I have searched with no luck on how to recharge the ac and have it running cold, again? I noticed it wasn't as cold as usual a couple of days ago and today, it wasn't cold at all. Please, help before the eyes of summer barbecue me facade beyond the color of parched ground.

 

go to a parts store and buy a ac recharge kit. i just did the wifes car a week ago and it works great. the kit i got u hook up to the low pressure line and crack the bottle open and drain it in. when the bottle gets almost empty turn the ac on and get it workin thru the system. u mite have to do this with 2 kits. i live up in toronto ontario canada and i got mine from canadian tire for 50 bucks. works great. im sure u can get them at like pep boys or auto zone or a parts store from where you live

 

Do yourself, your wallet, and the environment a favor, go and get your system serviced professionally. A/C systems isnt really something some average joe could do on their own. You likely have a leak in your system that is releasing freon.

A professional would be able to detect it, repair it, evacuate your system and then recharge it correctly. They evacuate the system by drawing a deep vaccum several times to remove as much air and whatever water vapors that got in the system. Then they add back in freon and oil if necessary and make sure the pressures are all correct. It is possible to add too much freon which is bad for the compressor.

The vaccum pump, gauges and attachements arent something everyone can easily pick up, nor is the requiste training. If you live in the states, you cannot buy the now expensive R-12 without the EPA certification (which is supposedely easy to do, just pass the 30 minute test and ur done)

Janos

 

I had the AC changed from R12 to R134A in July 2005 and it's been working great until yesterday. Anywho, any more opinions on this subject, EFers?

 

dont do it yourself. you will just eff it up. the universal kits will probably super overcharge your system and you will end up going to a shop and have them fix it.

 

You do not know how to recharge ac, you will damage the system. You will want to drain any old freon connect hose to low end side, turn car on and ac on full blast.
Then fill car with freon.

 

It's a leak. Get it fixed otherwise you'd be filling it back up again and again.

Janos

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by braass91 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had the AC changed from R12 to R134A in July 2005 and it's been working great until yesterday.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Did you change the compressor oil as well? R12 and R134a use different oils, and you MIGHT have a bad compressor now. Check to make sure the compressor still spins when the AC is on. If it does, buy a recharge kit from any store and follw the directions on the can...the ones with the inline gauge will help prevent an overcharge, and most come with a universal snap-on fitting. But then again, since you had r12, the fittings might be different, as r12 and r134a hoses are different.

-former HVAC/R wholeseller with EPA certification

 

It's a leak. Get it fixed otherwise you'd be filling it back up again and again.

Janos

I think you're right since this is only the second time the AC is not blowing cold since 1991 when I bought me baby brand new. Plus, the AC was converted from R12 in 2005.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KillBot &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Did you change the compressor oil as well? R12 and R134a use different oils, and you MIGHT have a bad compressor now. Check to make sure the compressor still spins when the AC is on. If it does, buy a recharge kit from any store and follw the directions on the can...the ones with the inline gauge will help prevent an overcharge, and most come with a universal snap-on fitting. But then again, since you had r12, the fittings might be different, as r12 and r134a hoses are different.

-former HVAC/R wholeseller with EPA certification</TD></TR></TABLE>

I had the AC system changed to R134a at a shop specializing only in Hondas and Acuras and have been going there for years so I wouldn't know but the compressor works.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Janos Lin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's a leak. Get it fixed otherwise you'd be filling it back up again and again.

Janos</TD></TR></TABLE>

Once the AC is recharged and all hoses, etc., are leak free, how many years does the AC usually stay cold if one lives in the Sacramento area where the summer is hot?

 

It becomes warm because the freon is leaking out. That thing is what carries the heat. If there is no leaks, and it's holding it's charge, it'll last, and stay cold forever until it leaks again. The fittings and o-rings on the system are intended to keep it sealed to prevent much if any leaks. It should basically last the lifetime of the vehicle. But life happens, and stuff gets damaged, and o-rings fail early, etc.

Janos

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hovey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">go to a parts store and buy a ac recharge kit. i just did the wifes car a week ago and it works great. the kit i got u hook up to the low pressure line and crack the bottle open and drain it in. when the bottle gets almost empty turn the ac on and get it workin thru the system. u mite have to do this with 2 kits. i live up in toronto ontario canada and i got mine from canadian tire for 50 bucks. works great. im sure u can get them at like pep boys or auto zone or a parts store from where you live</TD></TR></TABLE>


Don't do this. The auto parts store stocks r-134a, which is not compatible with the old R-12 in your car now. Try this instead http://freeze-12.com/ its compatible with r-12 and is supposed to work better than r-134a.

 

His vehicle has already been converted to R134a.

Although, I agree if your car is R12, use Freeze-12. I put it in my brother's car and it works great.

 

sweet, I was going to try it out. what do I need to use it?

 

Just the hose/valve. Ebay has kits for like $40-$50.

 

is the a/c fan working correctly?

 

R132 , r12 etc do not get consumed as you use air conditioning. if it leaks out. putting more in, is just going to leak out again. as far as runnign r12 or r132, and the conversion.. it usually just consists of new o rings. R132's molecules are smaller than that of r12, so it is more prone to leak. to anyone servicing their ac on their own in the back yard. i'd say bring it into a shop to have serviced!as they have the proper recovery equipment to completly evacuate your ac system and refill. in case anyone has noticed , it is becoming increasing more common in places to require odp certification to purchase refrigerants, and there's a reason for it

 

i worked at a shop, yeah we had a recovery machine... did we ever use it? good question

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by welfarepc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i worked at a shop, yeah we had a recovery machine... did we ever use it? good question</TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you saying, some shops basically do a DIY job w/o using a recovery machine?

 

another thing, when you take it somewhere, if it doesnt already have dye in the system they will pump some in and let it run, then check everything with a uv light and glasses. freon doesnt evaporate or just get old and not work. if its not blowing cold its coming out of somewhere. compressor, dryer, condenser...we had one at work today that just had a bad valve in a line. so...go get it checked!

 

depends on what they were doing. I don't know if it's legal to vent R134a, but it is ILLEGAL to vent R12. R12 has to be captured using a recovery device. I think they can sell the captured R12. It's worth quite a bit as R12 is no longer made in the united states, and foreign sources are illegal also. But we can recycle what already exists.

Janos

 

Okay. Apppointment set for Friday. Thanks to all.