Just purchased a '95 Civic, but the AC is not cold. I know it is 134a, so I can buy a recharge kit, but does anyone have any reccomendations?

Also, is it physicaly possible to see if the AC Compressor clutch is engaging?

 

If you look at the compressor, you will see the pulley that the belt turns, and then the clutch on the very end. If the clutch is engaged, it will be spinning, otherwise just the pulley will spin, leaving the rest of it still.

 

It might have a leak, if you fill it, it will just creap out into the environment again. Dump some dye in the system, charge it, run it for a minute or two, then check for leaks with a blacklight.

 

Got it all worked out. Thought I should post just incase anyone searched for this later on.

I bought the RFC134a Recharge kit for $25. Came with hose, regulator, and a 14Oz can. My AC Compressor wasnt turning before, but once it got some coolant in it, it works like a charm.

Another note: If the gauge dosnt work, its bad. Go back and get another. The first one I got was borked.

 

Nice...Im thinking about buying one of those kits...Did your a/c only turn on at the highest setting?

 

You have to have the AC set to 4 on the HVAC controls. I didnt try recharging it with the settings on lower.

Can't beat it for $25! Plus the girl messed up and gave me $10 in change and I didnt catch it, so I got it for $15.

One can barely did my AC though, but it was bone dry. The can I bought was 14oz (11oz of refrigerant, 2oz Lubricant). Minimum is 14.XXoz in our systems, Max is 19.xxoz. Just some FYI.

 

walmart sells rechrge kit for less than 20$

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NotSoSimple &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Another note: If the gauge dosnt work, its bad. Go back and get another. The first one I got was borked. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup the gauge that came with my kit was messed up and kept telling my my system was full when it was bone dry.

 

hey is easy.....in autozone you can buy a whole kit for like $25 with a hose and gauge...the freon is mixed with oil for the compressor also......turn your car on to max cold ac, then take a screwdriver and push against the pin in the low side conector.....as the pressure is being released, LOOK AWAY IT CAN MESS UP YOUR EYES!!! Then plug in the hose and turn the can upside down and you can feel the can getting cold, moving from the top to bottom....follow the gauge and you should be fine...

 

Guys, if you're going to do the R134 retrofit...it is VERY important to get all the R12 out before hand.

Take it to a shop and have them put it on the vacuum to get out any remaining R12/residue.

If you fail to do this, you may be unhappy with the results and you may blame the kit/company etc.

If you get the R12 evacuated, and then properly peform the R134 conversion you'll be happy as can be. I did the R134 conversion on one of my cars and it turned out colder than my car that's fully functional with an R12 system.

Can't beat that!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by malubawla &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey is easy.....in autozone you can buy a whole kit for like $25 with a hose and gauge...the freon is mixed with oil for the compressor also......turn your car on to max cold ac, then take a screwdriver and push against the pin in the low side conector.....as the pressure is being released, LOOK AWAY IT CAN MESS UP YOUR EYES!!! Then plug in the hose and turn the can upside down and you can feel the can getting cold, moving from the top to bottom....follow the gauge and you should be fine...</TD></TR></TABLE>

DO NOT DO THIS! You don't need to press it with a screw driver, simply push the hose on, screw in the valve so it punctures the can, release so the refridgerant can run from can thru hose into the system.

 

its better to do that and let the pressure out, otherwise you will end up just wasting bottles of freon, i have done it many times, always works

 

You can screw up the valve though...Not a good thing, that and you spew coolant all over your engine and engine bay.