okay, so i know that my a/c doesn't blow cold air (1996 accord)

does that mean it needs to be charged? the compressor is gone? etc.

how do i start the process of elimination at home by myself

for example: if i put the fan on the highest setting (#4) and turn teh a/c button on, what should happen?

 

woo slow down devil lets take this a step at a time ..
it would be a great help if you could post the low and high side pressure readings
first off when you put the fan switch on and a/c button on if all works well you should have cold air flow from the vents ..

Do you have any air flow from vents?
with a/c engaged on any fan speed both fans should work .
DO they work???
a/c compressor clutch should be cyclying on and off ..
Is compressor cyclying ??

if fans are on, compressor cycles and does not cool an easy chk is to chk heater valve adjustment , make sure also heater **** is not broken and when you turn to cold it actually does not close heater valve,
try those and let me know we will go from there //

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by deserthonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it would be a great help if you could post the low and high side pressure readings
what the hell is that?

first off when you put the fan switch on and a/c button on if all works well you should have cold air flow from the vents .. nope, thats how i know the a/c isn't working

Do you have any air flow from vents? yes, the air comes out, if on the coldest setting, the air is warmish, if on the hot setting, car becomes a furnace

with a/c engaged on any fan speed both fans should work .
DO they work??? so if i have the a/c on, and the fan at any speed, the fans should kick in right away? ....Well, none of them do

a/c compressor clutch should be cyclying on and off ..
Is compressor cyclying ?? i was trying to look for the motion, i dont think it turned on

if fans are on, compressor cycles and does not cool an easy chk is to chk heater valve adjustment , make sure also heater **** is not broken and when you turn to cold it actually does not close heater valve,
try those and let me know we will go from there //</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

ok Devil that was a big help .since fans and compressor do not come on lets start checking the easy things first chk the fuses underhood fuse box condensor fan and cooling fan make sure they are ok .....
if the fuses are ok remove the cap from the a/c discharge line push the valve in with a small scrwedriver and see if any freon comes out ,,, if no action ,you might be very low on freon you need a recharge and put some dye in the system and look for leaks ,,,, 94-97 i have seen a few discharge hoses and evap leak lets hope if there is a leak it is in the discharge hose ,,,,,,,,,,,

If there is planty of freon than we have an electrical problem than i will walk you on what to test ,, but let me know what you come up with

 

oooops as for the pressure readings you need an a/c gauge , hook it up to suction and discharge lines and read pressure on gauge
and according to those readings 1 can tell if you are low on freon . expansion valve malfuncion , compressor reed valves faulty