Ok u guys r right about the replacing the dryer if the system was opened, i always forget that part. I did get some freon in it today but not much, just enough for the AC system to come on with no jumpers, which was great news to me, now that i know that at least works and isnt making any funny noises, im calling a shop that has the proper tools to charge this thing correctly, I hate to spend the money but im having an issue getting the freon in the darn thing. I have to constantly play with and wiggle the connection at the low side port for the charging hose on the can for anything to go in. I got only a quarter can in the thing in half an hour. I just gave up. I might play with it tomorrow for a while before calling the shop, freon is cheep enough, its the labor i dont like paying. I could do this all myself if i only I had the machine. I sometimes miss working in the shop instead of selling parts, but only when this sh*t happens, lol

 

I'm glad you got the compressor to kick on. It sounds like you know the difference between the high and low pressure side but just to double check, the can isn't heating up while you're trying to charge the system, is it?
I assume your system is for R134a and that's what you are you're adding and the tool you're using is for R134a. There's a couple of different fittings (Like r12 is different from r134a).
Try changing the drier (maybe $50) and the o-rings if it has some and change out the service valve where you're trying to add the r134a; maybe the valve is screwed up. Then take it in to have the system vacuumed down. That will save you some on labor. 95Ram360 is right, you or the shop needs to add a can of compressor oil with the r134a. You add it just like the freon.

 

Well I got it going, turns out I just had a bad recharge hose. The little nipple that pushes in the shrader valve to let the r134 in was broken out of the old hose. I put a new on and my truck is a refrigerator now, well compared to the 85 and humid it is outside today. Know I just hope it doesnt leak out, but I did put in the leak finder, compresor oil, seal conditioner, and stuff so im hoping.

 

Glad it was something simple -- and cheap! I'm down in Texas and it's 85 and humid but we're enjoying it because by now it's usually 95 and humid and I don't even want to think about August.

 

i used the AC recharge kit from walmart twice in the last couple of days.

i originally said it was super easy and foolproof, but then i found out that i did a lot of things wrong, so i've edited this post to correct them.

i got the tall canister with the hose and gauge. just connect it to the low pressure service port and read the gauge. my son's honda was blowing not very cold and was in the green section. it took about half the can to get to the upper blue, and its blowing cold now too.

editted - the refrigerant in the can is a liquid and you can introduce it into the system slowly as an evaporated gas, or introduce it quickly as a liquid by flipping the can upside down. i did a sort of combination of both, and later found out that the upside down method was WRONG and that you should not add it in liquid form anywhere near the compressor. so don't do that, or if you do - do it in very very small shots at your own risk.

editted again - ambient temperature and engine temperature affect the pressure readings, and the pressures go significantly higher when hot. i charged my truck early in the morning when it was not so hot, and went to the higher side of the blue range. i rechecked it the next day when everything was scalding hot and it was overcharged. i had to let out quite a bit. so - don't overcharge.

attach gauge to low side test port and read it with trigger released.
when AC is on, low side pressure should be in 30-40 range.
when AC is off, it will read much higher, this is normal, and means nothing.
hold can upright and rotate it sideways to shake it.
press trigger for 1-2 second and then release.
check gauge.
repeat until the gauge reads where you want it. do not overcharge. charging properly as a gas takes awhile. dumping in the liquid (which is wrong) is very very fast - don't do this.)

 

our cans read different, they say not to hold the can upside in big letters. Instead they want u to constantly shake the can in an upright position until its full charge is releaed, then if u have the oil or stop leak to flip the can and hold it upside down for up to five min. to make sure all the oil and stop leak get into the system. I think each manufacturer has their own instruction about it, just follow what the can says and u should be good

 

My understanding is... you don't want to overload the system with liquid freon that close to the compressor. Liquids don't compress. That can cause too much pressure in the compressor and ruin it.