Compressor problem

[Jester100]

Hi all, my 99 explorer sports ac has been blowing hot, I need to recharge but the compressor will not kick on at all.... I've heard I need to jump start the compressor in order for it to take freon , that is what I need help doing, I know it is thru the ac relay fuse but not sure how to go about it. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[corkey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tvz4UrKl-Q

 

[ranger7ltr]

Question about your a/c system...

You actually only need to remove the connector on the low pressure switch on the accumulator and place a jumper into the terminals in that connector to send power to run the compressor...

But before you do that...How long has it been since the a/c ran and since the system appears to be empty or very low do you see any evidence of oil or refrigerant leakage???The system also needs to be leak and air-free...If you have a leak, the system probably has air in it...And air in this system will not work well to cool the vehicle...Don't forget to look around the accumulator foam insulation since rust there can hide in that area and cause a leak...

By running the compressor low or empty the compressor gets no oil circulating through the system... The refrigerant is what distributes the oil as it flows throughout the system... Run it long enough without flow will hurt the compressor and you will end up with bigger problems than just low refrigerant...I would hate to have you lock up a compressor due to running it without oil flow just trying to recharge an empty air filled system...

Hopefully you have proper gauges or know someone with proper gauges and the system can be filled even if low or empty... Using a single low side recharge kit[ or death kit] will not give you the best operation of your system and you can seriously under charge or over charge your system...

 

[Jester100]

It worked last summer though the compressor kicked on and off while idling, this year wouldn't kick on at all...doesn't appear to be any leaks

 

[ranger7ltr]

Either there is a leak or a bad low pressure switch...

What is the system pressure? If the high/low side pressures equalize around 100 or higher psi you possibly have a bad pressure switch because that is high enough to trigger the low pressure switch... If the system pressures are lower than 100 psi I can say with certainty you have a refrigerant leak in the system...

I have only had my 1999 Explorer since 2008 but it has not had a refrigerant problem in all that time... And I get 35-38 F at the vents when the a/c is running...If your accumulator has the insulation on it I would remove it and see if there is any rusting on the can itself...That is the first but not the only spot that a leak can happen...