Air Conditioner Is Dead - HELP!

[Pink_Floyd]

Well it was a really warm day in NJ today for the first time in a while and when I got out of school the car was really hot inside. I hadn't used the A/C since last summer so I figured I'd give it a run just to break it back in and get it ready for the summer coming up.

Well I set the temps to the coldest levels and hit the A/C and Recirculation buttons. Both went on but no cold air came out. I drove the car for 30 min and nothing happened, just outside air temp.

Last summer the A/C worked REALLY well - Ice cold every time. So what is the first thing I should check? I'm pretty good with working on the car itself but I've never done anything to the A/C. I don't even know the first thing to check to make sure everything is going OK. The last thing I want to do is take it to a shop and pay $500 or more for something I could do myself.

Thanks!

 

[carcus]

Take it to a local shop and have them do a AC check on it, could just low on freon and needs a charge. My wifes car has a leak, it is our beater so I just add freon when it starts blowing warm air. Hopefully, yours just needs a recharge. Let us know how it turns out. You can also buy a recharge kit and check it yourself for about 15 bucks also. The pressure gauge will tell you if you are low and it comes with a can of freon.

 

[Pink_Floyd]

I guess I should take it in... I would love to do the self check thing but I'm pretty positive I've still got the old extremely poision R12 or whatever it is in there. I don't really feel like dealing with any of that. Thanks for the suggestion - I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

[cursor]

I'm currently going through the same problem... Two summers with ice cold air, then nothing?!?, I took it in, they put a pound of R12 in, and told me I have numerous large leaks, since there was no freon left inside. Quoted me $750 to replace 3 hoses and refill with R12, but I'm looking at other options. Hopefully yours will turn out better than mine... I'm anxious to hear what they say the problem is. Good Luck.