Seeking insight on AC recharge for 2003 LeSabre...

[AshleyQuick]

Any considerations if I want to DIY this?

Also, just wondering what the likelihood is that some refrigerant escaped when I changed out my radiator a couple months ago. It seems to be more than a coincidence that the AC seemed to be working fine before that change. What ya think on this thought as well?

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Have you used the A/C this year before changing the radiator?

 

[AshleyQuick]

Have you used the A/C this year before changing the radiator?

Pretty sure I had, yeah.

Also, I just tried a can of A/C Pro (from O'Reilly's) and I was not getting a reading on the gauge.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Did you pull the trigger on the can to put freon into the system?

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Delete.

 

[AshleyQuick]

I did

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Did the A/C clutch ever engage while the engine was running and your A/C controls set to the coldest setting?

 

[AshleyQuick]

The engine had been running for a while with the A/C on full but not sure about the A/C clutch. Not even sure how to determine that?

 

[Mad_Coachman]

It's a disc on the end of the compressor.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

When you put he ac controls on and add refrigerant, the system needs to see a certain pressure before the compressor will kick on. This is to prevent burning out from lack of lubrication and proper operating scenarios

I would check your switch is connected on the compressor you could have hit it. Well, my bad, it might be in the hose leading to it. On park avenue it’s sitting straight up in the engine side about in front of the passenger fan on the looop. It’s a 3 wire I believe.
That switch can be jumped to force a compressor on.... but I domt recommend

also if you used stop leak you possibly gummed up your ac ports

take the cap off and oook at the ports. Are they clean or is there oily stuff do they look right

when you replaced radiator, the condenser has lines that run right next to it. Check for nicks or the holder for the lines for being loose. They have o ring seals, knocking hem one way whennna smudge loose could slow refrigerant to escape

id recommend doing a proper ac procedure. Pump and gauges can be rented and videos on YouTube are helpful it’s how I learned to do mine. I have my own gauges and a vacuum pump

 

[Mad_Coachman]

When you put he ac controls on and add refrigerant, the system needs to see a certain pressure before the compressor will kick on. This is to prevent burning out from lack of lubrication and proper operating scenarios

I would check your switch is connected on the compressor you could have hit it. Well, my bad, it might be in the hose leading to it. On park avenue it’s sitting straight up in the engine side about in front of the passenger fan on the looop. It’s a 3 wire I believe.
That switch can be jumped to force a compressor on.... but I domt recommend

also if you used stop leak you possibly gummed up your ac ports

take the cap off and oook at the ports. Are they clean or is there oily stuff do they look right

when you replaced radiator, the condenser has lines that run right next to it. Check for nicks or the holder for the lines for being loose. They have o ring seals, knocking hem one way whennna smudge loose could slow refrigerant to escape

id recommend doing a proper ac procedure. Pump and gauges can be rented and videos on YouTube are helpful it’s how I learned to do mine. I have my own gauges and a vacuum pump

Please look at post #8 again which is the OP's response to my post #7. He doesn't know how to determine if the clutch engages. Not quite sure if he knows what or where the compressor is.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Please look at post #8 again which is the OP's response to my post #7. He doesn't know how to determine if the clutch engages. Not quite sure if he knows what or where the compressor is.

Hmmm.
this complicates things.
well only thing we can do now is like what we have been doing.


wait for question seekers to one day return with follow up or to continue diagnosis or ask the same question 43 different times in 5 different threads and ignore most if not all of the suggestions given by 3-7 people who are rather knowledgeable (op this isn’t you LOLj

 

[AshleyQuick]

Circling back on this (because it's getting bleeping hot out). I don't have my own gauges. Also, the ac ports looks clean and the condenser lines/seals look fine with no nicks or whatever.

What else should I check before I give in and take it to a mechanic? Maybe elaborate on this clutch?

FYI, I'm a Youtube mechanic...I can follow instructions (especially video) well but I just don't have that mechanical understanding of how things work...therefore it's hard for me to troubleshoot.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Circling back on this (because it's getting bleeping hot out). I don't have my own gauges. Also, the ac ports looks clean and the condenser lines/seals look fine with no nicks or whatever.

What else should I check before I give in and take it to a mechanic? Maybe elaborate on this clutch?

