Do it Yourself A/C Recharge?

Lazzman · 04-29-2009, 02:18 PM

Has anyone ever used one of those do it yourself A/C recharge kits that you can buy at Pep Boys?

I forget the brand name but the can contains R-134a refrigerant, A/C compressor oil and a PSI gauge.

Positive info is always appreciated

TheJackal · 04-29-2009, 10:06 PM

Yes. Problem is, those things suck, because they only show you the low side pressure. You really do need to know both the high and low.

If your system has no static pressure at all, you'll really need to figure out why and the have it evacuated before refilling.

Perhaps we should start with, what is your problem?

*Mbrooks420* · 04-29-2009, 10:12 PM

My AC had slowly gotten luke warm last summer, and I used a can of the freon with the UV dye. AC is still cold, and works as it should.

*Four0Sport* · 04-29-2009, 10:19 PM

if the system is fine just not blowing as cold as it should/use to then yeah.. by all means grab a $20 can of freon with a guage and hose. If your A/C is blowing hot air and youve never had your system checked now would be a good time to do so. No sense spending money on freon when youre going to have to have your entire system vacc'd and checked. its actually not that expensive to have someone put a manifold guage on your a/c system and check it.

*Joe Dirt* · 04-30-2009, 12:11 AM

Yup, used one last summer and worked perfectly. A/C still icy this year.

Lazzman · 04-30-2009, 10:02 AM

First, much thanks for all of the quality responses.

Problem is the air is not blowing as cold as it should, it still gets cold but not Icy, has been about 4 or more years since I had it refilled. My thoughts are that the freon needs to be recharged?

Last time it was recharged was when the dryer unit was leaking and had to be replaced with a new one, I think that was in 2003 or so. The A/C shop who did it checked over the whole system thoroughly.

*Mbrooks420* · 04-30-2009, 10:30 AM

If you had the AC checked out 4 years ago, and it still works, just not as effectively, I'd dump a can of freon onto it. I'd image it's just low.

**Maniak** · 04-30-2009, 11:26 AM

If its getting slightly worse then adding r-134 may take care of it BUT you really should get a manifold gauge set so you can see what your system is really doing. They aren't expensive and without one you really can't "fix" a system, you can just "throw" r-134 at it.

~Mark

*jad2411* · 04-30-2009, 11:41 AM

I was advised against those unless as many have pointed out here, you have the gauge.
I was going to use one for the same reason, it was cold but not as it used to, but I didn't know how much would be ok for me to put in, so I went to a friend's shop and they checked it out and told me that my clutch fan was not working properly, thus the AC wasn't as cold as it should, and that if I had put the additional freon on the system the high presuer could have bursted some lines

Lazzman · 05-03-2009, 02:59 PM

The new do it yourself freon kits have a gauge built into them, they have the PSI range marked with a green safety zone, yellow caution and red over pressure.

Seems that it should make it pretty easy to refill.

Also the can contains oil for the A/C compressor.

**Maniak** · 05-03-2009, 04:03 PM

Those single gauge DIY kits are still crap.. just less crap.. They don't take into account the type of Orifice tube you have and can't tell you that there is a blockage or an orifice tube that has blown into the evaporator.

As cheap as a set of full gauges are.. They should be used. .they will give you all the info you need to properly diagnose/repair your system. If all your planning to do is "throw a can of r-134 at it" then the DIY with low pressure only color coded system would work but with what I know now, I'd never use one of those again.

~Mark

Steeda90GT · 05-04-2009, 07:45 AM

For $10 I would roll the dice and try it. It's worked for me about 75% of the time. Obviously if it does work, then it means that you were low on freon which indicates a leak somewhere (so eventually you'll have to throw more r134 at it)

With my old car (Mazda Protege) I used to do this every summer. Worked great and only cost $10. On my Mustang it didn't work because I had a clogged orfice tube. So the high pressure switch would activate and shut the compressor down.

