Think my A/C is on its way out...Compressor?
 

After a hot-a$$ summer I decided to check the pressure in my system and it looked a bit low. So I put in some refrigerant to fill it up.

I'm not sure exactly what happened but the very next couple of days the A/C started acting up. Cold air would come out for a few seconds, and then what seemed like warm outside air, and then a minute later cold air again. This happens even when the car is traveling at a constant speed.

The compressor is also louder and making much more noise than it used to. I can hear whine through the first couple of gears. Seems like its stressed out.

All I did was charge the system for about 30 seconds. And it hasn't been hot the last couple of days either. Does this sound like the compressor? 110K on the motor btw.

The compressor is on its way out especially at 110K. Some have changed just the pulley/clutch assembly and found that the whine goes away however it sounds like you have cooling issues so it's probably the compressor internals itself. Or you could try a professional full refrigerant replacement first to see if you could've made a mistake when charging.

Not sure if I had my head completely up my @ss when I did this but I just looked again and my valve cap for the recharge port is missing. No idea where it went. Possible culprit?

Don't listen to this guy!

:D

Do the AC system service with proper shop equipment. You need to evacuate old refrigerant, pull vacuum and charge the proper amount (in weight- not seconds) of refrigerant and possibly some oil. Then go from there.

well I did have a guage, I wasn't just doing it blind. It still reads in low in the blue (good). Could I have overcharged it?

If you overcharged then HIGH side pressure will be too high. That can make the system shut down.

Agreed. Bought my car used and the previous owner said the A/C didn't work for some time. So I checked and it was overcharged. Bled some out(screw captain planet), and the A/C suddenly worked and very well for TX heat. At that point I pulled the front bumper to install fogs and CAI, and used some coil cleaner on the condenser...got much cooler.

Ignore this guy, he rolls on Motgei wheels from PepBoys. :lalala:

Motgei? Was that on purpose? If so, well played, worthy adversary.

Agreed, The A/C compressor will turn on and off if overcharged...Those cans you buy at auto zone or O'Reilly is not accurate

The shop machine will measure the exact amount of refrigerant in ounces and add oil along with it correctly.

When the dial is on blue, there is suppose to be cold air coming out?