How to refill A/C Options

[bloodrain]

Hey I've been noticing my A/C is smelling funny and my A/C light keeps blinking, im assuming it means its time to refill it. Anyone know how to do this and how hard is it...? Thanks guys.

[LewFX]

just buy 1394 freon or one of those recharge kits, connect to to your a/c valve and make sure you got a guage and see how much you need to fill it with.

[bloodrain]

how much and where do I find the guage? you think at a local autozone or somethin?

[LewFX]

ya autozone, kragen, etc. just the freon is like 13 bucks each, but if you dont have a guage and all that fun stuff, its gonna run 30-50

[bloodrain]

wonder how much Goodyear would charge...

[Defgeph]

I would find the leak first. Repair the leak, then fill it.
Recharge kit will not help. you'll still have the same problem.

Find a reputable mechanic, have them check it out.

DEF

[red94celicagt]

hey bloodrain, i'm having the same problem, minus the smelling...my a/c light keeps blinking also. so is it a leak, or just in need of recharging? if it is a leak, where would the leak be, and would it be fairly easy to repair or would i need to take it to a mechanic? thanks!

[XxDJFate76xX]

ok first of all, u need to put it in the right valve, the ac system has two valves one that sucks freon one that is pressurized, u must make sure u put it in the one that suks in or else u will waiste ur time.. also if u lost the freon u have a leak no matter what.. freon just doesnt go away unless there is a leak... there is some with stop leak use it if it goes away after a while again then the leak is major and u need to repair it.. another thing when u put in the freon turn on the car and run the a/c full blast

i work at autozone by the way

[Defgeph]

Ok I'll try again maybe you'll read what I have to say.
First you DO NOT have suction. Both high side and low side are positve pressure.

You need to take your car to a mechanic and find the leak. after they recover the left over refrigerant, they'll repair the leak. Once finished they will recharge your system.

Over the counter freon will not solver your problem. R134A is a cemical (HCFC). It does not get old, expire, or what ever you want to call it. They reason your a/c in not working maybe because your compressor is bad or you have a leak.

Dont charge it yourself, refrigerant can kill you. Take it to a professional, not autozone (No offense). A pro. will solve your problem the first time, not prolong the problem.


Oh, I forgot to mention. I am a Certified Universal CFC Technician with the state of New York. And Certified Refrigeration Operating Engineer with the state of New York.


Just want to save you the headache

[red94celicagt]

Ok I'll try again maybe you'll read what I have to say.
First you DO NOT have suction. Both high side and low side are positve pressure.

You need to take your car to a mechanic and find the leak. after they recover the left over refrigerant, they'll repair the leak.  Once finished they will recharge your system.

Over the counter freon will not solver your problem. R134A is a cemical (HCFC). It does not get old, expire,  or what ever you want to call it. They reason your a/c in not working maybe because your compressor is bad or you have a leak.

Dont charge it yourself, refrigerant can kill you. Take it to a professional, not autozone (No offense). A pro. will solve your problem the first time, not prolong the problem.


Oh, I forgot to mention. I am a Certified Universal CFC Technician with the state of New York. And Certified Refrigeration Operating Engineer with the state of New York.


Just want to save you the headache
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hey thanks, i am going to take it up to my mechanic, who will most likely find the leak for me at no charge, and get a price quote. do you think it will run any more than $50 for repairing and then recharging? is this something i could wait for, or should it be done ASAP (i know summer is coming up and I would love to have A/C for summer thanks again

[Defgeph]

It will cost more than 50 dollars.
Its up- to you how long you want to wait. you most likely have a small leak through a fitting. dp you hear your compressor turn on ?

[red94celicagt]

well when i start my car there is a high pitched whining sound...i know that has to do with the A/C in some way, but I don't know exactly what is wrong. Could the leak cause this noise?

[Defgeph]

I doubt a leak would cause that noise. your compressor might be acting up.

[red94celicagt]

yea, I was also thinking that. so would it be worth it to get the compressor repaired? or just to buy a new one and install it so I know no future problems will happen? also, if you have any idea...any approximate costs?

[Defgeph]

Find a mechanic and find out what the problem is.
Cost. I have no idea, it will depend on how bad it is.

DEF

[95CelicaST]

.. I remember when I was working in a shop out here. There was this new guy that came in and his first job was to recharge the A/C in an old subaru. He went over and unplugged it, sending freon up into the air. I dont know about everywhere else in the country, but freon up here is expensive beyond all belief. The shop paid about 400 dollars to fill it back up from empty.