Air conditioner light just flashes
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 121
Likes: 31
Air conditioner light just flashes
Have a1999 Corvette with 14000 miles and the air conditioner light just flashes! Read different posts and can’t figure it out temperature here is 49 and it would not work even if it is warmer. Hate to take it to the dealership but it’s looking that way right now. It won’t take a charge but I think the compressor needs to be on. Any ideas ?
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 42
Likes: 27
I've had this twice, first time was the compressor second time was the condenser. I think the flashing light means a lack of pressure in the system, you may get lucky and it's just a leak in one of the pipes. Take it to any AC specialist and they'll be able to diagnose it, shouldn't need to go to a dealer for this.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 121
Likes: 31
I've had this twice, first time was the compressor second time was the condenser. I think the flashing light means a lack of pressure in the system, you may get lucky and it's just a leak in one of the pipes. Take it to any AC specialist and they'll be able to diagnose it, shouldn't need to go to a dealer for this.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 42
Likes: 27
Only if you've got the machinery to test AC which is unlikely.Honestly, take it anywhere that does vehicle AC and they'll be able to diagnose it. I live in the UK so no one here is used to working on them lol. Took it in to my usual garage, got them to identify the issue and I supplied the parts which they fitted.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 1,183
From: Conyers Georgia
Look at the compressor and see if the clutch is turning when system is on. Short of having a manifold gauge set, you could jumper out the low pressure switch FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY and if clutch engages then yes, you're out of refrigerant.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 243
Likes: 93
From: Ashburn, VA
I used to tell customers, diagnosing A/C at home with no gauges is a fools errand. Compressors are designed to shut down when low refrigerant is detected. It will blow warm when low...as well as warm when there is too much refrigerant lol. If you a resigned to resolving this yourself and not taking it to the $99 A/C man...you can try the following:
Joe
- Buy the $49 A/C recharge bottle with the hose and single gauge attached. Turn car on and A/C on. it will do it's Blinky thing and the compressor may start momentarily but stop [as designed]. Look at the gauge...its broken down into red / yellow / green to make it easy. Squeeze trigger and fill as per the directions. IF....you don't have a leak, as the system fills up, the compressor will kick on. if you system is really REALLY low...you may go through a whole bottle and need to buy more [hence now you have the gauge and hose so all you need to do is buy the 20 dollar cans as the gauge hose thing will tap up to those no problem].
Joe
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 121
Likes: 31
I used to tell customers, diagnosing A/C at home with no gauges is a fools errand. Compressors are designed to shut down when low refrigerant is detected. It will blow warm when low...as well as warm when there is too much refrigerant lol. If you a resigned to resolving this yourself and not taking it to the $99 A/C man...you can try the following:
Joe
- Buy the $49 A/C recharge bottle with the hose and single gauge attached. Turn car on and A/C on. it will do it's Blinky thing and the compressor may start momentarily but stop [as designed]. Look at the gauge...its broken down into red / yellow / green to make it easy. Squeeze trigger and fill as per the directions. IF....you don't have a leak, as the system fills up, the compressor will kick on. if you system is really REALLY low...you may go through a whole bottle and need to buy more [hence now you have the gauge and hose so all you need to do is buy the 20 dollar cans as the gauge hose thing will tap up to those no problem].
Joe
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 243
Likes: 93
From: Ashburn, VA
The recharge fitting will only go on the correct fitting. If you are expecting to hear to kind of whooshing sound from the refrigerant, you wont lol It will feel like nothing is happening becuase the compressor is not spinning so it cant take in more refrigerant to fill rest of system [if that makes sense]. A certain amount of pressure must be present FIRST to kick the compressor on. On some recharges bottles you gotta rock the bottle 90 degrees as your filling.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
There are several really informative websites and YouTube videos on recharging auto A/C systems. While I couldn’t agree more that having work done by a pro is best, there is a lot to be said for being an informed customer.