A/C problems on '97 ranger XLT - help

[jerrylyynb`]

My '97 standard 4-cyl ranger has 208k miles and last year it finally got low on freon - a local shop added freon with a dye, and confirmed (with a black light) that there were no leaks under the hood. This summer (a year later), it got low again so I had the same shop add freon (1 can), and, again they checked and found no leaks under the hood. I ran the air about 2 weeks ago, that I recall, and it did cool but not at cold as I expected, so I started thinking I needed freon again, but I havent driven it since then, and today, the compressor will NOT COME ON. I assume that is because the freon leaked so much that a low-pressure switch has been tripped and is inhibiting the compressor clutch from engaging (to avoid compressor burnout). Is this right? If so, can I just add 1 or 2 cans of freon (to the service port on top of the dryer, under the hood near the driver's side firewall)? Since the compressor clutch won't engage yet, can the pressure in the can push enough freon into the line to untrip that safety switch and allow the compressor clutch to engage? If so, then, I assume I would be adding freon while the engine is running and the a/c dash switch is turned "ON". Is this right? If this works, and the compressor comes on and cools the cab (for a while, anyway), then, can I assume that the evaporator coil is leaking, since their blacklight shows NO LEAK under the hood anywhere? Is there a way to CONFIRM positively that the evaporator is leaking freon? I am hearing that replacing the evaporator coil is a nightmare (labor-wise), so, I want to be absolutely sure that the current evaporator coil truly is leaking before i take that step. I sure hope someone on this forum has had experience in this area.

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