by GlenW » Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:23 pm
You are low on R 134A refrigerant, but don't JUST ADD TWO POUNDS of refrigerant. Use gauges on both high and low side. Indiscriminately adding refrigerant may be both dangerous and expensive. If the high side goes too high, compressor life is significantly shortened, hose life is shorter, you may be able to blow the safety break valve on your drier and it 90% of the time won't RESEAL. Now you must purchase a dryer, and evaculate the system. The recharge it.
Go to Harbor Frieght and for around $40 get a double gauge set and do this right. You aren't out of refrigerant but low.
To recharge properly if it's this low, you may have to find the low pressure switch on the drier and connect the terminals in the connector to keep the compressor engaged throughout filling.
Do this right, not halfway, just because some one else got away with a dangerous move doesn't make it safe or correct.
I could shoot for around 225 240 psi at 90 F ambient temperature and engine rpm at 1100 rpm.
Yes, you may also add a dye that's in special cans of R134A to help find a leak,,but if this is the 1st time in seven years it went down,,perhaps it just needs recharging.
Good Luck and Be Safe.
Good Luck.