I am looking forward to spring except for one thing; At the end of summer my a/c went out on my 97 chev s10.?

Question

Its a 4 cyl. I had added one can of the freon(? the newer stuff) each summer and it worked fine. At the end of the summer I added a can since it was not blowing cold, but it didn't help at all. I have heard it is ridiculous to get it fixed and I am on social security and no money to buy a newer vehicle. Someone told me it would be the compressor.
Any advice would really be appreciated. thanks a lot. ps; I might die without a/c.

Answer 1

I can give you a few simple tests to narrow down the problem. Raise you hood with the engine off and check the belt tension does it feel loose?, can you turn the compressor pully with your bare hand?. next start the engine does the belt squeel that goes around the comp. pully when you rev the engine. If the belt is okay then lets go to the next one. You should have a low pressure switch on the suction side return hose.(the smaller hose that goes to your comp. is high press. and the larger hose is low press.) on the low pressure hose is a 2 (two) wire plug that connects to a fitting that will disengage your comp. clutch if pressure is too low. Unplug from the fitting and take a paper clip and bend it in a "u" shape and place one end of the clip in one of the wire slots into one side of the plug wire slots and the other end into the other wire slot in the plug. Now with everything out of the way of fan and belts start the engine with the inside A/C switch on. Did the comp. clutch engage? (comp. clutch is on the front of the comp. pully if both are turning then comp. is low on refridgerant or has a bad pressure switch) Next with truck running unplug the paper clip did the clutch disengage?. If the clutch did not engage or disengage then the compressor or clutch is bad. It sounds like you have been losing freon for sometime so with the engine off look at the full length of both hoses from comp. to condensor. Is there any oily spots. If there is that should be where you are losing your freon. Unscrew the cap off of the valve where you have been installing your freon(with the engine off) use a ball point pen at arms length and press down on the valve stem. Did any freon come out? Was it a large blast or a small hiss or nothing? If it was a hiss or nothing the the annual 1 can of freon has grown too large. If there was alot of pressure then its either your clutch, compressor, or your switch. Check your condensor. If a rock did hit your condensor and put a hole in it then you may be able to fix it cheep with some JB weld but be very careful not to fill in the hole completely(putting so much in the whole as to fill in the entire pipe.) Carefully build up the JB weld only over the hole or the effort will be for naught. If is not an easy fix then get one or two of your friends to help you with the diagnosis process, then agree on the problem point. Last if not much or no froen came out when you used the pen then prepare some soapy water and put into a spray bottle.With the engine off put some freon in your system and spray soapy water onto every joint or fitting you can see if you see a steady amount of bubbles are being made at that joint then there is a hole there. Call your nearby autoparts store for a price or drive to them and show them. Let them tell you the name of the part and how much also get the part number. If you can't afford the part at the part store then call the wrecking yard and see if they have it. Call around, some wrecking yards have an all you can carry day for a set price which may be even cheaper. good luck don't forget to pull a vaccum on your system before re-filling.

Answer 2

First off, no A/C system that is in good working order should ever need a can of freon every summer. Don't know how many summers you added a can of freon but you have it overfilled, if there isn't a leak. If there is a leak, just filling it up with freon without fixing the leak is no good.

You need the whole A/C system checked and repaired or resign yourself to not having A/C. That's just the facts you should be aware of.

Answer 3

these cars were bad about slow leaks in the ac unit. I realize your money problem but I would try an extra can in case leak is just getting worse, do it with the air on high and if the compressor does not kick on after two cans you've probably have no choice but to take to a professional. systems like this can be very dangerouse because of high pressure involved. But note that it is a common car and a used compressor should be very affordable at a salvage yard.

Answer 4

No, i'm a senior citizen now and my education years are behind me yet I do undergo in options presently nicely. I continuously hated seeing the summer time come to an end. I loved my summer time holiday yet about 2 weeks before college all started i'd commence to get excited. My mom belonged to a club at artwork the position she might want to install 2 money a week and there change right into a garments save on the city that could want to enable the girls people to purchase outfits in accordance to how a lot each change into paying in a week. for 2 money a week i imagine mom change into allowed to purchase $50.00 nicely worth of outfits. not multiple money on the on the spot yet lower back then it offered multiple clothing. It change into continuously relaxing procuring for brand new outfits and for college elements. for sure it change right into a clean college 365 days so that you under no circumstances knew what to assume. i wager I looked ahead to the unknown.

Answer 5

sounds like you have a leak somewhere. why don,t you the next time you recharge it put in some sealer and conditioner in with it. you can get the r-134 with sealer in it.