Diagnosing and fixing air conditioning problems for your 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette can include a variety of fixes ranging from tightening and replacing drive belts, air conditioning components or recharging the 134A refrigerant using a recharge kit from an auto-parts store. Although most car owners are able to perform their own recharge, some fixes, such as evacuating and refilling the system with refrigerant must be done by a professional mechanic who also has the equipment to recover and recycle lost refrigerant from your Oldsmobile.
Turn your Oldsmobile on and crank the air conditioning. Open the hood and inspect your air conditioning system while the vehicle is running. Inspect the compressor, which has a pulley and drive belt attached to it, to make sure that the belt is running smoothly and without wobbling. Inspect the hoses for the air conditioning for any signs of leaking, which may include small bubbles or pressurized gas leaks. Inspect the air conditioning system's condenser, which looks like a smaller version of a radiator grille, for any leaves or debris that might be preventing air flow between the component's fins.
Check the compressor's drive belt tension if you notice wobbling in the belt or the pulley. Turn off the engine and check the deflection of the belt by depressing it at the midpoint between the pulleys. Using a metric ruler, the belt should depress 1/4 of an inch or less if the belt is less than 12 inches long. If the belt is between 12 and 14 inches, then it should depress between 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch. Tighten the belt by tightening the adjuster bolt next to the compressor if the belt depresses more than it should or if it is loose and wobbly.
Continue to run the Oldsmobile's air conditioning and leave the doors of the car open so that the air conditioning system does not cycle off. Use your hand to check the pipes connected to the evaporator, which is next to the firewall. If the pipes are not cold to the touch, then your system most likely needs a recharge in refrigerant level.
Use gaffer's tape to wrap any leaking hoses that have cracks or bubbles. Replace the leaking hoses as soon as possible.
Prepare the recharge kit for servicing your air conditioning system. Twist the hose into the refrigerant can until it pierces the seal of the can. Open the valve slightly so that the air is bled out from the hose. Close the valve after you hear a "whoosh," which is the air being expelled from the can.
Twist the hose from the recharge kit onto the Oldmosbile's low pressure fitting, which is located between the compressor and the accumulator and is marked with an uppercase "L." Also locate the high side fitting if your kit has a high pressure gauge. The high side fitting is marked with an uppercase "H" and is between the condenser and the accumulator. The Silhouette holds approximately 32.00 ounces of refrigerant, however, you may still have some refrigerant left in your system from the previous recharge.