I'm not an AC pro by any means, just speaking out of experience. Speaking of which, can a line still "burst"? I mean from what I've seen, if the system can't take anymore volume (on the high side) the high pressure switch activates and shuts the compressor down. Same thing when it's low on freon (since obviously it can't pressure up)

Like I said, I'm not an AC professional by any means, I'm actually a Software Developer

**Maniak** · 05-04-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeda90GT

I'm not an AC pro by any means, just speaking out of experience. Speaking of which, can a line still "burst"? I mean from what I've seen, if the system can't take anymore volume (on the high side) the high pressure switch activates and shuts the compressor down. Same thing when it's low on freon (since obviously it can't pressure up)

Not all vehicles have a high pressure switch. Our '95 Neon didn't and our '92 Explorer doesn't

~Mark

Steeda90GT · 05-05-2009, 08:15 AM

Wow, thats scary. I thought all newish vehicles did. So what happens if a line clogs? Does the system rupture?

CmdrPopNFresh · 05-05-2009, 08:53 AM

they do have reliefe valves down on the lines right at the compressor. if the pressure gets too high it vents to atmosphere....as a last resort

**Maniak** · 05-05-2009, 09:38 AM

Ditto.. the relief valve on the back of the compressor goes.. I've seen it pop before.. I was an my neighbors shop when one of his techs wasn't watching and overcharged the system and POP - HISS. All the r-134 came out. Its puts the oil everywhere and pissed off the shop owner quite a bit.

~Mark

roger · 06-22-2009, 07:31 PM

no power to ac relay compressor willnot come on

rech.robert · 07-12-2009, 03:45 PM

I just used one of those ac recharge bottles from Walmart and it works great. icy cold AC once again. Hopefully it will last and I dont have a leak.

Rob

cfd911 · 07-12-2009, 09:24 PM

i totally agree with maniak, heres where alittle bit of a/c knowledge is dangerous for those diy's , you should use a manifold gauge set to properly see what the high and low side is doing . And when adding freon you need to take into account air tempurture. you over fill the system you can damage your compressor and then you ll really be up a creek!!!

Dilbert5 · 07-13-2009, 06:51 AM

I have both ASE and EPA certs for ac work, and I cannot personally recomend these cheap kits. But I realize that when it is over 100 outside, people want their ac to work. With that being said. There are several things to keep in mind. If you buy a kit with dye, or oil mixed with the freon, if too much dye or oil is added ( you use several kits over the years ), cooling capacity will suffer. So you are better off using straight freon in these cases.

MOST IMPORTANT!! WEAR SAFETY GLASSES! While working with freon. Especially when using these cheap kits. PROTECT your eyes! These kits can restore cooling to your ac, BUT in some cases, bad things can happen. Protect your eyes with safety glasses.

04-29-2009, 02:18 PM	#1
Lazzman Wannabe Elite Explorer Massachusetts 1998 Sport 4wd- V6 Sohc Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,356 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Do it Yourself A/C Recharge? Has anyone ever used one of those do it yourself A/C recharge kits that you can buy at Pep Boys? I forget the brand name but the can contains R-134a refrigerant, A/C compressor oil and a PSI gauge. Positive info is always appreciated __________________ 1998 Sport, 4x4, K&N Filter, E3 Diamond Fire Plugs, Magnecore 8mm Wires, Screamin Demon Coil, 2.5" Flowmaster Catback, 255/70/16 tires, Performance 5R55E VB, Royal Purple synthetic lubricants, Zabteck breather bypass, 4.10 gears, Warrior Shackles, EBC Brakes.

04-29-2009, 10:12 PM	#3
Mbrooks420 High Voltage. Erie, Pennsylvania 1998 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,090 Vehicle Specs	My AC had slowly gotten luke warm last summer, and I used a can of the freon with the UV dye. AC is still cold, and works as it should. __________________ 1998 Mounty 5.0 AWD TT/Shackles/rear AirLift springs 31x10.5 Kelly TSR's 1995 Subaru Legacy AWD Sedan RIP---Killed by an suicidal deer 1972 El Camino---Project Dirty Old Chevy---Fresh Marine Longblock .060 over, Forged crank RV Cam 454/th400 swap, Hooker Headers, fresh coat of white 1999 KTM 300exc RaceTech Suspension, Rekluse Slipper Clutch, single track killer

