95 astro won't take a/c charge

[commutatus]

Recently our 95 Astro air quit blowing cold and I took it to my local garage for a check and a charge. My mech said he couldn't get the system to take any charge at all. I was wondering now if the system is ok and some kind of air diverter flap or some such might be malfunctioning?
He doesn't have the OBD 1 troubleshooting capabilites and as yet I have not found anyone in my area (Crossville, Tn) that does. Although truthfully I am not knocking myself out because it's my wife's van and she is not a fan of A/C anyway but it will be needed this winter for the defrost.

[brcidd]

To test compressor yourself-- see if you can spin front snubber with one finger- also notice if there a little "catches" as you rotate it-- then report back...

[commutatus]

I can turn the compressor clutch but it is tight. I started the engine and cycled the dash control to MAXAIR but the clutch did not engage. Oh, yeah, my mech told me that he tried bypassing everything he could get at to see if a charge would flow but with with no success. Could this be just a bad clutch?

[brcidd]

ll it could be bad low pressure switch or connector, or bad high pressure switch (on back of compressor) or connector. Or bad coil connector, or bad coil-- needs diagnosed- seems your mechanic is inept.

[commutatus]

Now that you remind me he did say he bypassed both high and low pressure switches. Can't remember about the connectors themselves. Is the OBD involved in this at all or can any decent A/C tech handle it? When you say "coil" you are meaning the clutch coil correct?

[brcidd]

To check electrically - first thing to do is jumper the a/c relaY-- I f pump comes on then problem is an input to ecm-- like a switch or connection at a switch, or a/c relay itself---did he do this? Yes, coil is clutch coil. The astro van is probably the most simplistic a/c system known to man...an east african ape could fix it....but your mechanic ...who knows...

[commutatus]

The young man is not A/C certified but can charge up normal functioning systems. I will call around and see if I can find someone to work on it. Thanks for this info as I will be fore armed to deflect BS from some hobgoblin.