Hello. I DID A SEARCH!! i'm not so noobish at all, i already read thru this topic https://dodgeforum.com/tm.asp?m=3038...tioning&#39020 and found kind of what my problem is, but not exactly. I have a 1995 DOHC plymouth neon, and the A/C doesn't put out cold air at all. the fan puts out HOT air, but not cold. so i took it to my local garage, when i took it there i said this "i think my a/c needs to be gassed, it isn't putting out cold air at all." So they called back a day later, and said that the a/c compressor was not kicking in. Alright, i buy that. but, i said gas it, because even if the compressor works fine, the freon still needs to be there for the compressor to kick in, am i wrong? So i am debating whether to take it to another garage and say to just gas it, or to take it back to the local garage (after i save up the 800 bucks for a rebuilt compressor and labor) and have them redo the compressor.. Any opinions are appreciated.

 

Compressor needs to be running to charge. So your garage is right about that, but seems a bit quick to jump to the conclusion that a compressor that does not engage is defective. Relays, connectors, wiring, switch, and clutch problems should all be ruled out first.

If you have no pressure at all in the system, you may have to override the low pressure switch to get the compressor to run enough to take an initial charge. Apparently hooking up a charge can to the low pressure service port doesn't always put enough pressure on the system to close the switch. I think there have been some postings on this or other Neon forums.

Good luck.

 

The first thing you can do is ask the first garage what kind of reading they were getting when the guages were hooked up (low, none). There is a way to override it to turn on the clutch by simply using a wire that is just laying around. There is a metal plaque on the left hand side under the hood right against the firewall. Unplug it and just "jump" it. The compressor should turn on. If it does and doesn't make a whole lot of noise but air is not cold, then it's most likely low on freon like mine was. Mine ended up having a small leak on one of the seals. I would first see what kind of reading the first garage got.

 

IMO, tell that shop to stuff it. Go to Walmart (or wherever), buy the kit to refill your a/c yourself. It's like $25 bucks. Get the one it has the hose seperate from the can with the gauge. It's the R-134a stuff. Attach up the kit like it suggests the hose to the can and little valve. Next find the hose with the valve on it to attach the gauge to to test it. They are on the left side of the engine. You want the bigger hose of the two. Usually the kit will only attach to the right one anyhow. See what psi the a/c is at on the gauge. If it's low, then go from there and fill it. it's way easy. I just did it Sunday. You need to have the car running when you do it. If you need any more help let me know.

 

alright, went to pep boys, got a recharge kit. came with two cans of r134a/polyol ester lubricant, valve opener attaches to hose, hose to go from can to low side, and replacement caps. i am planning on doing this job today. my plan was to hook up the can to the low side, jump the compressor, and it should start sucking from the can. but i do not know which one is the lowside, i need to be positive about that one since you can make the can explode if you hook it up to the high pressure side. please help, thanks!

 

you should only be able to connect the hose to one side, they are different fittings. it should eith be the lower hose by the raidator or right by the compressor, depending on if it was factory or dealer installed.

 

Going to Wal-mart or Pepboys might not be the best thing to do. You need to find a reputable shop and have them check the system right. There might be a prob in the system. If you add the freon from the lil cans you could have too much in the a/c system and it wont work properly. I work on cars all day and I see a/c problems come in where some guy goes to Autozone or some other place and adds 2 or 3 cans and then the a/c still doesn't work. Take it from a mechanic. Get it checked by a professional. Just my 2 cents.

 

the kit I charged mine with came with a gauge so you can't overcharge, I thought they all did? I still think it would be easier to spend the $20 and get the kit. If it works its fixed for 20, if not you only spent $20, whats the worst that can happen, now you know it needs serious work.