[I]I have a 2000 Buick Lesabre with the 3.8 V-6. The car has 10000 plus miles on the odometer. I suspect the AC system is low on Refrigerant for a variety of reasons.

Does any one know were and how to access the "low side of the system" to add refrigerant? I've followed the "Circuit" through the Engine compartment and all I see is the access the the "High side".

Am I missing something?? any help would be greatly appreciated.

revolver693

Please tell us more about the A/C problem you are experiencing. Th actuator, typically located under the passenger side of the dash, is often a problem on your vehicle in reference to air being a different temperature from passenger to driver.

If you are going to self recharge the a/c, the disposable cans with hoses will only fit the proper connector, no need to worry about low side or high side.

Thanks your help is greatly appreciated

revolver

Oddly enough the Air temp. is O.K when driving. When at a stop light the temperature tends to climb. When driving again the temp will pull down. I'm assuming the the temperature should remain constant either driving or at Idle.

The Dash pad has a split in it from the summer heat in the south and will be replaced by next summer. I'm wondering if a heat load is entering the duct work some how. Any idea'*.

revolver

When driving, the engine temp and A/C temp should be close to normal. But when sitting, lack of airflow through the radiator and condenser allows the engine temp to rise and the a/c temp to rise also. This is typically normal. All because of lack of airflow.

The Car has straight cooling and Heating. There is no variable adjustments for this system. The suction line is "Ice Cold" all the way down to the compressor when the AC is on.

revolver

P.*. don't seem to get much "condensate" water when AC is on. Leads me to think the Evap. coil is not fully flooded with refrigerant.

In answer to your question, on the line that runs up, next to the coils, then back down, there should be the high side, the expansion valve, and the low side.

High side is towards the front of the car, expansion valve is where the nut looking thing is in the middle, then the low side is on the other side of the expansion valve.

That was one thing I loved about that gen, they are both just right there. High side should be bigger, low side should be smaller.

i have been taught to always enduce refridgerant on the high side with vehicle turned off

That may be true when loading refrigerant from a machine, but most home solutions have you adding on the low side with the system running.

makes sense because it needs the compressor to pump in the refridgerant from the can.