Air Conditioner Recharge
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Cottonwood Heights UT
Air Conditioner Recharge
I have a question. I found a leak in my A/C refrigerant line (not the corvette), and lost all of the refrigerant in my newer car. I've seen lately some advertisements for tubes you can purchase without the licenses to "top the refrigerant off".
I'm wondering, can those be used to completely refill the system? Do those come with the oils required?
Sharktooth
I'm wondering, can those be used to completely refill the system? Do those come with the oils required?
Sharktooth
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
Tubes? I see cans of 134 avail all the time at the parts stores. Used it in my 96 often due to a small leak. 3-4 will fill the entire system from dead empty. no license needed. almost all have oil but they are labeled.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=1927685cant order online, its in the store.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=1927685cant order online, its in the store.
Last edited by jnealg; Sep 5, 2013 at 09:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Cottonwood Heights UT
Tubes? I see cans of 134 avail all the time at the parts stores. Used it in my 96 often due to a small leak. 3-4 will fill the entire system from dead empty. no license needed. almost all have oil but they are labeled.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=1927685cant order online, its in the store.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=1927685cant order online, its in the store.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: Castle Rock CO
The 134 AC Sytems were installed in many of the 1995 cars and in all after 1996. You can run to any parts store and pickup a 134 Kit for about $25 to $60 Bucks. It will recharge the system and if it is completly drained you may need a 2 bottle kit many come with gauges on the bottles these days.
I do remember using the r12 Kits back in the 1980s and had to purchase a seperate oil can.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1783&ppt=C0050
When I was inquiring about my 1992 Miata it still required r12 and very expensive to have work done on. Looked into it over $300.00 bucks for a recharge. Since it is a converatable I never took it in.
I do remember using the r12 Kits back in the 1980s and had to purchase a seperate oil can.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1783&ppt=C0050
When I was inquiring about my 1992 Miata it still required r12 and very expensive to have work done on. Looked into it over $300.00 bucks for a recharge. Since it is a converatable I never took it in.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
oh yeah, its the same stuff you car came with, assuming it is a newer car. I think they switched from R12 sometime around 1992 or there abouts. if its anywhere near that old just check the labels usually under the hood to see if it is R12 or R134.
the stores usually have a kit with 3 cans and a hose with a gauge and instructions. be sure not to over pressurize it and you wont damage anything.
In a perfect world you should have a gauge set on both hi and lo pressure side but I wouldnt know how to use a pro gauge set anyway.
the stores usually have a kit with 3 cans and a hose with a gauge and instructions. be sure not to over pressurize it and you wont damage anything.
In a perfect world you should have a gauge set on both hi and lo pressure side but I wouldnt know how to use a pro gauge set anyway.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: Castle Rock CO
oh yeah, its the same stuff you car came with, assuming it is a newer car. I think they switched from R12 sometime around 1992 or there abouts. if its anywhere near that old just check the labels usually under the hood to see if it is R12 or R134.
the stores usually have a kit with 3 cans and a hose with a gauge and instructions. be sure not to over pressurize it and you wont damage anything.
In a perfect world you should have a gauge set on both hi and lo pressure side but I wouldnt know how to use a pro gauge set anyway.
the stores usually have a kit with 3 cans and a hose with a gauge and instructions. be sure not to over pressurize it and you wont damage anything.
In a perfect world you should have a gauge set on both hi and lo pressure side but I wouldnt know how to use a pro gauge set anyway.
The Pro Guage Kits for r12 back than were only about $100 bucks when I looked into it back in the 1980s and the R12 kits without guages were only about $30.00 bucks you used as many cans as you could at about $15 bucks each and bought an oil can also until the system would not take in anymore. Instructions were use the Oil recharge first then fill r12 until it stopped taking in any more
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 4
From: Woodbridge VA
Turns out the Autozone cans were well priced. It took two cans to replace the contents during a radiator replacement in a 2007 Explorer. The process took about 10 minutes total; the amount applied kept me cool all summer.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
R-134a is available over the counter. R-12 is not and requires an HVAC license to legally use.
Any automotive AC shop can install either version. R-12 is expensive, but still available.
Any automotive AC shop can install either version. R-12 is expensive, but still available.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Fresh Meadows New York
Mike...i always thought that R-12 was mass produced and then some before it became "endangered"...if most cars are now transferring to 134 and more r12 cars are being crushed, where is all the r12 that was produced....i always thought as time went by there would be a big surplus and therefore cheaper prices? thanks...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 22
From: Marina CA
If your system was completely empty and no vacuum left on the system, there may be air in the system which is not conducive for a recharge. You need to have the system put into a vacuum and purged of any air and impurities, make sure it holds a vacuum and then recharge the system.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
If your system was completely empty and no vacuum left on the system, there may be air in the system which is not conducive for a recharge. You need to have the system put into a vacuum and purged of any air and impurities, make sure it holds a vacuum and then recharge the system.
I agree, if you want to do it right!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 7
From: Live Free or Die. N.H.
If your system was completely empty and no vacuum left on the system, there may be air in the system which is not conducive for a recharge. You need to have the system put into a vacuum and purged of any air and impurities, make sure it holds a vacuum and then recharge the system.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Cottonwood Heights UT
If your system was completely empty and no vacuum left on the system, there may be air in the system which is not conducive for a recharge. You need to have the system put into a vacuum and purged of any air and impurities, make sure it holds a vacuum and then recharge the system.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 22
From: Marina CA
if the vacuum holds then you can meter in the refrigerant and watch the pressures. A/c systems have a specific amount of refrigerant you can't just put in 2 or 3 cans as you'll either have an overcharged or undercharged system. Somewhere on the vehicle label or the service manual will be a specic amount such as 1 pound 12 ounces.
