AC Recharge: Does it need to be drained first?

jalusz · Jun 25, 2012

I did mine today, my AC had no pressure.
The can I bought is r134a.... most of the cans i saw were r134a.
so much colder now...

001Stunna said:
The recharge kits sold in stores are pretty easy to use.
I'd say pick up a kit that includes a sealer, a can of a/c gas and the gauge needed for it. They run around $50 in here locally.

As for the procedure...
-Turn the car on and set A/C dial to full cold, press A/C button, turn fan on full, leave windows or doors open.
-Open hood and locate the blue covered valve(low side)
-Connect the gauge to it and make sure the connector goes properly in place(it'll sort of click when it goes on)
-If system shows less then 35-40...Connect the sealer to the other side of the gauge and once fully tightened puncture the can and release back the valve to let the sealer flow through. I believe most cans ask to be held upside down.
-As the sealer is entering the system watch the gauge and make sure it doesn't go higher then 35-40psi. If it does STOP charging.
-Run the system for 20-30mins after adding the sealer to allow it to work.

PS. Doing the above will mean that any A/C shop you visit afterwards WILL hate you if they mix the stuff you put in with their freon recover tank. Let any shop that services your A/C afterwards know that you do not have the actual r134a gas in the system.

luciusad2004 · Jun 26, 2012

Thanks for the knowledge bomb guys. This seems simple enough.
Probably won't do it right away but once I get some spare cash I might give it a try.

001Stunna said:
PS. Doing the above will mean that any A/C shop you visit afterwards WILL hate you if they mix the stuff you put in with their freon recover tank. Let any shop that services your A/C afterwards know that you do not have the actual r134a gas in the system.

So, the kits sold in stores work, but don't contain the same refrigerant that normally runs in our AC systems?

001Stunna · Jun 26, 2012

luciusad2004 said:
Thanks for the knowledge bomb guys. This seems simple enough.
Probably won't do it right away but once I get some spare cash I might give it a try.

So, the kits sold in stores work, but don't contain the same refrigerant that normally runs in our AC systems?

Here in canada you cannot buy the r134a needed for our cars off the shelf. Im not sure if the same applies to The States