[mitmaks]

Having problems getting cold air out of my 01 Ram Cummins
So my A/C wasn't blowing cold. I got one of those recharging valves and some R134a refrigerant and put in a small can. Afterwards it was blowing nice and cool. (That was last summer)
Fast forward to today it's getting hot again but my A/C blows warm air. I hooked up valve and pressure is there. However A/C pump is cycling on and off every few seconds. Is it just low and I have to put in more? When it's cycling gauge goes all the way to normal pressure and then back down to 0 and then it repeats it as A/C pump is cycling on and off.

[virus]

It appears to be low on refrigerant. When the compressor comes on it pulls until the low pressure switch comes in and stops the compressor. Then when pressure equalizes it will satisfy the low pressure switch and starts the compressor and repeats the cycle. I would look for a leak and repair it before wasting more refrigerant.

[BLKSVT]

You have a leak, get a sniffer and find it...

[LATECH]

Those are noted for having leaky evaporators.
I am sure it is low on freon.
You can try to put a can in and see what happens.
Without a gauge on the hi and low side you really dont know if the problem is a blocked system or a low refrigerant charge.Probably just low,just thought I would mention it just the same.

[T-bucket23]

Just be careful you don't over fill it. it will actually not cool as well if it is over full and you risk damaging the compressor.

[mitmaks]

Thanks guys, I'm just trying to avoid shops. They rip people off and I thought if I can fix it then give it a try. I really hate seeing general public being ripped off by shops. And I'm not making much money so I try to avoid shops

[LATECH]

Yeah, it sucks when shops rip off people. Makes being one of the good guys a little tougher. I usually get the people who have allready been screwed by some @ hole shop then I have to fix there mess and do it for cheap to make the customer happy. Not to mention dealing with a gun shy customer.
Not all shops are rip offs, but there are enough hosers to tarnish a lot of peoples outlook of Technicians and make an allready tough job tougher.

[75gmck25]

Once you find the leak, you may want to take it to an AC tech for a full recharge. Most R134a systems are relatively hard to "tune" based only on pressures. Its usually better to have a machine that pulls 29-30" of vacuum for 30 minutes to remove residual moisture and old R134a, and then have it recharged with exactly the right amount of refrigerant.

You can do the job at home yourself, but most folks don't have the equipment to pull a vacuum, or the recharge hoses and gauge set, and they have trouble measuring exactly how much refrigerant they put in.

Bruc

[KMatch]

Originally Posted by mitmaks

Thanks guys, I'm just trying to avoid shops. They rip people off and I thought if I can fix it then give it a try. I really hate seeing general public being ripped off by shops. And I'm not making much money so I try to avoid shops

Well.... there goes any chance in hell of my offering any help. Too bad, these were a specialty of mine for a few years. Good luck.

[bentwings]

Actually you can buy a nice vac pump and gages from our old standby Harbor Freight pretty reasonably. Most likely less than the rip off shop. Just Google some help on the evac and recharge process.

I have this stuff and did my streetrod AC It works perfectly. I also just finished my diesel 1 ton dually Dodge. It will freeze you out now.

[mitmaks]

Is yours lasting pretty good, I was thinking about getting it but I don't work on A/C whole day so I would have to justify buying a set.
Read some reviews how they're flimsy and break easily.

[T-bucket23]

You will also need to buy a can of r134

[bentwings]

The vac pump runs smoothly and quietly, the gages aren't the best but they work. You also need the charge adaptor for the can...not sold at HF but AZ,NAPA, and O'rieley's have them.

Freon 134 goes for $15 a can or more. As of today.