How to Recharge AC
Recharge your A/C in 30 minutes with a special recharging kit
Family Handyman
Improve the cool of your car ‘s air conditioner with an easy-to-use A/C recharge kit. You can do it in four dim-witted steps. We besides tell you when it wo n’t work and when you should take your cooling problem to a pro.
Reading: How to Recharge AC
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Overview: Assess the cooling problem and buy an AC recharge kit
Quick disconnect fitting for AC recharge charging port
This fit in some recharge kits makes a immediate, solid association to the AC recharge charging port .
If your A/C system blew ice-cold atmosphere last class but scantily cools now, chances are it lost some refrigerant over the winter. That happens in older vehicles when the aging seals abridge and some refrigerant leaks out .
Topping off a car alternating current system can normally put you back in the deep freeze. That ’ s a subcontract you can do yourself if your vehicle was made after 1993 and is filled with R-134a refrigerant ( check the label under the hood or the specifications section of your owner ’ randomness manual to be certain ) .
Note: Some states impose restrictions on the sale of R-134a refrigerant to consumers. In some cases, the cans may have a different purpose, requiring different charge procedures. Recharging AC won ’ thymine fix all A/C problems. But if you ’ ra will to gamble about $ 50 on a recharge alternating current kit, you might be a aplomb dandy in less than an hour. You can save about $ 100 in labor costs by doing the car actinium recharge job yourself .
Stop at any car parts store and pick up an R-134a A/C recharging kit. I used the A/C Pro product shown here because it came with a reclaimable gauge and a quick-connect adjustment, and the refrigerant contained a navy seal conditioner additive. But you can use any trade name for a car actinium recharge. Warning: The electric AC recharge compressors in hybrid vehicles are ill-sorted with the oils and seal conditioners used in many retail recharging kits. Using the incorrect car ac recharge kit can result in a deadly electric shock. Check the car alternating current recharge product ’ s label for compatibility with your hybrid vehicle before buy. If you ’ re not certain, take it to a pro .
Caution
refrigerant can cause frostbite and dangerous eye injuries if used improperly. Follow all the admonitory information in the kit out instructions, and wear gloves and goggles during the routine .
Recharge your A/C system
Photo 1: Find the right port for your ac recharge
Compare the tube size going to each A/C charging port. The thick tube is the low-pressure line and the one to use for recharge .
The port with the smaller tube is the wrong one.
Photo 2: Connect the gauge hose
Unscrew the larboard cap and put it in a safe plaza. Support the tubing with your fingers and squeeze the connection onto the port in one immediate motion .
Photo 3: Check the compressor clutch
Examine the center of the A/C compressor to see if the cling to is spinning or stationary. Don ’ thymine confuse the cling to with the belt pulley .
Photo 4: Add refrigerant
Hold the can upright and squeeze the trigger ( or open the valve ). then rock the can from 12 oxygen ’ clock to 3 o ’ clock until the gauge needle reaches the recommend press .
Pop the hood and find the low-pressure cable and port ( photograph 1 ). then connect the bore ( photograph 2 ). Check the atmospheric pressure read on the estimate. If it reads zero, your system is completely empty and this rectify won ’ metric ton work. You need to take your vehicle to a professional. If the gauge shows some blackmail, start the engine and turn your A/C to “ Max ” and the fan to “ High. ” then check the compressor seize ( photograph 3 ). If it ’ second spinning, add refrigerant until the gauge reaches the recommend press shown in the instructions. But don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate overfill ! besides a lot refrigerant actually reduces cool .
If the compressor cling to international relations and security network ’ thyroxine spinning, add one-half can of refrigerant. If it then starts spin, continue adding refrigerant until you reach the recommend pressure. however, if the clasp won ’ thyroxine spin after adding half a can, stop. Your leak is excessively serious to handle with a top-off—it needs a professional automobile mechanic .
When you ’ re done, disconnect the hosiery connection and reinstall the port capital .
Protect the Environment
fair because you can keep recharging your A/C yourself doesn ’ thymine mean you should. Leaking R-134a harms the environment by contributing to global heating. If you recharge actinium and it runs low again in a few months or before next spring, you ’ ve got a fairly boastfully leak. Take it to a professional and get it fixed.
Required Tools for this AC Recharge Project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY car alternating current recharge project lined up before you start—you ’ ll save time and frustration .
- Pliers
- Safety glasses
You’ll also need plastic gloves.
Required Materials for this AC Recharge Project
You ’ ll besides need plastic gloves. Avoid last-minute denounce trips by having all your materials ready ahead of clock time. hera ’ s a list .
- A/C recharge kit
