1997 Camaro z28 ac

It's hot out now and of course my air conditioning wasn't working.
I took some advice from the posts on how to charge the system, after
a few attempts I still couldn't get it to charge. I finally got it right.
Thanks for your advice. Posters
Here is the exact procedure that i used to get my ac operational.

If you want to check to see if your system has any pressure in it. You can go to thecondensor near the radiator and there is a large aluminum connector on the top of the condensor ( left side) with a black cap on it. Remove the cap and insert a screw driver to push the pin in the hole. Just a little. If air (freon) came out that means

your sysetm has some pressure and its just low on freon and probably is not leaking.

Thats a good thing!

Do not try to jump out the low pressure switch.

Your car is off!

1. move the battery out of the way so you can get to the compressor terminal area.

2. use a flat head screw drive to pry the electric connector from the compressor.

3. get a 2 foot long piece of wire with 2 wires in it. Strip both ends, hook one side to the battery's negative and the other to the positive terminals and put the other end of the wire with two wires in the compressor connector slot to see if the compressor tries to engage. If it did then your compressor works. It's a little trickey getting the wires to touch both terminals in the compressor, So now disconnect the wire from the battery, but leave the wire in the compressor terminal slot.

4. next hook up the can of freon to the low pressure side. It is located in the
engine compartment on the passanger side all the way near to top it's an aluminum tube with a connector for the freon hose. Its the only one there so thats the one.

5. In that same area you'll see a sensor connected to one of the two aluminum tubes with three wire on it. Thats the low pressure cut off switch. It needs to be removed temporarly.

6. Ok so now your ready to start the car. Turn your ac on in the car. make sure the freon can valve is open.Now Hook the wires to the battery and the freon should be going into the system. Once the first can is done if it needs more add another can until the pressure is at factory standard. You'll know it in the first minute if its working because frost will begin to appear on the freon can.

7. so if all went well and the pressure is good shut off the car, remove the freon form the low pressure side, remove the wire, reconnect the compressors electric connector put the battery back in place and finally plug in the low pressure cut off switch.

8. Start your car you air conditioning should work now.

This worked for me. good luck

 

I'm just troubleshooting at them moment. I had my air conditioning to a air conditioning guy like 2 years ago, he did dye test and recharged. This year, I'm trying to sell my car, and I noticed its not blowing any cold air. I noticed the air conditioning clutch is not engaging. Does the camaro have a low-pressure safety cutout? I'm sending the car to the air conditioning guy probably tomorrow.

I dont use the A/C at all. I have T-tops, if I have my car out, it means its sunny, and the t-tops are off. Otherwise, I drive my truck.

 

Yes it has a low pressure safety cutout switch.Its on the passenger side of the engine compartment and look's like a plug that goes into the ac line.

 

thank you for the reply.

So if i'm low on refrigerant the cutout switch could be the reason the A/C clutch isnt engaging?

 

yes it could be. you CAN jump the pressure switch just to see if it will kick on. DO NOT leave it jumped out. that will cause a compressor burnout. if it does you then know that your problem is either you are low on refrigerant 134a or the low pressure switch is bad. i doubt that your pressure switch is bad. they rarely fail. oh, and dont let someone fill your system with that dye. pisses me off everytime i connect my guages to a vehicle and it fills them with that $#it. leak detecting should always be done the right way, either with an electronic "sniffer" or charge the system with an inert gas like nitrogen and then use soapy water and look for bubbles. if you want a trouble free ac system the ONLY things that should be put into the system are refigerant and the refigerant oil. period. not dye, and definatley not stop leak. if you have any questions you can pm me or call me. i am a licensed HVAC, refigeration, and MVAC service technitian. that is what i do for a living. my phone number is 270-805-1314. i will gladly help anyone on this board, but please call during a decent hour. im on central time. i will give all the help possible over the phone.

 

Thank you for your reply green96ta...

 

I took my car to the A/C guy today. I dont know how, I dont use the A/C, but its dead. He says the compressor needs replaced, and quoted $700-1000 to fix. Goodbye A/C. The only reason i'm entertaining the idea of fixing it is because like I said, i'm trying to sell my car.

 

call me sometime today...you can fix it yourself for A LOT less than that....ill let you know what tools and parts you need.

 

Just got my car back... The A/C clutch is moving with the a/c turned on, but I think the system may be discharged. I'm guessing if the system was charged it would lock up again.

 

Dude, more like impossible without touching the two and sparking. The power steering lines are in the way and there is no safe way to get two hot wire leads, let alone which one is pos and whats neg. I hear my compressor kick on and off. I bet mine just has no AC or has a leak.

Im skipping the whole hot wiring the compressor idea. Its a good plan but more like impossible without pulling off more parts.

 

Find the proper software for your car and command the compressor on. It is a lot safer than the hotwire method...

 

I ended up grabbing a can and recharging the system. AC works great and the compressor fires on and off regularly. A little different than my toyota and tons of power loss but it works just fine.