So, got in my car today and for the first time since I've owned it it was warm enough to run the AC. Actually, I can't remember if I'd tried to really use it before. It was already fall when I bought it.

Anyways, add this to one more item in the long list of stuff the seller didn't disclose...

Anyways, the fan works and is blowing air, but the air isn't anywhere near cold. Kinda lukewarm.

So, I'm guessing that being a '95.5, it's R134A, so at least that's good. I am guessing I should start by purging the system and filling it with fresh R134 and see if it holds the AC charge.

So, can I just go to the hardware store and buy a few cans of that R134A off the shelf and charge it myself???

And, where exactly is the valve to re-fill it? Anyone got a pic??

Anything else I should check while I'm at it. I'm pretty sure the compressor is turning on as the idle gets a little lumpier once I turn it on, which is how I've always been able to tell.

<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/s4s6/msgs/74409.phtml">recharge instructions</a></li></ul>

...and is less taxing on your engine, I've found.

No link off-hand. You'll have to Google it.

Just trying to do my part. :)

As the purveyors seem to prey on 'feel good' 'we love the earth' folks while doing nothing of the sort. BUT - if it works - cool!

There are a couple of R134a recharge how to's out there (a cold weather method by yours truly - and I think Tom (4driver4) wrote the other. PLEASE correct me if 'm wrong.) STFA - it's out there.

Pretend you are hunting wabbit - &amp; be vewy vewy cawful - as you have to charge through the high side.

It's not cheap, but it *is* environmentally friendly. I figure since I'm driving a car that gets **** mileage, I can at least do something to lessen the impact on the ozone layer.

I know what you say Bill, and there are plenty of folks/companies who would take advantage of tree huggers/greenies. If you check out the main website, though, they offer a multitude of cool products which are not only environmentally safe, but practical. And I'm nothing if not the latter. I plan to get the bacteria which eats the oil/grease out of the concrete. While that's nothing mind-blowing(it's been around for a while, obviously), I think microbiotics is way interesting, and I want to see it work(kinda like a kid watching the lense burn the anthill). :)<ul><li><a href="http://www.befreetech.com/envirosafe.htm">It's not easy being green.</a></li></ul>

make sure they pull vacuum for at least 30min, to see if there are any leaks. I did a full rebuilt of my AC system last fall, and it wasn't a lot of fun. you need to blow in the charge by weight, through the high side port - as there is no low side port. there is sticker on the underside of the hood telling you how many grams of 134a to put in, and you'll need to convert those grams to lbs to use an american AC machine.
you can do it yourself, but it's better to be accurate IMO. the previous owner of my car did a DIY recharge and ended up massively overfilling the system...which contributed to the full rebuild needed.

I keep a case in the garage to recharge all the cars in my family.

If the compressor is coming on then you don't have a massive leak because there is still enough pressure in the system for the compressor to come on. Double check visually that it actually comes on before you recharge. Have someone turn on the AC while you watch the compressor under the hood. You will hear a click and see the center of the compressor pulley start to turn when the clutch engages.

You may have a slow leak. I've never had an older car that didn't need a recharge at least every couple of years. I top off with a can of Envirosafe when needed.

If there is a leak -- which is probable, given the fact that the stuff that was in there is apparently no longer in there -- they can find it with the sniffer gear and/or UV dye.

I think I paid $80 for this service when I replaced my AC compressor. That included the refrigerant.