'96 3.1L A/C Recharge question...

[Flashfox]

My wife's 1996 3.1L Achieva SC's A/C doesn't want to kick in. This is the first time we encountered this so I assume that we might have ran out of R134A refrigerant. Hence my questions:

1. Can I check and recharge the A/C refrigerant myself? (Similar to a question I had for my Dodge Caravan)

2. If so, any suggestions with regards to recharge kit brand names (checked on Auto-Zone on-line and only found "E-Z Charge R-134A Freon & Oil").

3. Do I need any special tools or instructions?

[95OldsHO]

1) You can "check" and recharge the system, but you must evacuate it be fore refilling/recharging as far as I know, this does take some special tools, vacuum device of some type.

2) Most kits are freon and oil, the oil is needed in the system if its out, only way to know how much oil is in the system is to wiegh the accumulator, or refill it with the proper amount of oil. Be sure you dont have a leaking system, otherwise the refill/recharge wont help, if the system doesnt even turn on anymore that is a sign that the pressure is so low that the sensor is keeping things from working, be sure a leak didnt bring you down to this low pressure level before buying a kit. I once bought a Castrol kit, the kit I got basically directs you to open the low pressure side and let the system evac on its own, then start car and run a/c full blast while connecting recharge can to low pressure side, let car idle till cold air can be felt from the vents, didnt work for me because my compressor was leaking.

3) Usually the DIY kits come with everything you need to do a recharge, but as I said before it is best to put a vacuum on the system to evacuate everything before refilling/recharging, this is one reason its best to let a shop do it correctly, they have tools that can evac and recharge in one shot. If the system has no leaks, but has simply run out of refrigerant than usually from what I have seen the kits can work without doing a full evacuation of the system.