Thread: Recharging a/c

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  1. #1 Recharging a/c 
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    Is it really that hard to recharge the a/c? Advice? They come with gauges on some of them so you can't really over charge. Where do you start hi or low? The low is the one against the firewall by the brake fluid right?
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  2. #2 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    Should only take you like 5-10 min.
    The recharge kit only connects to the one by the firewall, the other one is a different size.
    2003 Redfire Metallic Chevy Tahoe Z71 - Airaid Modular Intake Tube, Flowmaster Exhaust.
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  3. #3 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    You should really use a gauge set that way you can tell exactly what's going on. That said depending on temp low side is usually 40 and high side will be 240 when running and you should have about 38-40* air coming out of the vent. If you get really high, high side pressures it could indicate an obstruction in the system. Refer to the chart that comes with a gauge set.

    Jeff
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  4. #4 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    You can charge by weight. The low side is very hard to indicate level of charge. As the low side is regulated by the compressor. If your able to get a hold of a gauge set and can check the high side. Rough estimate of a full charge is 2.5 x ambient temperature.
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  5. #5 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    So the gauge that comes with the recharge kit won't tell me what's in the system already? I really don't want to over charge it and mess up my compressor
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  6. #6 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    There are 2 sides of the system. The low pressure side which is where you put freon in, this is sometimes also referred to as the suction side this is going to the inlet of the compressor. The high side is where the compressor, compresses the freon to go through the orifice tube (a restriction), this restriction then leads to the evaporator where it draws heat from the air passing over it and the air comes out cold. You need to be able to see the high side pressure so that you can tell that is really the problem. If you have sky high high pressure and really low pressure on the low side then it can indicate that the orifice tube has some blockage. It can also tell you other things too. Some compressors are variable output and I have had the one on my Park Ave stuck on the low setting so at speed the system cooled well, but idling in traffic it wouldn't put out unless I held the rpms at about 1,500 rpm. I had normal low side pressure and low high side pressure. Down here the temps stay in the 90's pretty much all summer long. A gauge set will have a chart that tells you what the pressure should be based on ambient temperature. When you have freon already in the system it is hard to fill by weight because you don't know how much you have to begin with and since there isn't a dipstick you can check your only way to tell is with a gauge set.

    It's a little more complicated than this but it gives you a picture of what is going on.



    Jeff
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  7. #7 Re: Recharging a/c 
    GTP Level Member 99GT2dr's Avatar
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    Guage that connects to the can has always worked good enough for me, if something is messed up in your system you'll be in the yellow on the guage and it still won't be blowing cold.
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  8. #8 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    So hook it up put freon in system till it reaches green or yeller?
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  9. #9 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    Yeah, just make sure the car is running, with AC set to max and highest fan setting. Avoid going into the yellow, though. After adding the 1st can, you should notice some kind of difference. If it feels cooler, and you're still in the green, add another can. While you're adding, the guage might go into the yellow, you can close off the valve where the can hooks up and it should drop back down just to make sure you're still good. My regal took 2.5 cans (I'm referring to 12 oz when I say "a can", they make them in different sizes ofc).
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  10. #10 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    I never get that lucky on my own cars, only on other peoples cars can I go the easy route and not have issues. lol

    Jeff
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  11. #11 Re: Recharging a/c 
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    Yeah if that doesn't work for me, off to a place that does AC it goes, I'm not messing with all that, don't have the equipment.
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