Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: which line?, electronic leak detector, freon gas

Question
Hi;
I just purchased this car and i dont know if any work was done to it.When i turned on the a.c. and let the car idle for 4-5 min's i touched the aluminum pipes none of them felt cold and non of them frosted up. I used one of those behind the counter plastic gagues that comes with rechargable freon gas that anyone can purchase.
         
      Thank you
      Tom






--

-----------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi;
  I own a 1998 ford contour and i cannot figure out which line is the low pressure one. I know that the contour has an openning in one line on the drivers side and the other oppening on the pass. side. I read that the thicker line is the low pressure(drivers side} when i placed a gague on it it read O.K. charge,but the a.c. blows a luke warm mixture, whats wrong with it ?

         Thanks.
         Tom S.
Answer -
The LARGER line is in most cases the LOW pressure side. From your question it appears that you do not posess a set of MANIFOLD GAGES (A/C gages) of which are vital in order to see exactly what the high and low pressures are at at different engine speeds.

Have you had any type of work of any kind what-so-ever performed on the vehicle prior to this problem. ANY WORK, Not just A/C related.

With the A/C on and the engine running for about 10 minutes put your hand on the RECEIVER/DRIER (accumulator) and see if it feels pretty cold.


Let me know.


autohelp

Answer
OK, This would indicate that in most cases you have a regrigerant leak somewhere within the A/C system. Finding it and fixing it is not that easily done.

You may have a leak in one or more of these areas and it will take an ELECTRONIC LEAK DETECTOR in order to locate where the leak is. Here are only a few possible leak areas:

Anyone of the various A/C lines.
The condensor.
The evaporator.
The A/C compressor.
The receiver/drier (accumulator)
Any one of numerous "O" ring seals.

What needs to be done is to install a can or two of refrigerant into the A/C system and using the electronic detector locate and fix the leaking component(s).

Unless you have the proper equipment and technical skills necessary for SAFETY and REPAIR, I STRONGLY suggest that you have a professional reputable facility make the diagnosis and repair.

NOTE: A/C refrigerant is extremly COLD and should you get a large amount on your person you can suffer severe frost bite and blindness should you get it in your eyes.

I do not have a staff of people helping me answer your questions, I do it all by my self, Therefore, Due to being retired and a 12 year old computer on a dial-up connection, I do my best to respond to questions within 3 to 4 hours due to the volume of questions I receive on a daily basis.

All information provided comes from many many years of hands on expertise and a little coaxing from this old memory.


autohelp