04-29-2009, 10:19 PM	#4
Four0Sport Elite Explorer West Virginia 1993 Sport, 1997 5.0 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,582 Vehicle Specs	if the system is fine just not blowing as cold as it should/use to then yeah.. by all means grab a $20 can of freon with a guage and hose. If your A/C is blowing hot air and youve never had your system checked now would be a good time to do so. No sense spending money on freon when youre going to have to have your entire system vacc'd and checked. its actually not that expensive to have someone put a manifold guage on your a/c system and check it. __________________ 1993 Explorer Sport, EB44 SAS, 6" lift, 35x12.50s

04-30-2009, 10:02 AM	#6
Lazzman Wannabe Elite Explorer Massachusetts 1998 Sport 4wd- V6 Sohc Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,356 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	First, much thanks for all of the quality responses. Problem is the air is not blowing as cold as it should, it still gets cold but not Icy, has been about 4 or more years since I had it refilled. My thoughts are that the freon needs to be recharged? Last time it was recharged was when the dryer unit was leaking and had to be replaced with a new one, I think that was in 2003 or so. The A/C shop who did it checked over the whole system thoroughly. __________________ 1998 Sport, 4x4, K&N Filter, E3 Diamond Fire Plugs, Magnecore 8mm Wires, Screamin Demon Coil, 2.5" Flowmaster Catback, 255/70/16 tires, Performance 5R55E VB, Royal Purple synthetic lubricants, Zabteck breather bypass, 4.10 gears, Warrior Shackles, EBC Brakes.

04-30-2009, 10:30 AM	#7
Mbrooks420 High Voltage. Erie, Pennsylvania 1998 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,090 Vehicle Specs	If you had the AC checked out 4 years ago, and it still works, just not as effectively, I'd dump a can of freon onto it. I'd image it's just low. __________________ 1998 Mounty 5.0 AWD TT/Shackles/rear AirLift springs 31x10.5 Kelly TSR's 1995 Subaru Legacy AWD Sedan RIP---Killed by an suicidal deer 1972 El Camino---Project Dirty Old Chevy---Fresh Marine Longblock .060 over, Forged crank RV Cam 454/th400 swap, Hooker Headers, fresh coat of white 1999 KTM 300exc RaceTech Suspension, Rekluse Slipper Clutch, single track killer

04-29-2009, 10:06 PM	#2
TheJackal Wannabe Elite Explorer Mandeville, LA 1999 Explorer XL 2WD Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,067 Vehicle Specs	Yes. Problem is, those things suck, because they only show you the low side pressure. You really do need to know both the high and low. If your system has no static pressure at all, you'll really need to figure out why and the have it evacuated before refilling. Perhaps we should start with, what is your problem?

04-30-2009, 11:26 AM	#8
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,748 Vehicle Specs	If its getting slightly worse then adding r-134 may take care of it BUT you really should get a manifold gauge set so you can see what your system is really doing. They aren't expensive and without one you really can't "fix" a system, you can just "throw" r-134 at it. ~Mark __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs

04-30-2009, 11:41 AM	#9
jad2411 I'm a jackass! El Paso, TX blue 02 xlt & white 02xls Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,141 Vehicle Specs	I was advised against those unless as many have pointed out here, you have the gauge. I was going to use one for the same reason, it was cold but not as it used to, but I didn't know how much would be ok for me to put in, so I went to a friend's shop and they checked it out and told me that my clutch fan was not working properly, thus the AC wasn't as cold as it should, and that if I had put the additional freon on the system the high presuer could have bursted some lines __________________ If interior is to exterior and include is to exclude, then increment is to:

05-03-2009, 02:59 PM	#10
Lazzman Wannabe Elite Explorer Massachusetts 1998 Sport 4wd- V6 Sohc Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,356 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	The new do it yourself freon kits have a gauge built into them, they have the PSI range marked with a green safety zone, yellow caution and red over pressure. Seems that it should make it pretty easy to refill. Also the can contains oil for the A/C compressor. __________________ 1998 Sport, 4x4, K&N Filter, E3 Diamond Fire Plugs, Magnecore 8mm Wires, Screamin Demon Coil, 2.5" Flowmaster Catback, 255/70/16 tires, Performance 5R55E VB, Royal Purple synthetic lubricants, Zabteck breather bypass, 4.10 gears, Warrior Shackles, EBC Brakes.

