95 a/c problems....

i know that it is winter and i dont need my a/c, but from what i understand is that when i use my defroster it uses the compressor. i have never had working a/c in my car since i got it in feb 2003. i tried a couple of things to fix it this summer. bought a new oraphus tube and a new accumulator. i then got it charged 3 times for free at my brothers school. it worked for about 15 mins, ICE cold air. then i guess it leaks all the coolant out. my comprssor cycles very quickly with my a/c on. about every 4 or 5 seconds. can anyone think of a solution? bad compressor? hate to invest in a new one if there is something else i should have tried first. thanks in advance....

If you leaked out your freon in 15 minutes, you have a serious leak. If your brothers school charged the system 3 times, after the first time they should have used a leak detector and even prior to that, a vacuum pump down should have revealed that it was not holding vacuum.


The only solution that anyone could possibly give you is that the entire system needs to be checked. It could be a leaky condensor, a leaky evaporator, a line (you pick which one), the compressor itself at the front seal or if the compressor was not mounted square, it could be around the body, it could be that when the accumulator was changed and the orifice tube that you or someone else who changed it did not change the o-rings or lubed them with the same oil that is in the system.

If the system was fine prior to the accumulator and orifice tube were changed, I would go with the o-rings being bad or the fitting.

i put the orifice tube in myself along with the accumulator and i did make sure there were o rings on there and i oiled them as well. they did do a vaccumn chack and it held vaccumn. that is why i am lost here. thanks

i put the orifice tube in myself along with the accumulator and i did make sure there were o rings on there and i oiled them as well. they did do a vaccumn chack and it held vaccumn. that is why i am lost here. thanks

You didn't mention if it was fine prior to the installation of the orifice and the accumulator. If it was then you need to recheck your work.

Dont use a vacuum pump down as a leak test. I have seen a lot of a/c systems both R-12 and R-134 hold vacuum for over an hour and still have a bad leak. What happens is the pressure in the system is pushing out on what ever part has failed so it leaks. Now the vacuum pump down is to get any moisture out of the system only. When its in a vacuum state it is trying to suck air into the a/c system and what ever part that has failed can and in some cases reseal it self. The only way to check for a leak on R-12 is with your eyes and a leak finder. Look at all the hoses and fittings and see if there is a bunch of gunk/oil/crap on the line or fitting. That is a clue there is a leak there. Also when it did work was there any oder in the cab with the a/c on. The best way is to use a/c dye and a black lite to find ALL the leaks because there could be more then 1.

If you charge the system and it is blowing cold air, shut the car off. Go under the hood and see if it is hissing out the compressor clutch. THats what mine did. I went on Ebay and picked up a compressor for $85, some R134 and some O-rings and I have working AC again. Good Luck

in my original post i said that it never worked since i had the car since last feb. i was under the hood with a leak finder, and i didnt see anything. im going to do without it for now. and once winter is over i think im going ot get it checked out. thanks everyone

i know that it is winter and i dont need my a/c, but from what i understand is that when i use my defroster it uses the compressor. i have never had working a/c in my car since i got it in feb 2003. i tried a couple of things to fix it this summer. bought a new oraphus tube and a new accumulator. i then got it charged 3 times for free at my brothers school. it worked for about 15 mins, ICE cold air. then i guess it leaks all the coolant out. my comprssor cycles very quickly with my a/c on. about every 4 or 5 seconds. can anyone think of a solution? bad compressor? hate to invest in a new one if there is something else i should have tried first. thanks in advance....

The compressor will only cycle when the fluid is low.

I was just told by my mechanic if it is doing this, remove the electrical connector from the compressor until it is fixed.

It will only disable the compressor from coming on and won't hurt anything.

The lubrication oil is mixed in with the refrigerant. If the refrigerant is not getting to the compressor, neither is the oil hence it will not be lubricated and will be wearing out slowly.

Disconnect it until it is completely repaired.

yea i have already done that. i did that as soon as i found out that the a/c didnt work

I would take the truck to an A/C shop that will have the experience to fix your problem.

Right now throwing parts at it is not the solution seeing the leak is unknown. Let a professional handle it for you.