My 2000 Rams Air Conditioner needs charged. Anybody have any luck with doing it yourself and what product? Or does it just pay to take it to my mechanic/garage?
Rechargeing the AC
- Thread starter THORROMIG
- Start date
- Status
Yep! I've done two vehicles. Bought Mastercool vacuum pump, gages, and leak detection kit. Recharged with WalMart 134A & PAG oil.
Not sure if I've paid for the tools yet - but I've never been very good at financial decisions; so I'm OK with that.
Not sure if I've paid for the tools yet - but I've never been very good at financial decisions; so I'm OK with that.
Last edited:
unless you are extremely familiar with A/C recharging, servicing and diagnostics, otherwise: I'd advise against DIY recharging.
Unlike R12, R134a is not very tolerant towards overcharging and such. It's so much easier to damage the system by doing it the amateur way than, say, professionally vacuumed and then recharged with proper amount of refrigerant.
Q.
Unlike R12, R134a is not very tolerant towards overcharging and such. It's so much easier to damage the system by doing it the amateur way than, say, professionally vacuumed and then recharged with proper amount of refrigerant.
Q.
My dad took collage classes to learn how to do things like this and he still took his truck in when it needed it. I'd advise not doing it yourself
I always thought I could just use those one hose cans from walmart and it would be fine, I was wrong.
First off you dont want to use the leak sealer super whatever cans, just use straight R-134A.
Just today actually I purchased a vacuum pump and high/low manifold gauge set from harbor freight. Ended up getting the big vacuum pump because they were out of the smaller ones. About $210 dollars regular price for the pump and the gauge set, but thanks to a 25% off and a 20% off coupon I made it out of there for about $160.
Here is a great instructional video I found by ericthecarguy that mostly explains the PROPER way to recharge an AC system, minus he forgets to evacuate/purge the charge hose before filling the system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lglPJuBXVeE
I figure after 2 recharges I will have paid for the tools.
First off you dont want to use the leak sealer super whatever cans, just use straight R-134A.
Just today actually I purchased a vacuum pump and high/low manifold gauge set from harbor freight. Ended up getting the big vacuum pump because they were out of the smaller ones. About $210 dollars regular price for the pump and the gauge set, but thanks to a 25% off and a 20% off coupon I made it out of there for about $160.
Here is a great instructional video I found by ericthecarguy that mostly explains the PROPER way to recharge an AC system, minus he forgets to evacuate/purge the charge hose before filling the system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lglPJuBXVeE
I figure after 2 recharges I will have paid for the tools.
First thing you need to do is find out why it has to be recharged (there's a leak somewhere).
After whatever leak is fixed, it really should be vacuumed and then filled to proper capacity. Last time I did A/C work - I replaced the broken parts and then had a local shop vac the system for me, and then I filled it at home. Next time I'll probably buy the vacuum pump and do it all myself.
I had a Saturn that was filled from empty without vacuuming the system (engine swap). It worked, but I don't think it cooled as well as it did before.
A/C work really isn't hard, you just have to do the job right and understand what's going on and how the system works.
After whatever leak is fixed, it really should be vacuumed and then filled to proper capacity. Last time I did A/C work - I replaced the broken parts and then had a local shop vac the system for me, and then I filled it at home. Next time I'll probably buy the vacuum pump and do it all myself.
I had a Saturn that was filled from empty without vacuuming the system (engine swap). It worked, but I don't think it cooled as well as it did before.
A/C work really isn't hard, you just have to do the job right and understand what's going on and how the system works.
I think my S10 is R12, can I even GET anything to charge up via the Low-side port in that case?
If you are handy this is very easy to do. I once showed a blonde how to do it and she was able to recharge her A/C by herself after that.
Originally Posted By: mattd
Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs
I think my S10 is R12, can I even GET anything to charge up via the Low-side port in that case?
R12 is obsolete. You'd need to retrofit the system.
Naw. We make bank every summer recharging R12 cars. Some cars wont work well on R134a so they stay R12.
Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs
I think my S10 is R12, can I even GET anything to charge up via the Low-side port in that case?
R12 is obsolete. You'd need to retrofit the system.
Naw. We make bank every summer recharging R12 cars. Some cars wont work well on R134a so they stay R12.
- Status
