else expect that and the dye i need to get?
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA
A/c problems c-5
Hello all,
I have a 1997 Corvette with 52000ml. My A/C has always worked great until now. I try turning it on and the light is flashing but no a/c. I drove it for a bit and the a/c light came on but no cold air. I can hear the compressor wanting to click on but nothing happened. Then the A/C light when off. I am guessing is low freon but i wanted to get all your suggestions. Also my screen in my A/C unit is really dim and i can only see it at night. Please Advice.
Thanks.
I have a 1997 Corvette with 52000ml. My A/C has always worked great until now. I try turning it on and the light is flashing but no a/c. I drove it for a bit and the a/c light came on but no cold air. I can hear the compressor wanting to click on but nothing happened. Then the A/C light when off. I am guessing is low freon but i wanted to get all your suggestions. Also my screen in my A/C unit is really dim and i can only see it at night. Please Advice.
Thanks.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 8
From: Jacksonville Florida
thanks for all the replies. Today after work i unplugged the black cap that runs on the a/c line by the batter and noticed bubbles coming out. Can that possibly be a point where it is leaking? my car sat all winter and the a/c ran perfectly last summer. I am going to go to auto zone to buy the freon charge, is there anything else expect that and the dye i need to get?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
You bet it is. I had the same problem a few weeks ago. After my AC quit out of nowhere, I went to check the freon pressure, not realizing the stupid AC belt was the problem! Anyway, after just touching that valve stem, it started leaking. Bubbles are freon in liquid form escaping. You can get a valve stem replacement kit for like $5 at any auto parts store.
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: A.R.
I replaced my schrader valve with the system charged,I don't recommend doing it that way but after charging my system I noticed that my valve was leaking so I pulled up on it with some needle nose pliers and I couldn't hear it leaking anymore.A/C cooled down to 40 deg,But by the next morning car no makey cool air.So I threw on my gauges and charged it again preparing to set out to find the leak, which I found when removing the low side hose.Valve had continued to leak despite being pulled out until I didnt hear it anymore.I had another valve and 2 valve wrenches so I pulled one and immediately jabbed the other in and tightened,This is the 2nd summer and A/C is still ice cold so I assume my loss was minimal.But a simple soap test could have saved me lots of effort.
