A/C trouble

Charging and recharging is no big deal - I had a local A/C specialist do mine and they had no issues. I brought them the shop manual but they didn't need it. The receiver/drier is in the nose of the car in front of the passenger, under the carpet (like where the brake reservoir is on the driver's side). Some of the fittings are there.

Twice I have had an issue where the AC wouldn't work. Both times it was a blocked line. Over time the dessicant inside the receiver/drier begins to break up and plugs up the lines. Symptoms similar to a bad expansion valve. Both times the same specialist blew the lines clean and then recharged the system and replaced the receiver drier and both times there were no further problems for 2+ years.

They also installed a Four Seasons brand receiver/drier. Much cheaper than OEM and easily available. I don't think they had to modify anything

 

Mark -- do you mean:

1. the blower runs, but it just blows ambient temperature air, or

2. the system is dead and the blower doesn't run?

 

All you need are a set of AC guages to check the lines. The low side pressure should be around 20 psi. Hook up the low/high side, open the valves on the guages and see what they say. I'm not sure what the high side should be on a TR (higher than the low - duh!) but if it's the same as the low side and the AC switch is on, but the compressor will not come on, then you are low on charge.

If you do have pressure, then you likely just need a re-charge. Don't buy the can's that have guages on them, or cans with oil. Those guages are horribly inaccurate and losing charge does not mean you've lost oil. Adding oil just makes the system less effecient.

Is it R134? If so, there should be a label in the engine compartment stating the charge pounds required to fill the system.

If you hook up the guages and have NO pressure then you have a leak and need to find it, fix it, and then do an evac. & recharge.

 

Unless someone has converted your car to 134a you still have R12 which is quite costly these days. Best thing you can do is take it to any good repair shop that does A/C. There is no difference between a Ferrari or a honda when it comes to A/C all systems use the same basic components and fundementals. I say it is best to use a shop because unless you have a license you can no longer purchase R12 over the counter and if you can't properly check for leaks your waisting money puting freon in if it is going to leak out again.

 

Just to play Devil's advocate here...

Did you check for power to the compressor? Stupid me once assumed a low charge level and turns out it was a bad switch after wasting oodles of time

But yes, if charge level is low, the pressure switches will keep the compressor from operating.