Replaced the compressor in my 1999 Dodge Caravan. The pulley failed on the old one so I bought a new compressor with clutch. I recovered the R-134a and replaced the compressor. I recovered 1 oz of old from the old compressor. I added the same amount to the new compressor. Had pulled a vacuum for 1 hr and it held great. recharged the system and the refrigerant blew out of a valve where the high side and low side lines attach. I check the system but I had only put in 2.33 lbs as the decal stated. This is a 1999 Grand Caravan dual system. Is that valve bad or what does it mean?

You probably need a new compressor. Even though the belt turns the pulley anytime the engine is running, the clutch only engages the compressor when the AC is turned on.

The alternator belt on the 1999 Dodge Caravan also controls the air conditioner compressor, the water pump and the power steering pump. The belt is called a serpentine belt, and it is designed to fit around all of the accessory pulleys at the same time. As the belt travels around each accessory pulley, it enables the accessory to operate. Once the belt is damaged, cracked or frayed, you should change it before it breaks. If that happens, each of the accessories will stop working.

Open the hood and prop it up so that it does not fall. Engage the parking brake.

Inspect the top surface of the fan shroud for the serpentine belt routing diagram. Follow the routing instructions on the diagram to install the new belt.

Locate the serpentine belt self-adjusting tensioner on the front of the engine. The tensioner is directly below the alternator. Use the bolt that connects the tensioner pulley to the tensioner arm to rotate the tensioner.

Turn the tensioner device counterclockwise to move the tensioner. This will relieve the tension from the belt. Once the belt has enough slack in it, slide the belt out from under the tensioner pulley.

Lift the belt off each accessory pulley. Slide the belt around the fan blades and out of the engine area.

Lay the old belt next to the new belt to ensure that the new belt is the correct width and length. Slide the belt around the fan blades and around the crankshaft pulley on the bottom of the engine.

Follow the belt routing diagram to position the belt around the air conditioner compressor pulley, the power steering pump pulley, the water pump pulley and the idler pulley. Once the belt is routed inside each accessory pulley, inspect the belt to make sure that it is securely inside the pulleys.

Crank the 1999 Dodge Caravan for 10 to 15 seconds to completely seat the belt ribs in the grooves on each accessory pulley. Shut the engine off and close the hood.

If the belt routing diagram for the 1999 Dodge Caravan is missing, use a pen and a notepad to draw the exact routing of the old belt and use it when installing the new belt.

you can keep the old belt routing by replacing the a/c compressor with a bypass pulley

Buy a whole new clutch for about $200. You need a special puller to remove the old one if you intend to refurbish it. It's not worth the effort. Just remove the clips and knock the old one off with a hammer. Chuck it away and replace with a brand new clutch assembly.

If the compressor is running and you have the same temp on both tubes the compressor is probably shot. You need to check the pressure on the high side too. It should be around 200.

When you replace the compressor, make sure you also replace the accumulator, orifice filter and flush out the evaporator and condenser. The only moving parts on the ac system is the compressor and often when it fails it will put small metal particles into the a/c system that will cause your new one to fail.

Hope this helps.

you should be adding the 134a to the system the low pressure switch is doing its job by not allowing the compressor to kick on, it wont kick on until there is enough 134a in the system to be above the preset pressure for the low pressure switch.

depends how bad is the leak they do make seals but after labor and they usually last 1 to 2 yrs only ull wish u bought a new one u can try remanufactured dont rec

Most of the oil should be in your compressor, if the compressor was not damaged and not replaced you should be ok on oil other than recharging it with a 134 w/oil. That should be sufficient. Usually there is about 8 oz put directly into the compressor when replaced. In that vehicle I believe it should alos be recharged with 32 oz. of freon.

If the a/c clutch is slipping it will need to be replaced. If it is slipping because the compressor is siezed it will need a new compressor, clutch, expansion valve, orings, system flush, perhaps a new condenser or more. However, Dodge has a recall for the compressors failing. Call your local Dodge dealer and ask about that recall. If it applies it should be free.

did you turn the compressor clutch plate manually for 20 turns?, to displace the oil that is in the compressor's valve as it is new and have some oil in the valves which is very hard to turn at high speed.

you can try to manually turn the compressor plate in the reverse direction, you could un lock it and hopefully not a amjor problem occurs..

good luck,

drcool