05-03-2009, 04:03 PM	#11
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,748 Vehicle Specs	Those single gauge DIY kits are still crap.. just less crap.. They don't take into account the type of Orifice tube you have and can't tell you that there is a blockage or an orifice tube that has blown into the evaporator. As cheap as a set of full gauges are.. They should be used. .they will give you all the info you need to properly diagnose/repair your system. If all your planning to do is "throw a can of r-134 at it" then the DIY with low pressure only color coded system would work but with what I know now, I'd never use one of those again. ~Mark __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs

05-04-2009, 07:45 AM	#12
Steeda90GT Wannabe Elite Explorer Central NJ 99 Sport Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 448 Vehicle Specs	For $10 I would roll the dice and try it. It's worked for me about 75% of the time. Obviously if it does work, then it means that you were low on freon which indicates a leak somewhere (so eventually you'll have to throw more r134 at it) With my old car (Mazda Protege) I used to do this every summer. Worked great and only cost $10. On my Mustang it didn't work because I had a clogged orfice tube. So the high pressure switch would activate and shut the compressor down. I'm not an AC pro by any means, just speaking out of experience. Speaking of which, can a line still "burst"? I mean from what I've seen, if the system can't take anymore volume (on the high side) the high pressure switch activates and shuts the compressor down. Same thing when it's low on freon (since obviously it can't pressure up) Like I said, I'm not an AC professional by any means, I'm actually a Software Developer

05-05-2009, 08:15 AM	#14
Steeda90GT Wannabe Elite Explorer Central NJ 99 Sport Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 448 Vehicle Specs	Wow, thats scary. I thought all newish vehicles did. So what happens if a line clogs? Does the system rupture?

05-05-2009, 08:53 AM	#15
CmdrPopNFresh Wannabe Elite Explorer Salt Lake City, Utah '93 Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 343 Vehicle Specs	they do have reliefe valves down on the lines right at the compressor. if the pressure gets too high it vents to atmosphere....as a last resort __________________ ZAPV 6 Clutch and Flywheel replacement Genuine Ford Manuals for saleAll manuals for $11 to cover shipping My List of Usefull links and Threads

05-05-2009, 09:38 AM	#16
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,748 Vehicle Specs	Ditto.. the relief valve on the back of the compressor goes.. I've seen it pop before.. I was an my neighbors shop when one of his techs wasn't watching and overcharged the system and POP - HISS. All the r-134 came out. Its puts the oil everywhere and pissed off the shop owner quite a bit. ~Mark __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs

06-22-2009, 07:31 PM	#17
roger Wannabe Elite Explorer austin,tx 2002 EB Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1 Vehicle Specs	no power to ac relay compressor willnot come on

07-12-2009, 03:45 PM	#18
rech.robert Wannabe Elite Explorer Pittsburgh, PA 2001 Sport Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1 Vehicle Specs	AC recharge I just used one of those ac recharge bottles from Walmart and it works great. icy cold AC once again. Hopefully it will last and I dont have a leak. Rob

07-12-2009, 09:24 PM	#19
cfd911 Wannabe Elite Explorer chicago IL 01 xlt Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 81 Vehicle Specs	i totally agree with maniak, heres where alittle bit of a/c knowledge is dangerous for those diy's , you should use a manifold gauge set to properly see what the high and low side is doing . And when adding freon you need to take into account air tempurture. you over fill the system you can damage your compressor and then you ll really be up a creek!!!

07-13-2009, 06:51 AM	#20
Dilbert5 Wannabe Elite Explorer austin 97 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 129 Vehicle Specs	I have both ASE and EPA certs for ac work, and I cannot personally recomend these cheap kits. But I realize that when it is over 100 outside, people want their ac to work. With that being said. There are several things to keep in mind. If you buy a kit with dye, or oil mixed with the freon, if too much dye or oil is added ( you use several kits over the years ), cooling capacity will suffer. So you are better off using straight freon in these cases. MOST IMPORTANT!! WEAR SAFETY GLASSES! While working with freon. Especially when using these cheap kits. PROTECT your eyes! These kits can restore cooling to your ac, BUT in some cases, bad things can happen. Protect your eyes with safety glasses.