A/C Blowing Hot Air - Maxima 2001

[kmrte]

Hi,

If this question has already been answered, please provide the link.

I have a 2001 Maxima (bought new) and the a/c blows only hot air. I've been looking at the FSM to see what I might need to do to fix the situation. I just want to verify that I'm going in the right direction.

I'm thinking the solution is to replace the refrigerant. I tried to replace the refrigerant with those cans of R134a sold at Walmart. I'm not sure if I did it right. I attached it to the Low pressure valve, but, the pressure had the correct reading and no refrigerant would go into the line.

I started the car and then turned on the a/c, and the compressor is turning. So, I don't think it's the compressor. After looking at the FSM and http://www.firstfives.org/faq/AC/ac_charge.html, I'm thinking that I should replace the refrigerant. I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible, so it looks like I'll need a vacuum pump, refrigerant, and the manifold gauge (which Autozone said I could borrow from them). Then I'll follow the procedure on the link provided above. Am I going in the right direction?

Also, was the procedure specified in the link what I was originally supposed to do in the first place with the can of refrigerant I bought from Walmart? What other checks should I do before going the vacuum route? I'm going to have to buy a vacuum for that one, and I wanted to make sure it was worth buying at this time. Thank you.