I've got a 1994 Honda Accord LX and the A/C is not working. I found by searching the archives that '94' was the year Honda switched to R-134 refrigerant. I want to charge up the system to see if that'll do the trick for the summer. Does anyone know how many pounds of pressure I'm supposed to charge it up to? I can't find my Honda repair manual after the recent move. I don't want to overcharge the system. Thanks in advance!!

 

OK, finally found my Honda manual. It doesn't give a specific pressure but it does mention that it will shut off the compressor if the pressure is lower than 28 PSI (or over 455 PSI). Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming that you recharge the A/C through the low pressure side, correct?

 

You have to be legally certified to charge and dischare any freon system..

-Eric

 

You are referring to R-12, correct?

 

R-12 is illegal to use in cars now. For the past 12 years. I think since yours wa s origanally set up for r-12, so you have to buy a whole new r-134 certified sysyem. Mabyes just the compressor and lines but im not 100% on that one.

-Eric

 

EPA Section 609 covers technician certification in the motor vehicle sector only. Certification allows you to: (1) perform service for consideration on motor vehicle air-conditioning systems; and (2) purchase R-12 and ozone-depleting substitutes that have been found acceptable for use in motor vehicle air conditioners. Note, that while certification is required in order to service motor vehicle air-conditioners, certification is not required to purchase R-134a.


System holds .60 - .65kg I Believe.

And 94 accord was the first year of R-134. R-12 to R-134 retrofit on most hondas is pretty easy, only requires a $70 kit with new fittings and some oil.

 

Thanks rsvmille, I'll let you know how this goes.

 

Your psi should be around 30-40 on the low and 300-350 on the high. I'm probably a lttle off.

 

call your dealer or autozone and they should be able to look it up, if they cant there dumb ***'s. I work at autozone and it'll tell you that stuff.

Plus you need to flush out all the r 12 stuff. And if you buy the little 40 dollar kit
it'll come with the hose with a pressure reading and dummy answers, 3 bottles and
a fitting conversion kit. Make sure you dont get any think with stop leak, that will
@#$% up your pump. But what you should do is put some die in your system and
find where the leak is coming from. Fix that problem and recharge it with some r 134

 

Thanks all for your help. I just put some r-134a refrigerant in and the A/C is now blowing cold. I need to buy another can as the PSI is only just under 25 PSI right now. Everything seems to work fine, both fans came on and I could tell when the compressor kicked on. Man is that thing loud! I wonder if this thing is getting ready to take a dump- the clutch makes a sound when turning on and the compressor itself makes an annoying sound like it is low on oil. Anyone have some ideas of how to stop these noises? I wish I had read your post, russianswty, before buying and filling up the refrigerant because my stuff came with sealant. I hope that isn't what is causing my compressor make so much noise?!?

 

OK, now I get a nice burnt smell when I turn on the A/C, nice... Is there anyway to add oil to this thing?