I am in need of some help.

My 2001 ZX2 just began blowing hot air out of the vents. I got an ac recharge kit. When I attached the gauge to what I believe is the low pressuer side (along the passenger side of the engine compartment) it has an extremely high pressure. Now for the questions,

1, Is this the low pressure side? It is the only place the fitting will attach to.

2. If this is the correct port do i need to relieve all the pressure in the system before recharging it?

 

Basically, air conditioning works like this: Freon is compressed by a compressor into a liquid, giving off lots of heat in the process and this is the high pressure side. It is driven through tubes to a venturi where it is released under low pressure and it turns into a gas, absorbing lots of heat and cooling the surroundings, this is the low pressure side. And the cycle repeats.

If you are getting high pressure on the low pressure side then it would suggest that you have lost freon and it has been replaced with air that cannot be liquified and evaporated under the same conditions.

I'm not sure why you would want to bleed off freon in order to add more.

Maybe you should google more general information about automotive air conditioning. This question probably isn't restricted to Escorts.

 

I am trying to figure out which fitting I check on the a/c system of my 2001 windstar to see if it is fully charged. there are two places on the right hand side of the engine compartment, one rearward, the other closer to the front of the engine compartment. is there a diagram of the ac system for the windstar?
thank you