I am brand-new to this forum. I've had my base-model 2011 LS for 2 years. My AC recently quit blowing cold air. I bought a 134A can w/gauge, but it seems that there is adequate refrigerant, plenty of pressure and blows out refrigerant. Then I read that the clutch has to be engaged before you can properly gauge pressure. :-(
Of course, I checked all the related fuses. Don't know how to know if relays are good or bad.
I did some research, hoping it is not the compressor. I tried to bypass the clutch relay with a paperclip, not sure if I'm doing that correctly, but it didn't make the clutch spin. I guess my next step is to ascertain whether there is power going to the compressor.
Someone else told me it might be the climate control panel or blend door. But I don't know how to judge this if my clutch won't spin.

I enjoy mechanic work, have assisted (more than handing tools) on a Chevy 350 rebuild and twin Mercruiser 350 rebuilds. I am on my own now, single mom, and I can't afford the garage prices. Thank goodness for Youtube and forums like this. If anybody can offer some suggestions, I would be grateful. Thanks for any help.

 

The ac cans will only charge your air conditioning on the high side ac port. There is also a low side. So you might still be low on freon and not able to check pressures correctly. A good indy would be able to hook up a set of gauges and be able to determine if it is in fact full of freon. After that you'll need a wiring diagram to see how the compressor clutch engages.