My AC sucks

Hi there,

I bought my 2000 xtracab v6 5 speed about 5 months ago. I went to turn on the A/C one day, and it didn't...
So I went to recharge the system with one of those cans from Advance Auto. My system had zero pressure. Usually, when the system is dead, a vacuum has the be pulled, then filled with refrigerant.

I figured I would try to charge the system anyway. I was able to pressurize it and get the compressor to engage. When the compressor engages, it bogs the motor down a slight bit (like all cars), but it blows warm air.

The real issue is that when the A/C is on, it makes a hissing noise. I eventually figured out that the hissing noise is coming from the low pressure charging port on the A/C pipe in the engine bay that I used to charge the system. There is actually a vacuum being pulled inside the lines when the compressor is on. This vacuum is sucking the schrader valve open. I put my thumb on the valve opening and felt the vacuum.

I find this situation incredibly odd, and I have no idea where to start.

 

I think you should take it to someone that has a set of gauges and a vacuum system and let them work on it. Those a/c repairman in a can with a little gauge are useless.

 

^^^ This.. take it in and have them find the leak and repair it. It happens. I had an intake rub the AC line in a Civic and it put a hole in it just big enough to loose pressure. Replaced the line, good to go.

Good luck

 

Plugged somewhere is my guess, receiver dryer? Easy enough to pull out and check.

 

+1 on the gauges. They will tell you what is, or isn't going on. That, and a vac test will give an indication on overall system health.
Suva(r-134a) doesn't "wear out" it leaks out. Either a hole in the evap, or condenser coil, normally. A tester can tell which.
NEVER use a product with stop leak. Nobody will ever work on it again. It clogs their refrigerant recovery machines.