Hey guys I have a 1988 Dakota 3.9 v6. I bought it in may this year. The AC compressor doesn’t kick in when I press the ac switch. So I read a forum and some guy said that it might be low on Freon. He said to take a paper clip and put it in the (idk remember what it’s called but I did upload the pic). AC compressor kicked in after I did the paper clip thing. So am I doing the right thing? Also can someone please help me with this freon issue too. How to do a retrofit.

 

What refrigerant is your system currently using? (should be a label on the radiator support....)

If that is the low pressure switch, then the system is simply low on refrigerant. The question becomes, HOW low, and WHY is it low. Generally, that implies a leak in the system somewhere.

 

It says it has r12.

 

System needs to be completely evacuated, pressure switches changed, then recharged with the appropriate amount of R134a... or whatever it is they are using these days. Somewhere in there it needs to be leak-checked as well. Be a lot easier to take it to a shop.....

 

Ima call some shops then. It’s too much to do.

 

Usually you can find boot leg cans of freeze12/R12 on craigslist and facebook, sometimes even a charge whip hose.

Correct procedure would be complete evacuation change drier/accumulator, leak test and recharge. Something that old and a non functioning system I would expect evap/condesor leak, rusted out drier/accumulator,

 

I just have one question before I take it to the shop. The ac system still has some refrigerant in it because when I press the little pin some gas comes out. Does this still mean it is leaking. Or should I just buy those r12 on eBay and put it in the truck?

 

A leak is still very likely even if it has pressure. Its probably not very much, even a few PSI sounds really good coming out of the schrader valve. If you are unfamiliar with the truck and its system its hard to know how bad the leak is. Did it leak out in a few minutes/hours/days/weeks. At least 50% of the A/C systems we have in tractors and stuff usually leak out over the winter, tiny leaks that have proved impossible to find. Charge the system in the spring and its usually good for one or two seasons. Safe to venture though if it has internal pressure, the leak didn't happen in minutes hours or probably even days. Gauges is the only way to know what pressure is actually in it, maybe a half can would do you. I couldn't recommend where to go to test it. I'd be shocked any mainstream shop still has R12 tools around. I picked up a set at the pawn shop several years ago.

 

I don't think licensed shops CAN recharge an R-12 system legally, they have to convert it to R134a, or whatever the latest and greatest flavor is.....

 

Well no of course not, but they may still have the tooling around

R1234YF in the wifes 15 durango, but that was 10 years ago already so who knows.

That old R12 system just fill it with propane , you'll never experience a better cooling a/c lol