1994 Accord LX 190K. Around October of last year, my AC sprung a slow leak. It would leak out over 3 or 4 days. I re-charged it twice and then just left it after it stopped working during the winter.

Now that it's starting to warm up, I decided I would fix it. I bought some dye and some refrigerant. I found a leaking hose and replaced it. I didn't replace the dryer since the leak was minor enough that the system never lost all pressure and the time that I had the hose off, I plugged the holes.

After replacing the leaky hose, I put a vacuum pump on it and vacuumed it down for about an hour. I then started to charge it with the typical 12oz cans through my gauge manifold. The first can, I couldn't see anything going in and it didn't seem to take much and I thought it was empty. When I disconnected the can from the manifold, it seem that there was actually quite a bit still in it and it (ooops). I realize the system only takes two 12oz cans, but figure that it didn't take much of the first one, I added two more.

It seemed to run normal that afternoon in the garage but the next day it would only cool for the first couple of minutes and then it would cut out and I could hear the compressor trying to kick on every 5 seconds or so. I turned it off and left it off for the next couple of weeks.

Today, I hooked the gauges back up and I was getting really high readings on the high side, so I let a little refrigerant out. The pressures came down some and it started cooling. I think I was over charged. I took a video of the gauges at the charge level I left it at.

Is this what it's suppose to do?

video-2013-05-05-19-23-18_zpsf9b083c5.mp4 Video by jlg32281 | Photobucket

I'm open to suggestions since I clearly don't know what I'm doing.

 

A few things....I'm almost blind and not that good with AC.

So in the video I'm having a hard time reading the psi on the high and low sides as the compressor kicks on.

 

Charge may be Ok, but pressures are checked at too low RPM. It should be checked w/ max fan, recirculate, engine at 1500-2000 rpm, car in shade. Get pressures and post them. Try to hold the phone still. It't tough to read.

Did you add any oil to the system. W/ a leak oil escapes and 1-1.5 oz needs to be added to protect compressor from oil starvation.

good luck

 

I think I got it fixed. I think it was over charged. I know it's hard to tell, but the high side pressure was getting over 350. I let some out and now it seems to be normal.