Help with A/C

Hi all. I have a 96 Grand Am Se with about 218,000km on it. The A/C won't come on cold at all anymore. It just blows hot air. Any suggestions? And myself and my husband know nothing about cars, so could you explain in easy terms. Thanks, Jen.

There are a couple of possibilities that would cause this problem. First, the freon has leaked out due to a leak in the system and must be replaced. If the freon is gone the system will not operate at all, this includes the compressor. You will need to take it to a shop that does air conditioning to have this repaired since they need to find the leak before recharging. Second there is a possibility that the control that turns the heater on is stuck, that would account for the additional heat. The same shop should be able to diagnose this for very little additional cost.

You can re-charge your AC with with a can of R-134a. Go to your local Walmart and get recharge kit. A kit contains a hose with AC gauge, 3 small cans of R-134a or a large can of R-134a with AC oil.

First, locate the low side port of the AC. It is usually has a blue cap. Either directly on the AC compressor or a hose going into the AC compressor. Anything comes out of the AC compressor going to the condenser (located in front of the radiator) is the high side. The high side port usually has a red cap on it.

Make sure you connect the AC R-134a to the end of the AC recharge hose but don't turn the valve to puncture the AC R-134a just yet.

Once you locate the low side port (blue cap), remove the blue cap then connect one end of the AC charging hose to the low side port (make sure you push it good and it should snap in to lock in place).

Make sure the AC R-134a can is not going to get tangled with the serpentine belt or any moving parts.

Start the engine and let it IDLE. Turn the AC to MAX and Blower to MAX.

Now, try to turn the lever on the end of the AC Recharge hose to puncture the AC R-134a and turn the lever back up to let the AC R-134a flow through the AC compressor.

You should hear a clicking noise in the compressor engaging.

Check the inside of the vehicle and see if there is a cold air blowing out.

The AC Recharge hose with a guage should tell you if you need another charge.

Once the R-134a can is empty (cold to touch) then you can turn off the engine. Remove the end of the Recharge hose from the low side port.

A lot of times the valve on the low side port will leak out the AC R-341a so make sure you quickly put the blue cap back on. Do this when you are done charging or preparing to put another R-134a can.

When you are done. Always make sure that the blue cap on the low side port is tight good because some leak comes out of there provided you don't have any leak somewhere.

If it still leaks (warm air comes out) then you have a leak somewhere. If you don't want to fix it yourself. Be prepared to shell out lots of $$$ for AC repair.

You can find the leak by purchasing an inexpensive leak detector kit. It contains a UV dye with the air of a yellow goggle and a black light. You just introduce that UV dye into the AC Low side port and put some 1 can of R-134a can to help circulate the UV dye and then you can find the leak.


However, a lot of AC controls switch are controlled by a vacuum. Most AC control and cruise control are controlled by the same vacuum hose. If that vacuum hose that controls the AC control switches and cruise control is leaking or disconnected vacuum hose then you won't have a cruise control.

So, check your vehicle to see if you have a cruise control. If you have a cruise control, then drive the vehicle and try to engage the cruise control to see if it works. If the cruise control does not work then you have a problem with a vacuum hose. Either the vacuum hose is loose, disconnected, broken, etc. Trace the vacuum hose and fix it and see if your cruise control functions again and hopefully your AC controls as well.