GSRaCeRbOI

I'm curious if anyone has tried using these? do they work? I see a kit at the auto parts store that has sum guage, the blue A/C refrigerant hose, the tap/release valve, and a can of refrigerant.... I'm wondering if they work cuz I don't really want to pay sum1 to do it if the kits work and I can do it myself...

I got quoted like $300 for a recharge at some A/C shop this weekend.. I was like (verbally) to the A/C tech "lemme think about it" but was really thinking "wtf hellz naw"

ragejed

according to my ol hayes manual, thats what it told me to do...it didnt say to bring to acura to get ripped off...as for the helms...umm, its sittin on the floor right now

hybridcivic93cx

My r12 93 cx is converted to r-134. I only put 12 ounces into the system including the conversion oil/chemical and it seems undercharged. It does blow 40 degrees when moving but it goes up to like 49-50 idling at a redlight. I havent really tested it in the 98 degree and 99% humidity but it should be able to handle it. I should get it properly discharged, get a vacumn applied to check for leaks, then put the 134 back in.
Be careful not to overcharge because you might blow the valve on the compressor, the valve is 40 bucks at the dealer.

300 bucks?? 134 isnt that much, like 4 to 5 bucks a can, 12 ounce can. 300 bucks sounds like a r12 recharge.
BTW, I didnt mention that the brospeed header sitting behind the condensor might be the culprit of the temp rise when the car sits still. Good luck,


[Modified by hybridcivic93cx, 9:08 PM 7/17/2002]

Cru_Jones

I just hooked up a ghetto recharge kit from Kregan, it defenitly helped. I think if you have a healthy A/C system, the kits work well. I got the budget set up w/ no gauges, just tap the bottle and let it charge the system.

GSRaCeRbOI

hybrid hatch.. my car is 1995 so I'm pretty sure its R-134a.... how does the retrofit for the older R-12's work anyway can you explain that? just curious.... but I'm pretty sure my car is R-134 the kits said if your car is 1993 and under you need the R-12 to R-134a retrofit kit.. but if its 1994 and above then you use another kit.. which is just a R-134a recharge.. I was planning to try the $35 kit which comes w/ the blue R-134a recharge hose, T-tap valve, a guage to tell you if its low, full, or overcharged, and a tall bottle (not sure how many oz) of R134 refrigerant... and I can use all the hardware and just buy another bottle or whatever if I need more or use it in the future so if it works $30 doesn't sound bad..

I don't think my a/c is bad.. everything works and if the temp outside is 85 and under then it blows pretty cool.. however if its over 85 (or above) then it is coolER than outside but not cold.. so I'm going to try to do the $35 recharge kit and if that still doesn't work then maybe I'll give in and take it to a shop..

what is the ghetto kit from Kragen? the kit I'm talkin about is from Kragen.. it comes w/ a guage.. you mean the ones that are just a can and a hose for like $15 or 20? oh well as long as it worked thats cool.. but i'd rather have the guage so I kinda know when its full.. thanks for all you guys help/replies..

aznmc16

its very easy to recharge your AC...

look under hood. on the left side.. there should be a silver sticker that says.. AIR CONDITIONER.. its near the battery.. sorta.. it willl tell you how much to fill up on R134A.

now.. go to kragens.. buy the hose to connect the bottle of refridgerant.. its blue.. and buy like 3 bottles of the refridgerant.

I would first release all the pressure in the ac system then refilling it.

where in socal are you?

LshatchTurbo

I had to use the R-12 to R-134a retro fit kit in my 92 Hatchback. The conversion process is so easy its ridiculous. Basical you screw in now R-134a taps into the High and low pressure A/C lines. Then you even get these pretty new covers, which say "h" for high and "l" for low. I use the retrofit kit from discount autoparts. The process to recharge and fill, i read exactly as the instructions describe. I was able to recharge my R-12 system with the R-134a. My impression is that the R-12 system was a but load colder, almost to cold lol. The R-134a is will def do the job though, considering I am down here in FL right now. Obviously the older freon units are going to be colder, but arent environmental and ozone friendly. I will have to say, if u dont feel like spending alot of dough, go out and try one of these kits for your car. You can even save more money if you already have the r-134a system in your car, which 99 percent of cars do .


