Air Conditioning issue

I have a 95 grand prix se 3.1L motor. My ac on my car has been working fine up until recently. Friday morning it was cool outside so i didnt use my ac. But later on friday it was warmer outside in the afternoon and i went to turn my ac on and it just wasnt as cold as it normally is. Then i tried using it again last night on my way home, usualy at night it is cold enough to freeze me out of the car. The air will be somewhat cold but not nearly as cold as it use to.

I looked at it somewhat today, the compressor is always spinning and not turning off when i turn the ac on to max. One of the cooling fans turns on in the engine as normal for the hot side of the ac. I dont have a gauge to check the refridgerent pressure. I am thinking about buying one of those kits at the store, but before i buy one does anyone have any ideas? This car takes R-134a right?? I am thinking i should spend the little extra and buy the one with the gauge.

Just odd its all of a suddenly not working like it use to and was fine up until now.
Thanks!

There are two possibilities, one the compressor has gone bad and is not working since you say it turns all the time although you did not say whether the clutch is engaged or not. If the clutch is engaged there is a possibility you have a major leak and you will just be wasting your money if you recharge it at this point. Take it to a shop and have it diagnosed. It will be worth the money to determine if there is a leak and have it repaired. Besides if you have a leak you will need to pull a vacuum on the system before it is recharged.

how much is it to fix a leak?

I think he means its engaging but isnt short-cycling. If Im not mistaken, if you have 2 cooling fans on the radiator, shouldnt they should both turn on at the same time? That could have an effect on cooling ability.
Yes, it uses 134a, and yes you should get at least a low-pressure gauge. Actually, Id suggest getting a good full set of gauges, as they would probably pay for themselves very easily. If you had a leak, the compressor would be short-cycling. You should keep the engine revved up to 1500-2000 rpms and then see if the compressor runs normally or cuts off.

The clutch does engage turning the compressor, it doesnt cut out at all. Before when the ac worked fine only one of the fans would turn on unless the motor required both to be on. I think the reasoning is because the ac coil for the hot side is located to the left side. I think last time i was at the store i glanced by the ac section and saw a can of gas with a gauge for like $15. When the ac is turned on the air is somewhat cool, just not as cool as it was.

Ohhh, I see. Try having someone keep the engine revved up to 1500-2000 rpms (normal operating range) while you observe the compressor and see if its short-cycling. Thats also the best way to check the pressures.

Correct me someone, I heard that if the AC is on, then both electric cooling fans should be running---that the AC will not be cold on one fan. This is why I wrote my fan post as I have warm AC on a '95 GP which seems to be running on one fan (the driver side). I need to know where to find the switch that operates the AC fan. Maybe a fan is your problem?

sounds like you've lost some refrigerant to me, and a pressure guage would tell you so. IF it's leaking slowly, a can of refrigerant with leake detector and sealer may do the trick. At least that way, if the leak is too big for the sealer to fix, the dye will mark the spot making repair easier.

You'd be cheaper to get the kit, check the pressure and see if it's low. It might be low enough, it doesn't want to run through it's duty cycle, but instead stay on all the time.

Top it off, if needed and then go from there.

Cheaper than probably an $80 "diagnosis" at a shop.

I saw this answer on a search in radiator and thought it might explain electric fan operation. Although this thread is about AC, you did raise a comment about the fans. I myself was looking for info on the fans because the AC is weak in the 95 I am working on. Well...

--Generally the fans in late model GM cars are set to turn on at around 225(107 c). Seems kind of high to me but it helps emissions. For best emissions they have to toe the line between engine life and efficient smog controls which the hotter the better for smog---

Other writers also stated that the PCM controls the fan speed and its operation based upon the temperature sensor input. The impression I was left with is that neither fan may run with the AC on unless Engine Temp dictates it. You may find these threads by searching the word radiator.

Sured--- Yeah i have noticed that on my temperature gauge. When i am driving and its 90+ degree weather for the most part the car will be running cool. But once i start idleing at a stop i will watch the temperature guage rise quite a bit and then the second fan will kick in bringing it down again. This is only when it gets real hot that i notice this.

I think that the ac on the hot side only requires one fan to be on to get the ac to work. On my car it seems only the driver side fan kicks in when the ac is on. But in the summer when we had 90+ degree heat waves and i would turn the ac on from a cold start and only the driver side fan would kick in almost right away, the engine wouldnt be warm enough to need the fan, only the ac. But once the engine got warmed up and the car is idled at a stop the second fan would kick in. So i kno my other fan is working. How big is the ac coil on the hotside anyhow?? I am guessing it's not too big if only one fan kicks in, unless both are suppose too??

But the weather here has cooled off, no more of that hot sticky weather. But today it was somewhat warm just above 80. One of the vents feels cooler then the others by a little bit, but no where near as cold as it use to be. Just been drivin with the windows down.

I am just debating if i should go out and buy the kit and mess with it now or just wait until next summer to mess around with it. What do you guys think?? Should i go buy the kti and try it now or wait?? I prefer to do my own work on my car then take it to a shop, thats just me. Winter will be here before i know it and when it snows, i doubt i will think about the ac.

My dad has one of those gauges that are for the refill kits. But it is for the old R-12 stuff. Currently it just collects dust since we dont have any cars that take the old stuff or any R-12 since u cant buy it anymore. I was wondering if it will fit/work to test the pressure level of the refridgrent on mine with the R-134a.

No the gauges wont work on your system with 134a, as they have different connections.
And, yes, I would go ahead and fix it now rather than wait til it gets hot next year. Its easier to fix when you dont need it than to wait until you do need it, plus youd have it for defroster during the winter. It sounds like its not a major problem anyways, probably just a re-charge. :) Hope this helps, and good luck with it.

Went and bought a kit with a gauge for it, ended up taking it back as it wouldnt fit properly on the valve on the car. It had a plastic tip and wasnt stable enough to make a tight connection. Ended up buying a different kit with a gauge, thought the outside connector on the end was plastic, the inside tip was brass. Anyone who is going to buy a kit make sure the inside tip is brass and not plastic, i learned the hard way. Yesterday the compressor wouldnt kick in, and before it would kick in and just not get cold in the car. I started filling it with the new kit and couldnt figure out why the gas wouldnt go into the system. Turns out you have to press down on the hose that is connected to the valve on the car along with the button on the refill kit can. It's back and running, the kit i used had leak prevention along with 2 oz of oil.

Only the driver side fan kicks in when the ac is on. The fan on the passenger side wont turn on unless the engine get's hot enough. It must only require one to be on for the ac. The ac works perfect again.

Thanks guys for your input, now i am chillin in the heat!