Recharging the A/C???????

[Beef Jerky]

To make a long story short...I had my car repaired at a body shop (front end damage) and in the process they had to disconnect the A/C...so it needs to be recharged. Can anyone give me a run down on how (if I can) to do it myself? What's needed? Where? etc. Thanks!!

 

[Defiant]

It should be their job to do it, but if the system's been opened it should be pumped down and re-loaded by a real AC shop (not really all that expensive).
Otherwise, Wal*Mart and everyone else now carries 134A and the necessary hoses.

 

[RipperXX]

oh nm he has a 2nd gen about to say it's almost as cheap to convert to 134A or whatever vs rechargeing with R-12... eh oh well i still use R12 we got cans of the shit like crazy .. besides.. I like to be icey cold at the environments expince.

 

[Beef Jerky]

Originally posted by Defiant
It should be their job to do it, but if the system's been opened it should be pumped down and re-loaded by a real AC shop (not really all that expensive).
Otherwise, Wal*Mart and everyone else now carries 134A and the necessary hoses.

Well, I know the guy at the body shop...basically he only did the work I couldn't do (straightening things out, welding,etc.) myself. I'm buying all the parts and installing everything and painting myself though. Otherwise, yeah...I would expect them to do everything necessary. I just put one can of the stuff from wal mart (can with hose already attached) in. I sprayed until I couldn't hear it spraying anymore...but it still seems like there's some stuff in the can??? Also, the A/C really doesn't seem any colder....how many cans does it usually take? Maybe I should just take it to a shop...any idea about how mcuh they charge? Thanks.

 

[Defiant]

It'll be a lot less expensive to have them do it right than it'll be to have them repair the hose you blow off by overcharging. Once an AC system is opened, it's supposed to be vacuumed down to get as much of the air and moisture out of it (especially Florida air) as possible. Might run you $150, I don't know FL prices.

 

[RipperXX]

huh? my father has a little thing i call a rig, it has 3 pressure gauges on it and two lines for cans and one to the AC it works fine screw in a can open a valve let it empty close valve unscrew and add the next can it normaly takes 3-4 someimes 5 cans depending on what car and all...

but then he has the same shit a shop does and he has never "vacumed" out a AC before filling it and it always works perfect... but anyway just take it to a shop before you mess something up.