Bigbird79
Rock Warrior
Reged: 09/23/05
Posts: 692
Loc: Connecticut
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So on the way to work today, about a half hour drive, my AC stopped working with about 5 minutes left to go, which sucks because we are going through a “heat wave” up here in CT right now. I could still hear the compressor cycling on and off, but there was no cool air and it smelled of that damp smell after you turn your AC off but keep the air blowing. I haven’t done any digging yet, since I am at work, but I really don’t know where to start with AC, this is my first vehicle that had AC, so I figured I would put the question out here, and see what you all though. I am going to check the Haynes manual when I get home, and do some poking around tonight, but again I don’t really, know where to start even know what tools I would need to check the system out.
Thanks,
Sean
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99 XJ Sport 2 Door, 4.0L, 5 speed, all stock. Daily Driver
79 F150 Standard Cab Short Box, 400ci, NP435, NP205, 35" SSRs
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WB6TMV
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Reged: 12/22/07
Posts: 49
Loc: Colorado
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Not sure of your humidity, but I have "frozen" up an AC unit evap coils under high use, high humidity conditions before...I just let it melt down and start over. 
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Richard - 08 JK, 2.5" OME lift, nitrocharged shocks, Rugged Ridge front bumper with M8000 winch, JKS QDs - Olympic 221 rock sliders and rear rock crawler bumper, upper adj control arms f/r, JKS adj track bars f/r
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BigJim
Web Wheeler
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 7724
Loc: Central Texas
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On the way home stop and purchase a "refil kit" almost anywhere. I'm thinking $20 bucks or so. It will consist of a short hose with a gauge on the hose and one can of 134A.. The gauge will have COLORS for markings and not numbers...Yeah it is for dummys!
What you want to do is to start the a/c on high and THEN install the refil kit.
Put the can upside down in your hand so LIQUID will enter the system. In a very short time about 1/2 of the can will be in the running system. Stop filling about there. Just turn the fill knob off. Let the system run for a few minutes looking at the gauge. It is hard to do wrong with the idiot colors on the gauge.
Fill it to the highest part of the gauge that is the good color. Then you should be good for another year if the leak is of normal size.
The 134A systems are easy to fill and don't require much effort.
Big Jim 
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professional bovine relocation specialist
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BigJim
Web Wheeler
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 7724
Loc: Central Texas
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WB the problem of freezing occurs from too LITTLE freon and the coils getting colder than usual from that lean condition.. Add some freon and it should straighten out by itself.
Big JIm
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professional bovine relocation specialist
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Bigbird79
Rock Warrior
Reged: 09/23/05
Posts: 692
Loc: Connecticut
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So if the evaporator coils are frozen up, with this be something I can see on the Jeep, or is it internal to the system?
Assuming I do have a small leak, is the “refill kit” going to have an sealer in it that will take care of any minor leaks, or if I do have a minor leak is this likely something that will need to be fixed or are minor leaks from AC expected? I haven’t touched the system since I bought it about 2.5 years ago and haven’t had a problem with the AC yet, so if it was a pre-existing leak, it’s a slow one.
If the leak should be fixed, is this a fix that can be done at home, or a fix that need special tools and skills, and I will have to pay someone to fix it?
Thanks,
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99 XJ Sport 2 Door, 4.0L, 5 speed, all stock. Daily Driver
79 F150 Standard Cab Short Box, 400ci, NP435, NP205, 35" SSRs
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BigJim
Web Wheeler
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 7724
Loc: Central Texas
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ONLY use a/c sealer on vehicles that already have a carb spacer.. cold air intake.. an aftermarket chip... and one of those undersized pullys!!!
NOTHING you can put in there will do anythig except cause mucho harm!! You should sometimes open up a condensor that has had some of that junk put in it..
STAY AWAY from sealants in a/c's..
Unless your freon leaks out in a few weeks or sooner I'd leave it alone. Costs a lot more to replace parts than the freon costs from year to year.
I have put 1 lb of freon in my wife's suburban every summer for three times now.. Prolly a leak like hers is from the compressor seal. But I ain't going for a new compressor..
Yes a leak detector and other special tools are needed to properly find and repair most a/c leaks.
Leaks like my wife's are no problem as everything works fine for a year or more with only 1 lb of freon added.
Big JIm
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professional bovine relocation specialist
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Bigbird79
Rock Warrior
Reged: 09/23/05
Posts: 692
Loc: Connecticut
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So you are saying the sealers are a good thing right Jim. LOL
In all actuality, that was about the answer I expected. I wont use most all cooling system “sealers” for the same reason, all they do is plug everything up. The only one I will use is cooling systems is Bar’s Leak since it is a seal condition not just a stop leak.
Well I did have cold AC when I started my jeep up to go home, but after about 15-20 minutes again, it stopped blowing cold, so I flipped it off for a couple minutes then flipped it back on it was cold again, so I left it on low, and I turned the temp up a little, so I think you have the right idea of it being low and freezing up.
I stopped by Walmart because its on the way home, they didn’t have AC recharge kits anymore at least at the one here, so I went to Advance, and the only one they had with a gauge on it, in line with the hose says it has a System-Safe Leak Sealer in it, so now I am a little cautious to try it. It’s made by Interdynamics and says its R-134a Refrigerant plus oil with system-safe leak sealer. What do you think, should I take it back and look for a can with a gauge somewhere else that doesn’t have the sealer?
Thanks again for the advice.
Sean
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99 XJ Sport 2 Door, 4.0L, 5 speed, all stock. Daily Driver
79 F150 Standard Cab Short Box, 400ci, NP435, NP205, 35" SSRs
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BigJim
Web Wheeler
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 7724
Loc: Central Texas
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Naaa! I'd go ahead and put her in there! Says system-safe don't it?
Big Jim
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professional bovine relocation specialist
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Bigbird79
Rock Warrior
Reged: 09/23/05
Posts: 692
Loc: Connecticut
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I am still a little hesitant, but I’ll give it a go, it’s made in the USA.
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99 XJ Sport 2 Door, 4.0L, 5 speed, all stock. Daily Driver
79 F150 Standard Cab Short Box, 400ci, NP435, NP205, 35" SSRs
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Bigbird79
Rock Warrior
Reged: 09/23/05
Posts: 692
Loc: Connecticut
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Ok so the pressure was low so I filled it up and now it reads in the green, and drove it around for a while and it did it again, and then I realized what I thought I could hear as the compressor tuning on was a combination of the compressor and the fan turning on, now that I can tell the difference between the 2 I can tell that the compressor is not turning on all of the time. So I opened the fuse box, which just happened to be by the AC test fitting, and the relay for the AC/ Fan was hot as all get out. I didn’t think a relay should feel that hot, granted the fan probably pulls a decent 15- 20 amps, but when I started realizing the compressor wasn’t turning when the cold stopped blowing too, it made me think maybe the relay has lived its life, and its time for a new one. I’m checking the Haynes now for an inspection or resistance test I can perform now. I’ll let you know what I find.
Sean
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99 XJ Sport 2 Door, 4.0L, 5 speed, all stock. Daily Driver
79 F150 Standard Cab Short Box, 400ci, NP435, NP205, 35" SSRs
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