Alright so bought this thing in winter and didn't even think to check the A/C. Turned it on during my drive the other week and nothing but hot air was blowing out. So I went out and got one of those r134a recharge kit and pumped a whole bottle in. The psi is now at about 40psi in 75 degree weather, which according to the kit is perfect. The compressor is kicking in, and all the lines feel cold and are sweating. Yet the fan is still only blowing hot air. Why can't i get cold air out of the thing?

 

Only hot air, as in not even outside temp air?
Blend door issue?

 

Roler,

When did they let you out? Haven't seen your chatter in a long time.

 

I got trapped under something heavy, and couldn't get out. Couldn't reach the keyboard or the phone for months. I kept myself alive with water overflowing from the sink because I left the tap running at the time and had to eat bugs (good for protein though). Then things got nasty when they barged down my door because I hadn't paid the rent for several weeks. That's how they found me. Still can't type for long periods due to some numbness in the fingers (got attacked by spiders while I was trapped, that sure wasn't nice). So, I'm around but just not as often as I used to be.
It's complicated...

 

I do not claim to be an a/c expert by any means but I can tell you that you really need a set of manifold gauges to see what is going on with the whole a/c system. You need to see what the high side is reading.

Also what roler said which is an easy check. Make sure your blend door is not stuck in the position where only hot air is being let through. Look under your passenger side dash and you will see where the cable comes from the temp control **** down to the piece that moves the blend door. You can turn it by hand if needed.

 

Cable? There is no cable, it's vacuum and electronically controlled.

 

Umm yeah there is a cable. I just had my whole dash and a/c-heat box pulled out. The **** for all the a/c settings is vacuum controlled but the cold/hot **** is a cable.

 

Let me illustrate. See the picture with the yellow circle around the cable. That cable comes off the cold/hot temp control ****. Goes to the blend door. Cable/gear driven.

 

I just had the dash out of a 2001 to replace the evaporator and there was no cable. Must have had a change at some point.

 

The OP says he has a 98 so I assume it would be like mine. Mine is a 98 as well. Maybe they changed it on the 2000-2001 models.

 

The change took place in model year 1999.

 

I like the blend door theory, it does seem that the ac is making cold air but it just isn't getting into the cabin, plus it doesn't involve me delving too deep into my lift kit budget. How do I get to the cable and gear? Do I need to rip the entire dash out, anybody ever see a how to on that?

 

No need to rip the dash out. Just crawl up under the dash on the passenger side and you will see the cable and where it attaches to the ac/heat box. You can turn the gear piece back and forth by hand. While under there reach up and turn the hot/cold **** and see if it operates the gear piece on the box.

On the back of your hot/cold **** there is also a gear set. The teeth may be stripped so it won't operate the cable to move the blend door open or closed. Hope this makes sense.

 

Marks2000XJ nailed it, the loop on the end of the cable just wasn't attached to the blend door. All I had to do was wrap some tape around it so it doesn't come off again. AC fixed in about 10 seconds, can't beat it. Thanks!

Here's a picture of what the problem was, just in case anyone else has this problem.

 

There's a push nut that holds that cable end on. The parts catalog doesn't list it but I do see a selection of push nuts at Lowes. Take a look at what they have.