Do You Know How To Use An Auto A/C Recharge Kit?
Is your auto A/C blowing hot air instead of cold? There might be a shortage of refrigerant in the A/C system, and this is usually the first thing that drivers check when this situation happens. Luckily, it’s easy enough to recharge the refrigerant by yourself, without having to go to a mechanic to get the job done. Though, if it is your first time doing this job, you might need some information and guidance as to how it all works, so you can safely and properly use your auto A/C recharge kit.
First Steps And Checks
The first thing you need to do is to check what type of refrigerant is being used by your auto. If your vehicle was manufactured after 1994, chances are it uses the R134 refrigerant, which is the current standard for refrigerants. Older vehicles use R12 refrigerant, but this has since been phased out.
Once you have determined the type of refrigerant, you can purchase a recharge kit. An all-in-one unit would be an affordable, easy to use kit especially good for beginners. It uses R314 refrigerant and has a built-in pressure gauge.
Before starting work, be sure to also prepare a weather thermometer, as well as safety glasses and gloves, to prevent refrigerant from coming into contact with your bare skin.
Assemble The Recharge Kit
The recharge kit comes with all the parts, but you do have to perform a simple assembly before you can start to use it. The kit should come with a pressure gauge, rubber hose, and a can of refrigerant. You want to turn the gauge counterclockwise until it stops so that the piercing pin will retract, which would be used later to pierce the can of refrigerant when it is time. Next, attach the hose to the pressure gauge, and screw it on tightly. Using the weather thermometer, check the temperature of the environment, and turn the calibration dial on the gauge to match the temperature reading. You’re all set with the preliminary setup work.
Find And Clean The Low-Pressure Port
There are two ports in the auto’s A/C system, high pressure and low pressure. Always remember to recharge through the low-pressure port. The cap over the port will have the letter ‘L’, and the hose would fit perfectly over this port (it would not be able to fit the high-pressure port). Be sure to clean the port opening before and after removing the dust cap.
Attach The Hose
Before connecting, remember to check that you turned the gauge clockwise until it stops. Then, you may connect the other end of the hose to the low-pressure port opening.
Then, check the pressure on the gauge by switching on the car engine and air conditioning. Make sure you wait a while for the pressure to stabilize before taking the reading, to minimize error.
Recharge The A/C System
Now you may remove the hose from the low-pressure port, attach the gauge on the can and turn the gauge clockwise so the pin perforates the can. You should hear a hiss as pressure is released from the can. Attach the rubber hose to the low-pressure port again before starting the engine and blasting the A/C at its highest power. Wait for a minute for the pressure to build up, then spin the gauge counterclockwise again to release refrigerant into the A/C system. The pressure gauge display will show when the system is full. Once done, close the low-pressure port by replacing the cap, and you are done.
If you need further assistance, feel free to call the experts at R & Y A/C Compressors, or check the web store for any spare parts you may need to pick up.