You're just getting lucky and having problems i've had to deal with or similar. i'm pretty lucky in that if i can't figure it out on my own (which i usually can) i have a good friend i can call up and he'll walk me through diagnosing the problem. anyway....

I want to point this out to you before you charge your own AC system. When you take it to a shop to have it done, they load up the system with the proper amount of refrigerant and oil, and they add a special dye to the oil that i believe shows up under the presence of a black light. Then they run the car and search around all the AC lines for any sign of a leak. That's what the shop can do that you, as the DIY person, can't do, unless you've got the dye to do it. What i pointed out as the reason why your compressor is kicking on and off is the COMMON reason why, and it's more than likely that it's a low charge that's causing it. you won't know for sure until you test it yourself. I'm going to help you eliminate the compressor as the culprit. This is some more DIY stuff.

You will have to locate the low pressure relay in the AC system. I'll check my car this afternoon and see if i can pin point it's exact location. It should be a 2 wire connector. Once you have found it, disconnect it. Take a paperclip, bend it up, and insert it into the end that plugs in (the one with the wires running out of it). This will trick the system into believing that you have a full charge on refrigerant. Then you'll start the car and blast the AC. It's not going to be cold AC though. You are going to want to watch the AC compressor to make sure it stays engaged. You do NOT want to run your car for more than a few minutes like this. When those wires are jumped, if the AC compressor stays on and running, then you know for sure that it's not the clutch mechanisim in the compressor, and it's about as far as the home mechanic can go to test it out. This will help you to eliminate the compressor as the culprit before dumping $30 (or more) worth of refrigerant into your system.

Once you have eliminated the compressor as the culprit, you can then try to charge your system on your own. BEFORE you start dumping refrigerant into the system, hook up the gauge that comes with the kit and check your pressure. instructions are in the kit for doing this. From the way your car sounds, it is just a low charge condition. If you plug the gauge in and your system is reading normal operating pressure, then you are going to want to get it worked on at a shop, because it could be your condensor or something else that has gone wrong.

Before you go any further, when was the last time you had the AC system functional in your car? I think i remember you saying you recently bought this car.

Call your auto parts stores and see who has 134A refrigerant in stock. The guys at Advance Auto right by me absolutely love me because i'm in there all the time. When i bought my exhaust for my 91 blazer, i kept messing with them telling them i wanted my "preferred customer discount." the guy gave me a 10% discount havn't had to go there since (been about a week) :naughty: but i'm sure i'll be over there today getting supplies for my motorcycle bodywork repair job. anyway, back to the refrigerant........you will also have to check for a sticker on your car that indicates how much refrigerant your car takes. It will either be rated in ounces or in pounds. should be around 32-40oz. that's how much refrigerant you will need in your system when you charge it.

after you test the compressor out, take your car to a local shop. pay a few bucks to have them suck out all your old refrigerant. #1 it's more environmentally friendly than discharging it into the air and #2 when you charge it back up, you'll have all fresh refrigerant in the system.

Check the cans of refrigerant when you buy them. I bought cans that said 15oz on them, but it was 12oz of refrigerant and 3oz of oil. you NEED the oil in the system, and that mix actually is pretty good. You should be all set from here. good luck :thumbup: and lemme know if you need any more help.