Chrysler Repair: 2001 Chrysler T&C airconditioner failure, r 134a, independent shops


Question
To whom it may concern,

I have a 2001 Town and Country Limited 3.8 L with 39000 miles, equiped with rear a/c.
The air conditioner is not functioning at all, and only produces warm air (looks like ambient air to me).
Tried to top of the R-134a, however it does not accept more r-134a in the system (maybe the compressor is not functioning properly).
both front and rear air do not provide cold air.
High and low side hoses are similar in tempurature (luke warm).
Fuses are ok, relays seem ok

Help, since i'm getting boiled in my car at over 80 degrees coming up shortly  

Answer
Hi Wilco,
I am not much of an expert on ac but I wonder if you have verified that when you activate the ac, does the clutch go into action and can you hear the engine load increase as the result of now having to operate the compressor? If so, then presumably you have refrigerant and compression and so you should experience some cooling at the outlets. If not, then the clutch relay may be bad, or there is a faulty pressure sensing switch which is telling the controller not to operate the clutch because it believes there is insufficient coolant in the system. Is the belt slipping possibly so as to not drive the compressor even though the clutch is engaged?
That is about all I can offer for you to check out. I tend to leave ac problems to those who operate independent shops when it is not something obvious to me. I would be interested to know what it turns out to be the cause.
Roland