FYI, I'm a Youtube mechanic...I can follow instructions (especially video) well but I just don't have that mechanical understanding of how things work...therefore it's hard for me to troubleshoot.

The ports look clean. Are the caps sealing well? The caps are partially responsible for sealing the connection not 100% but somewhere between 0 and 99.999999999
They get old and and brittle. O ring maybe inside get dry you can rent gauges I paid a small price for mine. To own. Amazon

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

This is a Delphi V5 ac compressor. If you turn your AC ON, you should see the center plate on the pulley turn. When you turn off ac, it should stay stationary when the car is running. Since it’s down low, you can use a flashlight to look at it(by the rad fans, lowest pulley on outer belt diagram) and have either someone help or just visually take good note what is on and what is spinning. The compressor is variable and doesn’t cycle under normal operating conditions. As in, it will spin or it won’t and an old ac compressor would kick on and off periodically

If yours is cycling it could be various issues, the most common are either low or high pressure in ac system it will turn it off to save the compressor. Another is the clutch electronics fail when you charged an empty system on vacuum it should kick on once enough refrigerant flows from can to the system but if it wasn’t held on a vacuum the little ac cans might not work to add in refrigerant without partially using multiple. Without a compressor it’s physics.
I don’t remember what you said you did, but if you want to check it’s operation you can. There are 3,4 fuse/relays or so should be contained under the hood. At least 1 maxifuse.
There is a diode in the clutch connector
There are two ports. You should always add to the low pressure side which has the larger port.
how many miles and is it original compressor to best of your knowledge? Mine was at 225k but the bearing was LOUD and this was fullll of uv leak due, oil , and sealer. Don’t know how it ran

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Circling back on this (because it's getting bleeping hot out). I don't have my own gauges. Also, the ac ports looks clean and the condenser lines/seals look fine with no nicks or whatever.

What else should I check before I give in and take it to a mechanic? Maybe elaborate on this clutch?

FYI, I'm a Youtube mechanic...I can follow instructions (especially video) well but I just don't have that mechanical understanding of how things work...therefore it's hard for me to troubleshoot.

You should watch some more YouTube videos on BASIC A/C operation as it is obvious that you are still a newbie in regard to your level of expertise. YouTube is a valuable resource for Automotive neophytes.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Not everyone is born with a silver Craftman wrench in their mouth, lol.
Follow this link Chilton manual on the forum which may help in understanding some of components.

Free Chilton Online Repair Manual

Thanks again

buickforums.com

We all learned from someone or someplace, good luck on getting additional information.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Not everyone is born with a silver Craftman wrench in their mouth, lol.
Follow this link Chilton manual on the forum which may help in understanding some of components.

Free Chilton Online Repair Manual

Thanks again

buickforums.com

We all learned from someone or someplace, good luck on getting additional information.

Some folks are just not mechanically inclined. If I recall correctly the OP took 2 days to open his locked car. Not everyone wants to sit there and pore over technical jargon like BGFM seems to do. By the OP's own admission he learns better watching things on YouTube and that's why I suggested he explore more general A/C theory on that medium. The guy didn't even know what an A/C clutch was or even where it was. You tube is the venue that will provide him the best direction for NOW.

Look at the last paragraph of post #13.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Glad you can decide what others need to do, but some YouTube's are done by F-ing idiots who know less than a dead hampster on a tread wheel.

But some people may want to read a manual that may show how something is done, troubleshooting tree or follow specifications on repairs and not wait to be blessed by forum knowledge.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Glad you can decide what others need to do, but some YouTube's are done by F-ing idiots who know less than a dead hampster on a tread wheel.

But some people may want to read a manual that may show how something is done, troubleshooting tree or follow specifications on repairs and not wait to be blessed by forum knowledge.

No, I do not decide what others need to do. I base my advice on the words and ability of the individual poster. You obviously did not go back and read the last paragraph of post 13 or you just think that your way is the only way. I'm betting on the latter. By the way hamster doesn't have a p in it.
Manuals are good for people that want to fine tune their skills but some folks like the OP respond better when it's actually SHOWN to them. Once again a little empathy and humility on your part would go a long way.
I'm sorry that you have such a dim view of some YouTubers. I have learned quite a bit from some of them like Eric O of South Main Auto, Eric the Car guy, Scanner Danner, Scotty Kilmer and even Chris Fix.