the green light on my AC blinks for about 20 seconds and then turns off when I tried to use it.
Been getting hot here in the OC so figured time to fix it; three different air conditioning places wanted $150 to service it and make it work!
All it took was a $16 can of freon and I am in business; took about 10minutes and I now have cold air... easy job for anyone.

 

You did use R-34 Correct ?

Did you happen to take any photos of how you hooked up the hoses ?

 

R-134a - there are two connections - you want the one closer to the cabin. They are down low, with a black screw cap over a slip fit connector, level with the ground and pointing toward the driver's side. The refill connector will only fit on the correct connector - they are different sizes.

 

Just to note... all A/C systems leak freon. A well-sealed one will leak very slowly, but most all A/Cs will eventually need to be recharged. Pressure gauges are not too expensive if you want to get a set and check it periodically. If memory serves, the system calls for 0.9 pounds. When my friend replaced my A/C compressor, he recharged it with a full pound. He said the extra 1/10th would not hurt the system.

 

Yes, I did use R34 and Eric is right; the refill can will only fit one of the nipples on the ac system.
I had a can with a gauge to check pressure...everything was easy as can be.

 

if you find you are adding another can next month you might want to invest in a leak check

I've driven a car for 12 years and not needed additional coolant gas {the release of which is damaging to the environment btw.} Most home a/c units will run for 15+ years without servicing.

When I find I need to add something I like to investigate why.

Does the tire have a small leak - a nail maybe?

Is a radiator hose leaking?

Am I leaking or burning oil?

Brake fluid is going where?

You may have solved your problem inexpensively - and you may have simply masked the real problem for a short time. When my a/c systems have suddenly run down it was always because of a leak in the system. And leaks don't get better over time .... usually.

 

Capt BJ's comments have merit. I have a friend who used to drive an old '86 Honda Prelude until a couple of years ago. It had over 250K miles, and the original A/C blew 35 degrees Fahrenheit on the original R12 charge.

My comment leans toward justifying a repair vs. topping it off. If you only have to do so every three or four years, that's much cheaper than what you may discover if you do a leak test.

 

I'm with Capt BJ, A/C does not just leak, in my experience, unless something's wrong - ie: a leak!

If it has lost freon, it came from someplace......a can of freon dye will help tell you where and how much, and might help pinpoint the repair needed.

Oh, and you can overcharge a system - in the worst case scenario, it will lock up the compressor.

Environmental concerns aside, I wish we still used R-12, boy that stuff would make an A/C system cool!

One other small aside, I had a 98 Lexus ES that I sold recently to a friend, the A/C has never been messed with since new and it still cools perfectly. Why is it that the Japanese mfr's seem to have a better handle on this than any others?

 

Actually I've always thought American cars had two things right - WAY better than any non US car I've owned in my nearly 40 years of car ownership.

When working properly an American car's a/c will freeze you out while the best non US car seems to be OK

and

there ain't nuthin' like a US automatic transmission..... It's why I have always bought manuals in all my non-US cars.

Turbo-hydro-matic . . . that was one smooth baby (last time I owned one in 1979)