AC is not cooling?

Hello,

It sounds like you have a mode door actuator that is not working. Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for when doing the job and diagrams below to help you find the location for your car:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-blend-door-motor

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken

You have a common issue with that vintage. There are two clamps that hold the cable outer housing in place so the inner core can move the mix/blend door. Those clips loosen and fall off or they break the tabs that they snap over and the cable gets loose. You move the lever and the inner core moves the outer housing instead of the blend door.
You can see the clamps in the images attached. The common culprit is the one on the blend door end, but I have seen both ends come loose at one time or another.
There are a couple versions used, one had the lever the other used a dial that moved the lever behind it, the cable set up is the same for both.

You should be able to see the heater end of the cable looking up under the dash. (First picture) That is the end the clamps like to fail on. If the clamp is missing you can get them from a dealer, but check that the tab it goes on is there first. If it is broke you can do the common crossed zip tie repair to hold the cable in place. I do both myself, and have been known to apply some double sided tape as well.

If you need to remove the control head, you need to remove the radio, cruise/moonroof switches, dash/dimmer switch, rear defrost. Then the 6? (I think, may be 8 depending on dash version) screws that hold the trim and heater controls in place. Remove the connectors and the control can be accessed.

What was the blend door problem? Bad clip bad cable or? When you repaired it did you adjust it to fully close on cold? What are your pressures on the system?

See if you can borrow a set of gauges, some of the parts stores have them as loaner tools. That way you can actually see what the low and high sides are. Did you vacuum the system down after you replaced the parts? If not the air and moisture in the system will cause problems as it will compress. They sometimes have vacuum pumps as loaner tools as well.
Did you also add oil to the system? The "it made the car run rough" may mean that the compressor is damaged if it got slugged with R134A or oil. The pressures would at least show if the charge is correct and if the compressor is working.

Here is a guide that can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

You can get a set from Amazon for $36.00

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079GP1YM1/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=2carprcom-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B079GP1YM1&linkId=36f5c311d82fc4facc6c3ca69295cebe

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

Sounds like the "mechanic" does not know AC work. If he did not vacuum the system down that is one problem, then the way he added the oil is a good way to destroy the compressor the first time it starts is another. The line issue is another.
As for the "well it will get better once it runs a while" nope. The only part of that which is true would be that it will not be at its coldest output until the duct work is cooled down, which may take a few minutes if the vehicle is setting in the sun. The easy way to measure that is to use a simple thermometer. You put it in the center outlet, AC on high and max output. The temperature should be between 20 and 30 degrees colder than the ambient temperature. Larger the drop is the better the system is working.

Why were those parts changed out? If it was due to a compressor internal failure and the system was not flushed and tested it may have material from the failure blocking parts of the evaporator core or the expansion valve. The good thing about this car is those parts are easy to remove. See the two later images.

My suggestion would be to use a gauge set to check the pressures first, that will tell you if the compressor is still okay or not. Then recover the R134A that is in the system and vacuum it down. Hold it at full vacuum for at least an hour to pull the moisture and air out of the system, then close the valves and be sure it will hold vacuum. If it holds great, if it leaks the first place I would check would be the line he had trouble with. Then vacuum again if you had to do any repairs. If it holds vacuum. Recharge the system by weight, in this case 22 ounces of R134A while watching the pressures.
If the system is functioning properly it should be showing the 20-30 degree drop.

The first step in all cases will be to use a gauge set to see if the compressor is still okay. You would connect the gauge set to the high and low ports. Then with the AC on max you look at what the pressures are and compare them. Ideally you want to see pressures as shown in the attached image.

This does give a lot of good information on how the system works and using the gauges.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

The correct amount of oil is crucial to the operation of the system too much oil will cause non cooling issues. Also, the system must be vacuumed down to remove all moisture. I would take it to a different shop to have them look at it or you can follow this guide.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

Please run down this guide and report back.

Cheers, Ken

Okay, that should rule out crud in the system. As Ken says pulling a vacuum is a crucial step for a couple reasons. One is that air in the system will compress differently than R134A and it will greatly reduce the cooling ability because of that. Second is that air contains moisture and drawing a vacuum will cause that to boil off and leave the system and lastly drawing a vacuum allows you to check if the system is actually sealed.
I would say to find a different shop, explain to them what was done and what and why things were replaced.

Good to have an extra. Please let us know what happens. :)

Well it would need to be seriously dirty to have much effect because it would need to block the air a lot. In your case I doubt this is the problem.