Couldn't stand it anymore; HAD TO KNOW about my a/c. The guys at the shop said I need a high pressure hose, which runs from the compressor to the condenser. We all heard it hiss like crazy once it was pressurized. They also recommend a receiver/drier, because it's "probably saturated" with moisture, the system having been down for at least a year. Their quotes are as follows, labor being $70 per hour:

High pressure hose: Part, $130; labor, $70
Receiver/drier: Part, $95; labor, $20
R-12: $85 per pound x 2.9 pounds, $246.50; labor, $70

Needless to say, OUCH. I told them I'd think about it. $631.50 is a big number, and they told me they'd need it for "a couple of days". It cost $76.23 to obtain the diagnosis, which I gladly paid, as they did labor for over an hour right in front of me.

Now then, fellow owners, what are your opinions? Should I get a specialized book and install my own parts, then go get it charged? Or should I simply live without it? I'm not afraid to attempt it, but I'm surely a first-timer. Any experience or advice you'd care to post would be most welcome, and I thank you again, Brendan.