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agreed on the last guy--search this site for AC stuff--you will find a wealth of knowledge. I just recharged/fixed mine from reading all the posts. At the end is a post I made to someone else on May 13th. You probably have a leak, but can do it your self. Yours will be tricky because you just had it redone so you probably have some 134 in your system. I was pretty sure all my 134 had leaked out over last fall/winter.
Here is my May 13th post:
I too had this problem with my wife's 96 850T (with black leather interior--get's pretty hot in there). I am not an expert, or a mechanic, but after reading all threads on this subject (Search for A/C) you'll get a pretty good list of what to do. I just did mine with helpful posts from MrSha & Chris who posted to your question--the keys to my success was was following simple directions, bot the AC recharge kit at Autozone for about $20, and I had an indoor/outdoor digital thermometer that let me measure the air temp coming out of the vents. Radio Shack or Target has them for about $10
1. I had done the recharge thing over last 2 summers. Each time lasted between 4-6 months. Each time the dealer ($100), then the local oil change shop ($59) told me they put in 1.6lbs (25.6 oz). Over winter, I assume all freon leaked out because it blew hot air only when I used this spring. My assumption only.
2. Bot the recharge kit with the pressure guage. Had a 14oz can that had 12oz R134 and 2oz of oil. I also bot a 2nd can of 134 freon.
3. To find the low side pressure guage, open hood, standing at front of car, it's on the left front--about 4" behind the passenger head light and below where you add windshield fluid. It's a cap that says 6n or something on it. Unscrew it. Mine has some plastic thing that makes sure it doesn't fall off when it's unscrewed.
4. It's like a tire valve. With engine on you can get your starting pressure with the quick-clamp on over the valve and the pressure guage on the other side of the hose. BE CAREFUL HOWEVER--THE BELTS ARE TURNING RIGHT NEAR WHERE YOUR HAND IS.
5. With car on and A/C on, my pressure registered around just over 0. SO I assumed the freon had leaked out. Chris' post in April explains more how the system works and what the pressure means--it's important but not totally accurate. The guage says "20-40" is charged. Below isn't , above is too high. You want to be in the low range of the charged area.
6. Next, take off the pressure guage and screw on the piercing valve thing to the hose. Making sure the piercing valve is in UP position. When you screw on the can of FREON to the valve, you don't want the nail thing to pierce the can---yet.
7. Now hook/connect the hose to the low pressure valve, the freon can is screwed on tight to the valve, the engine is running, with the A/C on. At this time, turn the handle on the valve to pierce into the freon can...and then unscrew. This pierces the 134 can, then withdraws the pin so the freon will flow OUT of the can, through the hose, and into the A/C System. Keep the can upright so 134a gas comes out. Someone posted that if you turn it upside down, it will turn to liquid.
8. After doing that, I could hear the A/C Compressor run longer instead of just cycling on/off, and the air started getting cooler. When I started, the temp from the vents was in the 80s...it didn't come down much at first.
9. After 1 can, I checked the pressure and it was around 20 on the low side when the compressor was working, up to low 40s when it wasn't. The air was cooler, but not much improvement. Drove it for a week, and was not satisfied.
10. I figured that I only had in 12oz, when it really is supposed to hold 25.6 oz. so I took the risk and added another can. Other posts will tell you you don't really know how much is in there unless you take it out and weigh it, I figured if I was completely out, I could put in under 25.6 and probably be OK. With 12 in, I decided to add the other 12 so I'd have put in 24...hoping I didn't overcharge it.
11. On a not day, I did whole thing again with 2nd can, this time however, the vent temp started coming down much better. Went from the 80's to 70s, to 60's then 50's and even got to the low 40's. I stopped the freon can, and shook it and felt like some still in there. Now the compressor was running the whole time since it was hot outside. I took the pressure with the guage and it was still in the low 20's. I stopped at that point because I have heard from others it's better to have an undercharged system than overcharged system.
12. It worked. On the one hand my wife thinks I'm a dork because I left the thermometer in the car to secretly gloat how cold the air is coming out of the vents--on the other hand, she loves the cold air and and that I fixed it. So far so good.
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