A/C troubles

[speedbump]

Ok, I'll try this post again in the right section.

Last week I used the A/C and it worked fine, then this Saturday I went to use it again and nothing. The clutch is coming on and the compressor is spinning, but it's not loading the engine like it normally does and the air out of the vents doesn't get and colder. The lines going in to the evap will get a little cooler when the A/C is running, but not much. I'm guessing the freon leaked out. Anybody know what the pressure should be (low and high), or know of anything else that would cause this?

I might go a get a couple cans of r134 (and oil) and put it in and see if it gets cold again, and also check for leaks. At work we have a spray on propane/freon leak detector that turns pink at leaks.

Any other suggestions?

This is on my 96 Jetta, 2.0l.

Thanks.

[burn_your_money]

you can hit the vent with a key or something and see if it sprays out to verify if there is pressure. just watch your eyes

[speedbump]

It's most likely a stuck control valve in the compressor, so new compressor time. After reading several automotive A/C MBs, this seems to be a common problem with the VWs A3 A/C compressors (Sanden SD7V16). I haven't looked around much yet, but a rebuilt with warranty will set me back about $230 and $75 for the accumulator/drier, I'm going to look around for someting cheeper, maybe just a used one from a scrap yard. I don't want to sink a lot of money in to this car, it just rolled 170k (the same day the A/C quit working).

Too bad a Vanagon compressor won't fit, I have 2 of them lying around.

[Mr_Diesel]

It' could be your "h block". This is the metal block that connects the AC lines from the compressor to the evaporator... Usually the evaporator lines screw right into it.... You know what I am talking about??? If your hblock is clogged, the high pressure line that leads TO THE EVAP should still be getting cold, because it is, after all, being compressed!

[Gad]

I would try a can of the greean leak finder coolant before anything else.