Its summer time and I think I need to have my A/C serviced. I have been reading through the helms manuel and the only way to evacuate and recharge the compressor is by using a recharging system. Has any one serviced their A/C without using such a system? Has someone done it in their garage with regular tools?

Everytime I turn on my a/c my idle fluctuates and I already cleaned my IACV, throttlebody and intanke manifold so my last thing to fix would be my A/c if that doesn't work then I'll proble have to replace it.

 

So nobody has tried to clean the a/c compressor?

 

The problem isn't your A/C if the idle isn't steady when turned on, it's the IACV. The IACV is responsible for holding a steady idle under load, just because you cleaned it out and aren't throwing a code doesn't mean it's bad. I would put money on it that if you replaced it the car would idle smoother with the A/C on because I have had the same problem.

As far as evacuating and recharging the system, you only need to do that if the A/C isn't blowing cold. You do need the machine to do it, you're not supposed to release freon into the atmosphere. I'm sure if you can find someone who works at a shop you could toss them $10 to do this for you though, the machine does all the work, I just did it to my car the other day after work.