air conditioner

My daughter has an 01 SL2 which has an air conditioner leak, I believe.
I've added the "freon" a couple of times over the past year. I think she
let it get too low now to add any more because now the compressor doesn't
kick on and therefore doesn't suck in the new stuff. I think before when it
was low, the compressor would kick on for a few seconds, then go off, but
after the new "freon" was sucked in, it would stay on longer, etc. Is there
a way to charge the system somehow without going to a dealer who does
whatever magic needs to be done to get the compressor to come on when the
system is too low.

thanks

 

Freon is a tradmark of Dupont. (Your 2001 uses r134a Refrigerant.)

Let me give an analogy for HVAC.
Lets say replacing a head gasket is like putting a bandage on a cut.
That would place todays AC sytems closer to Open Heart Surgery. There is
a lot of factors that must be taken into account when working with the
ac system. (More so with bubba's out there using non standard gases and
people buying cans with "leak sealers" in them which are more like a can
of death than anything else.)

The best thing you can do is to bit the bullet and have the system fixed
by a true professional in the field. Halfway doing the AC system will
often result in more problems at a greater total cost. Have it leak
checked, get the leak(s) fixed, and replace what needs replaced. Also
get a good warranty on those repairs and get a leak checker of your own
to verify the repairs yourself.