MN12 KID said:
I retrofitted to 134a and replaced the condensor, on May 2001. I haven't used the A/C, since August 2001.
I just recharged the drier the other day with 8oz. of 134a oil, and 2 - 12oz. cans of 134a w/ leak sealer, since the drier was near-empty. The compressor runs for a fraction of a second at a time on MAX, and the air isn't that cool.
What can be wrong?
24oz of r134a probably isn't enough to get the compressor to stay on. The normal amount of r12 is 40 oz and they recommend 80% of that for r134a, so 0.8*40=32 . Also, what do you mean by recharged the drier? The accumulator (aka drier) is the canister just in front of the pass firewall. Its filled with dessicant. If you ever open up the A/C and expsed the insides to outside air, you're supposed to replace it and then you
really should have the system vaccuumed down and then charged very soon afterwards.. Also, when you're charging the system, you will need to jumper the pressure switch (the connector part which plugs into the top of the accumulator) to keep the compressor on while inserting the refrigerant.
Its tricky enough and most folks don't have a vaccuum pump, so it may be worth having it done at a shop. For my system, it ran $80 to vaccuum and charge with 32Oz of r134a.
Also, the A/C guys almost all say that they don't like/use sealants. They claim that they have mixed success with them and with the trouble (they're talking about rework time), its not worth it for them.. Something to consider.
If it were me, I'd pull all the spring lock fittings, flush the lines, condenser, and evaporator with flushing solution and compressed air, remove the compressor and drain the oil but not flush it... Inspect the compressor for smoothe operation, install all new orings (the most likely place for a leak to form) lubed with nylog or mineral oil, install new drier sealed til the very last second, refill with 7-8oz of ester oil (aka POE because I had a leak before) split 2/2/2/2 compressor, condenser, evaporator, drier, then clip all the spring locks back together and run it over to an A/C shop to have it vaccuumed and leak tested. If all was a go, then I'd recharge it myself or have it recharged at the shop. Its quite possible that even after all this, there could be a leak at the compressor shaft seal, or you could have a hole in the evaporator (Big PITA and $$ to have fixed).
If it were me, it would be a bit of a leap of faith in the hopes that 1. The compressor was OK and 2. The leak was one of the fittings and 3. If I fixed it, the fix would last a long time.
But seriously, the cheapest thing to do would be to take it in and have it leak tested and let the shop do the diagnositic work.
Good luck.