R134A a/c..can we recharge ourselves?

[SHOfun 93]

Well I was on the way back from taking the g/f out to lunch today, and I had been noticing that the a/c hadn't been blowing AS cold as it usually does. Well lo and behold, after messing a bit with this Neon on the interstate, (max speed only about 105), after I slowed down the a/c blew only lukewarm even on its lowest climate control setting (60). Can we recharge this ourselves? Or am I looking at another $700 repair bill like I had 3 years ago? I hope I did a good thing by switching from r-12. cry rant

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Grab yourself a $20.00 bill, get a hose, a 2oz oil fill, and a can of R134. Put the oil in first, then the refrigerant. You're in business.

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

hells yeah, easy as pie, done it one 3 cars myself. i highly recommend the recharge kit from autozone, the hose has a metal coupling. ive seen some with plastic that just break and are no good.

 

[SHOfun 93]

2 questions...how much $$ am I looking at...(mikey said about $20)..and where exactly do I put this "oil" and refrigerant at?? Thanks a bunch guys...and *whew* glad this wasn't a major deal..however...does this mean I have a leak somewhere that needs attention? I thought refrigerant didn't get used up? shrug

<small>[ May 23, 2003, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: Jeremy Hohn ]</small>

 

[Mike Kopstain]

It still cracks me up to see Birchum as your avatar. I think I'm going to get Elmer.

You want to have the A/C on "Max A/C" blowing full when you charge it, engine on of course. There is a schrader fitting on an upside down "U" shaped metal hose. That is where you want to fill.

You do have a leak, but for repair costs, I would just opt to refill it every year. My 95' needs to be charged every year, but then holds the charge all summer. This year, I have a full charge and haven't had to charge it since last June, so I'm a bit shocked. Anyhow, have fun. It's an easy job, so fret not.

 

[rangerj]

Jeremy,

If you need a charge, then you have a leak. That having been said, you can add a charge through the low pressure port (schrader valve with the light blue cap over the R-134a conversion connector). It is back by the firewall on the passanger side.

Get a can of R-134a with a couple of ounces of oil in with the refrigerant. In fact get a can of refrigerant with oil, a system conditioner and a "stop leak" additive. These are sold at Auto Zone and other auto parts stores.

There are kits that have the filler hose with the valve for the can connection, refrigerant, and some even have a pressure gauge.

Your refill could last you all year or even longer. Try this first. $20 is about right, depending on the kit.

Add the charge with the engine running and the A/C on full as stated above. rangerj

 

[SHOfun 93]

Thanks again guys, I will pick some up tomorrow when I get my free brake pads with my lifetime warranty on my PFCs! boink

 

[bybyc5]

also to keep from overcharging the system if you have a thermometer you can check the temp out of the vent should be about 45-40 degrees.

 

[Jr's Sho]

While we're on A/C system questions, whenever I add freon to my car, it takes a long time for it to suck the can down. On my Sunbird yesterday, it took half the can and then it seemed like the can froze up before I could charge the system. What would keep the compressor from taking in all the freon at one time?
Note: I've had the same problem on a couple of cars, not just my Sunbird. Thanks.

 

[93EmeraldMTX]

i wish mine used 134

 

[fred79]

Jr sho are you turning the can upside down?
if the can is meant to feed a gas and teh pick up is at teh top of teh can then you may be delivering liquid which could freeze up and slow teh transfer.

 

[Jr's Sho]

The can is held right side up. I just hook the can to the hose, hook the hose to the car, and set the can down. It's not supposed to be upside down is it?

 

[fred79]

no it shouldn't be upside down Thats what it sounded like you did by the discription(freezing of can)
maybe there is too much pressure in the system already?

 

[clintonk]

It can take quite a while to get the whole charge in. I usually speed the process considerably by immersing the can (right side up) in warm (not hot) water.

Clinton Knight
'90 White 189K
'95 Green 59K

 

[Mark W]

93emeraldmtx - my mechanic swaps R12 systems over to R134 for $130 out the door (assuming no leaks - he won't do it unless he can fix any leaks). The $130 covers: vacuum down the system, check for leaks, add 2.5 lbs of R134, and 3 oz of Castrol synthetic oil.

It cools as well as R12, and once it's been converted, you can refill it yourself, as per all the posts above. You should be able to find someone who can change it over for around the same money. Don't let anybody tell you it doesn't work. It does.

 

[sideSHO]

If you're going to convert from R-12 to 134 don't fill to R-12 capacity with 134a.134a expands more than R-12 so you dont need as much.Im not sure on the numbers though. shrug

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

93EmeraldMTX:
i wish mine used 134

you can have the system evacuated for cheap im sure and convert it yourself or you could just **** it all out into the atmosphere for free *cough* not that i condone that sort of thing....

 

[aviator]

2.5 lbs. sounds like a lot of freon. maybe that is why i am still having problems with mine. i did the conversion with the kit that you can buy over the counter. it came with three cans of 134. i still have problems with the a/c working. it seems like the compressor works ok, maybe i just have a serious leak. can the compressor be intermittent?

cs

 

[SHOfun 93]

Well went to autozone and bought one of their inline hoses for the refull along with a pressure gauge and the dang thing wont hook up to the low pressure outlet on the conversion kit! Could the shop have used something proprietary? Or do those hoses come in other sizes! Help I'm burning up! rant

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

Jeremy Hohn:
Well went to autozone and bought one of their inline hoses for the refull along with a pressure gauge and the dang thing wont hook up to the low pressure outlet on the conversion kit! Could the shop have used something proprietary? Or do those hoses come in other sizes! Help I'm burning up! rant

there is an assortment of fittings to mount the house on the fill port that came with the kit i got from autozone so im sure youll need something. im sure if you go back and tell them what youre looking for they can steer you in the right direction.