a/c won't take freon

[pmcmurtry]

The pressure is low on the low side, had to jump the plug for the low pressure side to get the clutch to engage with a/c on max. I still can't get the system to accept any freon...anybody have any ideas? Btw...1998 Mercury Mountaineer.

[shorod]

Well, my initial thought would be that you are trying to use Freon rather than R-134a. Your 1998 should use R-134a. However, I then realized that many people use the phrase "freon" to refer to all types of refridgerant.

Sorry.

With the pressure switch jumpered, does the line get cold at all? Are you getting plenty of air flow across the condensor? Do you know what the pressure on the high side is? Knowing how the low side compares to the high side can give you a good indication of where the issue lies.

-Rod

[sreve]

you need some gauges. those wal-mart death kits can often cause more problems than they solve. it's possible that the high side is way high due to a restriction putting the low very low.