[Modified by lshatchturbo, 3:50 AM 7/18/2002]

GSRaCeRbOI

thanks a lot guys my car uses 134a so it should be pretty simple.. I just asked my homeboi who has done it/used the kits before and he told me that the kit I was thinking of buying will do for my car.. and after he explained the process I can't even believe I'm asking the question lOlz it sounds so simple...

for those who are wondering like I was he said theres a high and low line for the a/c... if the guage reads that the system is low/undercharged then you need to charge it (duh)... then you just screw the blue hose onto the low side of the A/C lines and attach the other end to the T-tap/valve and screw that into the refridgerant bottle then open up the valve and let the refrigerant in... then read the reading on the guage and when the guage gets up to the reading for normally charged then your good to go...

he said for the R-12 retrofits/conversion all it is is the same thing except they give you a few extra nipples/nozzles to attach to your R-12 high and low lines.. lolz why do they call it a "conversion" to make it sound all intimidating and complicated.. I thought a bunch of hardware had to be taken out or something Lolz.. they should just call it R-12 --> R134a attachments or something..

well thats what he said and it seems to match what lshatchturbo says.. sounds like a simple process and $35 and an hour of my time definately beats going to that place and paying $300.. I was expecting to pay like $150 for a shop to do it..

thanks a lot guys ..H-T

red97gsr

I tried to recharge my Civic that way and it didn't work. First, I checked the low side pressure and it was really high already. So I kinda loosened the gauge and let the pressure run down to 0. Then I did the recharge with the one can that has the R134 and the oil already mixed in. The low pressure then read really high again after the single can and the air still isn't cold. I would put in a couple more cans since people seem to think ~3 cans would be necessary, but the gauge reading for the low side is already reading 100-something with just the single can I put it. Any thoughts?

GSRaCeRbOI

I just bought a kit for $29.99 today. it was on sale.. comes w/ 3 15 oz cans of refrigerant, the blue A/C hose, an R12 conversion tops which I won't need, and the T-tap.... I also bought a guage for $9.99.. anyway does anyone know what the guage should read (psi)? I hooked it up to my A/C while the motor was running, and the a/c was on max.. it read like 30.. which according to the guage is in the "blue" cool/charged zone... does this sound right?

also when getting the guage reading I am supposed to hold it up so that the blue hose is straight up (vertical) and the line to the guage is straight correct? because when moving the guage around and holding it in diff positions the readings can change.. but holding the line straight and the guage straight above sounds logical.. please help me out if anyone knows and thank you in advance..

PnX-R

Here's food for thought.. Try letting it all out again and recharging it. You're only suppose to put in 2 cans of refrigerant. And about the oil, don't put any more of it in. It should have enough of it in there by now. Hope that helps..

Alfa95

Don't get caught releasing the air back into the atmosphere, you'll get a pretty good fine. That stuff makes the Ozone hole bigger or some shizzat like that. That is why it's expensive to recharge, because you have to vacuum suck that refrigerant and dispose of it or recycle it.

GSRaCeRbOI

well since this is my own thread and I now have an answer/update for it I'll write a reply/review for anyone that cares (prolly no1) or for those who use the search function wanting to see threads about this/recharging their A/C

well for the measly $30 I spent.. holy crap I'm impressed!!!! I spent about 30 minutes this afternoon charging my A/C.. putting in a little at a time, then taking the can/hose out, and using the guage w/ another hose to check the PSI while I had a thermometer (for A/Cs w/ a probe) inside the cars center vent.. had the car on and A/C running at max blower speed...

I filled my A/C and acording to the A/C vent thermometer/probe I bought separately the A/C now blows 48 degrees (it was at like 60 deg before).. its about mid to upper 80's today in So Cal and it blew 48 degree air out of the a/c... I've yet to test it on a 90+ degree day but I think it got cooler..

THANK YOU to everyone who replied to my thread and especially the people who detailed the charging process its really quite simple.. pretty much the same as pumping air in a tire and checking the guage.. except you do it w/ the car on, a/c running at max fill on the low side of the a/c system and its refrigerant instead of air like on tires.. but overall very easy and worthwhile to do... I'll see how it performs when it starts to heat up again here....

I spent $30 on a recharge kit that came w/ 3 - 15 oz bottles of R134a refrigerant, 1 hose, 1 t tap valve, and some R12 conversion adaptors which I don't need...

got a guage for $10, and another hose (so I don't have to keep taking it out between the can and the guage) for $10..

got the a/c vent thermometer/probe for a few bucks

it'd say it was definately worth it to do myself and save some money versus taking it to a shop where they wanted a few hundred..