Anyone with A/C Recharge Experience?

[tshegos]

Posted this request on the other Renn site with little response..

In the spirit of the forums, an exhaustive search did not reveal the help I need.

I need a quick fix. I have a wedding to attend in a couple of days and my A/C stopped blowing cold. It is predicted to be in the 90s for the wedding. If I don’t get the A/C cold (she will want to take the Rover- Eeks!).

The air slowly lost it's coolness over a month or so. I realize there is probably a root cause (and expensive fix) for the warm air – however, no time to a trip to the dealer. I’ve watched people recharge their A/C systems and it appears to be fairly simple.

Does anyone have experience or have a cook book for the recharge process.

[TRIATHLETE]

Posted this request on the other Renn site with little response..

I need a quick fix. I have a wedding to attend in a couple of days and my A/C stopped blowing cold. It is predicted to be in the 90s for the wedding. If I don’t get the A/C cold (she will want to take the Rover- Eeks!).

The air slowly lost it's coolness over a month or so. I realize there is probably a root cause (and expensive fix) for the warm air – however, no time to a trip to the dealer. I’ve watched people recharge their A/C systems and it appears to be fairly simple.

Does anyone have experience or have a cook book for the recharge process.

Find a reputable independant A/C specialist in your area and have the system diagnosed. My guy charges $59 for the complete analysis, including dye to find leaks. They performed the diagnosis and topped off the system while I waited - 30-40 minutes. This will keep you out of the Rover and get you to the wedding on time... ;)

You should have cold air for a few weeks and can address the source of the leaks or other issues after the honeymoon. Good luck.

[wwest]

"Asked and answered."

[george_k]

Try adding a can of Refrigerant 134A from an auto parts store until you can do the proper fix, they sell a short hose just to be used with these

cans that connects to the low pressure side of the AC system lines. the fittings are different sizes so you cannot mistakenly connect to the high pressure side.

the system holds about 2 lbs of freon so 1 can will probably get you some cooling again. - be sure to have the engine running and the ac on max as you add the can.

there is a stop leak for AC systems as well - got mine at AutoZone, i have used it in the past and it works sometimes, My moms 94 benz had a leaky evaporator, the dealer wanted $3100 to fix it

put a can of this stuff in 6 months ago and its still blowing cold - she was giving the car to my nephew for a starter car otherwise I probably would have done a proper fix with an independent shop.

George

[fasterjames]

Try adding a can of Refrigerant 134A from an auto parts store until you can do the proper fix, they sell a short hose just to be used with these

cans that connects to the low pressure side of the AC system lines.

I had heard it's a good idea to 'recharge' an R-134a system even if there is no problem. Also if you use one of these, how can one adjust the pressure/know the pressure needed so that it doesn't exceed the max pressure in the A/C system?

Does anyone know about this?

[wwest]

Try adding a can of Refrigerant 134A from an auto parts store until you can do the proper fix, they sell a short hose just to be used with these

cans that connects to the low pressure side of the AC system lines.

I had heard it's a good idea to 'recharge' an R-134a system even if there is no problem. Also if you use one of these, how can one adjust the pressure/know the pressure needed so that it doesn't exceed the max pressure in the A/C system?

Does anyone know about this?

R134a recharging kit, $20, includes pressure gauge and directions for monitoring low side pressure for correct recharge level.

[PTEC]

Try adding a can of Refrigerant 134A from an auto parts store until you can do the proper fix, they sell a short hose just to be used with these

cans that connects to the low pressure side of the AC system lines.

I had heard it's a good idea to 'recharge' an R-134a system even if there is no problem. Also if you use one of these, how can one adjust the pressure/know the pressure needed so that it doesn't exceed the max pressure in the A/C system?

Does anyone know about this?

I definitely would not charge an ac system that is working properly. In order to achieve maximum cooling there needs to be a certain amount of refrigerant and having too much can cause just as many problems as having not enough.

[wwest]

Try adding a can of Refrigerant 134A from an auto parts store until you can do the proper fix, they sell a short hose just to be used with these

cans that connects to the low pressure side of the AC system lines.

