Kelly Chiu

I have repaced the snowflake switch on the ac control panel, it seems to work as the amber light turns on, but the AC clutch doesn't enagage... If the light works, is it safe to assume that correct signals are being sent tovthe ac clutch? The system hasn't been charged yet, its completely empty, how would you bypass the low pressure switch on the AC?

Another question I have a question for you guys, after looking around town for people to recharge my system with R-12, the cheapest I have found is pepboys at $27 per pound. Would you trust pep boys mechanics to do the job? Its not like changing a timing belt, but its still pep boys. Thanks for the advice in advance.

-Kelly

Tom Carson

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Kelly Chiu:
<strong>Would you trust pep boys mechanics to do the job? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">they damaged the bottom of both my front fenders...I would not trust them to put a P-car car on a lift

stolarzj

If there is no gas in the system, the clutch will not engage due to the low pressure switch..

Kelly Chiu

how will you get the compressor to run to charge the system if the pressure is too low? It seems like a chicken or the egg riddle.

As for the pep boys thing, I think the AC service ports are on the fender in a 1986 951 right? (I see two service ports on the fender, different pipe diameters) I think on the later cars its on the compressor, so hopefully they don't have to lift the car. Sorry about your fenders Tom .

stolarzj

I'm guessing it is the same on a P-Car. You would have to unhook the low pressure sensor, start the car/AC, and start charging..

83na944

Surely Pep Boys could charge an AC system.

Is it leak-free? I don't know if anyone will charge the system if it leaks.

At $27/lb that puts you over $100 for freon. Maybe its time to consider R134a which is about $5/lb.

83na944

BTW you can check for 12v in the wire going to the compressor to determine if the clutch is getting power. You should be able to bypass the low pressure switch by removing the wires and jumping across the wire connectors (i.e., connect the wires together. You might not want to do this unless the compressor has oil.

Glenn N

If it is completly empty you should evacuate the system first and check for leaks at about 25" then charge to about 50# with nitrogen and check for loss. Then do the vacuume again and hold it down for at least and hour. Then you can charge it back up with R-12. IIRC the 944 A/C only takes about 2.2# of freon.
YMMV