Originally Posted by Dano523

Step one is to make sure that the compressor clutch kicks in once you turn the A/C on.

Step two is to get gauges on the low and high side, and check for your pressures. The system has a high pressure switch, and if the pressure gets too high in the system as the Freon heats up, it will kick the system off so you don't blow a line.
Note a orifice tube filter is will show up on the pressure test, with the high to low pressure way out of the norm.

Now the ugly one, and that if the system has a leak. Hence if the system did a full leak out with no pressure in the system, it gets nasty real quick, since this induces moisture to the system, that can not only case rust in the system/parts, but clog the orifice tube filter as well. So even finding the leak to begin with to correct it, doing a vacuum draw on the system to pull all the moisture out of the system, you can still have rust in the system, and/or a clogged orifice tube filter as well.


So on a system that you find way, way low on Freon, then the run down becomes to find the source of the leak to begin with to correct it, pull the system apart to check for rust/clean the system and change the orifice tube filter out if needed, vacuum the system to boil out any water in the system, then recharge the system with fresh Freon and oil.