I had heard it's a good idea to 'recharge' an R-134a system even if there is no problem. Also if you use one of these, how can one adjust the pressure/know the pressure needed so that it doesn't exceed the max pressure in the A/C system?

Does anyone know about this?

I definitely would not charge an ac system that is working properly. In order to achieve maximum cooling there needs to be a certain amount of refrigerant and having too much can cause just as many problems as having not enough.

Actually if you follow the directions carefully, correctly, you will not overcharge your system.

DIY charging is done via the refrigerant line valve on the "low" side and the pressure gauge supplied with the R134a recharge kit has adjustable compensation for current OAT, Outside Air Temperature. The low side should never be charged to a level above 40PSI and the 40PSI gauge mark is adjustable in accordance with OAT.

[neil.c]

The diy stuff never worked for me, you most likely have a leak and as it costs about the same to have it diagnosed as it does to buy the diy stuff to me it is a no-brainer

[wwest]

The diy stuff never worked for me, you most likely have a leak and as it costs about the same to have it diagnosed as it does to buy the diy stuff to me it is a no-brainer

The most recent event for me is that my brother took his '91 LS400 in to Goodyear for an oil change. You know, Goodyear, the place, like Firestone, that bonuses employees by 30% of parts and labor for "upselling" customers. Within a week there was NO refrigerant in the system. When I came on the scene the low side valve looked to be leaking, oily dirt accumulated all around and nearby, and for some strange reason a red straw from a WD-40 can (used to make it look as if the valve was leaking??) lying under the cruise control servomotor.

Just prior to July 4th I recharged with 32 ounces of R134a and as of today he says the A/C is still working well.

"Man"..ual valve leak?

[tshegos]

Just a quick follow-up to this post. I struggled through my stubbornness and took the car to a local service station (I’m 45 minutes from a P dealer).

The AC values are in the front trunk. They can be found under the right (passenger side) plastic cover near the cabin filter. The shop had a fairly large machine with 2 lines. The mechanic explained the system ‘should’ be vacuumed before adding coolant – any coolant still in the system is reclaimed. Once this system was clean, 1.95ozs of coolant was added. The whole took about 30 minutes and my air was REALLY cold immediately following.

The damage was $80.

[demosan]

Just a quick follow-up to this post. I struggled through my stubbornness and took the car to a local service station (I’m 45 minutes from a P dealer).

The AC values are in the front trunk. They can be found under the right (passenger side) plastic cover near the cabin filter. The shop had a fairly large machine with 2 lines. The mechanic explained the system ‘should’ be vacuumed before adding coolant – any coolant still in the system is reclaimed. Once this system was clean, 1.95ozs of coolant was added. The whole took about 30 minutes and my air was REALLY cold immediately following.

The damage was $80.

Glad to hear the "quick fix" service at the local service station seemed to resolve your lack of cold A/C. You mention in your note the system took 1.95 oz. of refridgerant. Didn't it really take 1.95 lbs?? I am about to recharge my system in MY 2002 and will use the pressure valve to determine appropriate additional R134-A t add to fully charge and the 1.95oz number implies one can ( or less) will fill system??.

Demosan

[TRIATHLETE]

Just a quick follow-up to this post. I struggled through my stubbornness and took the car to a local service station (I’m 45 minutes from a P dealer).

The damage was $80.

Glad to hear the "quick fix" service at the local service station seemed to resolve your lack of cold A/C. You mention in your note the system took 1.95 oz. of refridgerant. Didn't it really take 1.95 lbs?? I am about to recharge my system in MY 2002 and will use the pressure valve to determine appropriate additional R134-A t add to fully charge and the 1.95oz number implies one can ( or less) will fill system??.

Demosan

Demosan - I think tshegos meant 1.95 LBS as he said they evacuated the systen before replacing freon. (The system holds 2lbs and the system will not cool when you get below 1.75 lbs.) What I want to know is did the A/C guy find the leak(s).

[tshegos]

Nice catch guys. It IS LBS. The point was that you should not expect to put a full 2lbs in the system.

It's been in the 100s here and I'm still chilly cool (even with black leather).....