You have a major leak in your AC system plus other problems I suspect.  I
would recommend getting your hands on a $20 Haynes Techbook titled:
Automotive Heating and Air Conditioning.  Make sure you get the 2000
edition that covers R-134a and AC conversions to the new refigerant.  The
book number is 10425.  You might even find it at the library.  Good luck.

yep, sounds like a leak. Often a retrofit to 134a will leak if you
use all the old hoses, etc.. Could be the compressor seal too..
The pressure you see is normal. You are measuring the low side
of the system. The usual charged up system will equalize to about
the full peg value of the low side gauge. IE: 130-140 lb's etc..
Both the low side, and high side will be the same pressure when off,
and equalized. When you turn it on, the low side drops, and the
high side raises.  It's probably just low, and off on the low pressure
switch. You can jumper that switch to check the compressor.
Of course, that will only tell you if the compressor actually runs,
doesn't lock up, etc.. It could still have a seal leak.. On my 89
accord,
the low pressure switch is right next to the power steering canister
if I remember right. It's on the high side line.  It unplugs. It has
two pins,
or actually two sockets on the wire end you need to jumper. Stick a
jumper
wire to connect the two sockets, and that will let you test the
compressor.
It will also let you run the compressor to charge it back up if you
want.
Once it gets up to normal pressure, plug the wires back to the pressure
switch
as normal.  You will probably want to find the leak unless you like
wasting
134a.. Actually, I'm in the process of trying to do the same to my 89..
I just bought the car a couple of days ago.. I tested it, and the
compressor
seems to work fine. But... The system was dead empty. Not a good sign..
But anyway, I pulled a vacuum on it, and will see how it holds a
vacuum.
So far, I see no sudden big leaks. It was holding ok in the short
haul..
But I'll check it today and see if any vacuum is still on it. If so, I
might
give it a shot to see if maybe I can find a leak, and see how long it
holds.
I'm thinking about using freeze12 instead of 134a though.. I like the
pressures
of the freeze12 a bit better. Less head pressure, and a tad bit closer
to
the old freon 12..  BTW, freeze 12 is not the explosive junk they often
sell..
It's oked by the EPA..  It's about 80% 134a, with whatever else they
throw
in to make it act more like R12.. It's not propane .. It does cost more
than
134a though.. I've done the 134a retro's, and often had high head
pressures..
You gotta be careful not to overcharge.. The head pressure will zoom..
Most true 134a systems use a larger capacity condensor coil than the
R12
units to make up for that I think. One month = fairly large leak.. :(
Might wanna try some dye detector to see if you can see the leak..
Some also act as stop leak for the seals.. I'm not crazy about stop
leak
in a a/c system, but in a old leaking beater system, what the heck..
MK

88 accord?  Your lucky the thing runs, let alone to have the air work in it!

As the others say, it has a leak. The reason the pressure drops so much is
that there isn't enough refrigerant available to flood the evaporator.
Without refrigerant to evaporate the compressor pulls a vacuum on the
evaporator. Usually that causes the compressor to "short-cycle" - run a
couple seconds, release for a couple seconds, over and over.

With anything resembling a proper charge the low side port (where you are
connected, I'm sure) will read somewhere above atmospheric pressure while
the compressor is running. With the compressor off, the whole system will
read a higher pressure if there is even an ounce of refrigerant; in each
case the pressure corresponds to the vapor pressure of R-134a at the
temperature of the part you are measuring.

Bottom line - you need to take this to a pro at this point. You definitely
have a leak - it may be where it is impractical to do a "real" repair, like
the evaporator, or it may be a seal or hose. If it's the evaporator ask
about adding a sealant. Pros hate the stuff because it can gum up other
things and/or not work, but if you accept it as a gamble.... Keep a good
thought that it's a hose or seal. When the leak is fixed and the proper
charge added you should stop cooking.

Mike