I have a bit of a problem that just makes no sense to me at all. I tend to
ramble so please be patient. I have an 87 GL and I can mostly keep it up
and running. I replaced the two A/C hoses in the rear because they were
rubbing together all these years and I never noticed. The high hose blew
and spewed oil all over the corner of the compartment. It blew in the
corner of the engine compartment just before it goes up the rear pillar.
Since they were rubbing against each other I re-did both hoses. No real
problem.
The hoses were off for just a minimal time and I taped the system closed
while working with the hoses. Got the new hoses on and everything tucked
away. I installed an can of oil charge and then went to add the freon, here
is the weird part. When the compressor is NOT on I can read pressure in the
system but when I turn on the compressor the pressure goes to zero. For
giggles I added a can of freon and then with the compressor off the gauge
went over pressure -- well into the red, turned on the compressor and it
wouldnt move, read zero.
Whats up? Im guessing either the compressor is running in reverse-like that
could happen- or there is a serious blockage. How can I tell where it is
blocked? The easiest thing to change out would be the drier but I really
dont want to start replacing parts until it works. I would rather just fix
it right first time out. I just dont know what to test or how to test it. I
have never had an A/C unit act like this so I am lost.
Prior to the blown hose the system worked fine and I had probably one of
the few vanagons that would freeze you out. We actually had to run it on
low and that is really saying something for a blue van with a black roof (
bedliner coated) here in central Fl. My wife is really wanting the A/C
back, I get to hear about it every day so any help is really appreciated.

Thanks all,

A J