AC help

[ItsOnVoy]

Hey everyone! Got a question. My AC doesn't feel as cold as a AC should feel or like it used to be. Now this is when its like 80+ degrees outside. Even under it only feels a bit colder but that is because it is colder out. I usually hit the button next to the frost to get air from inside and that does have some cool air (not cold) but even when I hit the frost button it doesn't get colder. My question is this, is there a way to check if the gas for the AC is out? Also if there is where is the AC located for it and how do you check/change it out? Pictures or a diagram out be awesome (I am a visual learner). I am not an expert when it comes to this stuff so that is why my question can seem noobish as some might call it.

Thanks for any help

 

[The_Roadie]

AC issues almost always need a professional with training and the tools to do it right. They have gauges to check the high and low pressure ports, and the training to locate them by eye. Slow leaks need another set of tools to locate, and my opinion is that it's just silly to buy a can of refrigerant and the toy gauges they sell at the parts stores and try to "top it off" without knowing the real pressures or how many ounces of refrigerant AND OIL are in the system. If you underfill or overfill an AC system, it can cost bigger $$ to fix it up later. It's one of the few systems I won't work on myself, and I do a LOT of work on the truck.

 

[ItsOnVoy]

Oh okay just making sure maybe its something my dad and me can do. So best bet is take it to the dealership or something to have them look at it? Now i haven't had the AC changed or refill for about a good 5 years maybe more. How long does AC cans for our trucks last us? I usually use the AC on a day to day in the summer. Do you think it is worth getting checked or can it run longer?

 

[The_Roadie]

Almost any town of any size has an independent AC specialist shop, that may have more experience than the dealer. If you wanted to do it yourself, you might invest $150-200 in the right tools, and then read for 10-20 hours to get some idea what you're going to get into, and STILL get stalled by something you didn't anticipate like needing a new orifice or filter. A sealed system without a leak may NEVER need refilling. If you're low, the leak needs to be found and fixed, because throwing cans of refrigerant at a leaky system is a doomed tactic in the long run. Do it only if you're trading the truck in soon and don't care about the bad karma of passing on a problem like that to the next owner.

There's a low pressure cut-off switch, so if the system loses enough refrigerant that the compressor ins in danger of being damaged, the electrical controls will lock out and then it just dies altogether. It's a safety last line of defense against a leaky system. So you can defer the repair if you get shocking estimates from your available shops.

 

[ItsOnVoy]

Yeah I prefer the convince of someone that knows what there doing do it for me. Well my dad would be the next owner when I get rid of the truck so anything done I want done right for him. But I will see what kind of AC shops there are around here and see if I can get a quote or something from them. Thanks for the input Bill