Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: unidentified problem in AC system, unidentified problem, lexus es 300

Question
QUESTION: Hi there,

I have a 1997 Lexus ES 300. My AC is acting weird when the two AC outlet on the driver side just blows air at me (I think it is outside's temp air) and the other side is a lot colder. Also, if I turn on the AC after I take the car out of the garage then it would blow icy air. However, if I start the air conditioner in the middle of the hot day, in the middle of nowhere, then the AC just blows outside temp air at me, not the icy cold kind of air I wish. Again, the two air windows on the driver side just blows the air out like a fan, though the other two is working properly. I have added the r134a thingy in but the result is still the same. This is a serious problem for me since the weather is getting extremely hot. Please let me know what I am dealing with and how to fix it along with estimate.

Greatly appreciated,
Dan N.

ANSWER: Hi Dan

You have a low refrigerant condition.  You need to add more refrigerant.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi there,

As I have mentioned in the post, I did add a bottle of refrigerant (I added r134a. Unfortunately, the result is still the same where two sides are icy cold and the other two (driver side) is just hot air (like a fan)

Please help me out,
Dan N

Answer
Check your actuators see if they are opening and closing correctly.  In other words move your heater to hot on the drivers side see if it gets any hotter. if it does then your heater door is working.  Get me some readings low and high side and I'll tell you if it is low or not.