Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: NO COLD AIR, compressor clutch, safety measure

Question
Van Hi

You stated that the problem could be in the compressor or it could be
plugged up.

If its the compressor, should I hear something when I turn it on.

If its plugged, how do I unplug it,  where is the location that I clean
out

Thanks

Ken

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Followup To
Question -
Van

Hi,  I hope you can help me,  I own a 1998
Ford explorer, 6 cyl. All of a sudden my AC blows
hot air only. I looked for leaks and checked
the fuses. But no luck. Can there be anything
else wrong with my air conditioner then needing
a charge.  What steps should I take before taking
it to a shop, I would hate to spend a ton of money if its something that I can fix.

Thanks

Ken
Answer -
Hi Ken,
If it is low on charge, the compressor will quit working, meaning the compressor clutch won't engage. That is a built in safety measure to keep from destroying the compressor due to low charge.
Other possible problems could be the system is plugged up, the evaporator is frozen over not allowing air to pass through it, the belt is off the compressor, the compressor clutch is not working, the a/c controls not working, a loose connection in the wireing, etc.
Van

Answer
Hi Ken,
If there is enough freon in the system, then when you first turn the A/C on, the compressor clutch should engage, and the shaft should turn. If that is happening, then it should cool for a while, till the evaporator freezes up, if that is what is happening, and then no air will flow from the vents.
If air is flowing from the vents, and the compressor clutch and shaft is turning, then freon may not be getting past the orrifice tube, which is inside one of the lines near the heater compartment, under the hood.
If that item happens to be plugged, there is some work that needs to be done to the system, probably including a compressor, since that is the main place for material to come from that could plug that tube.
More likely, the system charge is low, and the compressor isn't working, or starts and stops real often.
Checking the pressure with gauges designed for that purpose is the best way to check it, but requires some understanding of the theory of operation, and expected pressures.
There is also a degree of danger, especially to the eyes if there is enough, or too much freon in the system, and it is accidentally allowed to escape. That freon, if it escapes as a liquid, and a single drop lands on the eye, will freeze the eye, and permanantly damage it, possibly causing blindness.

I would recommend finding someone with some gauges and experience to give you a hand.

Van