QuestionI have a '86 Buick Century, 4-cylinder. When the A/C runs, it puts a drag on the engine (one way I know it is working), and has done this for the 18 years I've owned the car. Last week, it stopped working suddenly. I was using A/C, parked at a store, turned off the engine, and the A/C didn't work 10 minutes later when I got back into the car. There is no sense of the compressor turning on, but the fan blower works when in A/C mode (warm air). I checked fuses...all seem OK. There is no history of repair to the A/C, but replaced the heater core 6 years ago. Thanks.
AnswerIs the compressor engaging?. If not, The most likely cause is a freon leak somewhere in the system or a component failure.
You will need to have someone put a set of ac gages on the system to see what the high and low side pressures are at.
However, the most common part failure is the PRESSURE SWITCH that simply screws onto the accumulator (receiver/drier) that has 2 wires connected to it.
This part is very common to failure and just disconnect the 2 wire electrical plug and unscrew this sensor and screw on a new one.
NO you do not have to discharge he freon from the system as their is a schrader valve in the accumulator just like in your tires valve stem for putting air in the tire.
