AC recharge

JRocker · 05-03-2007, 05:35 PM

my ac on my 1997 isnt working this summer. I was thinking of buying one of those cans of recharge. anyone have any tips?

**Rocky529** · 05-03-2007, 05:41 PM

You don't know how much is in your system currently. It is not cold because of a leak most likely... refrigerant just doesn't escape from your system.

Your best bet is to take it to an a/c shop. They can tell you where the leak is and either you or them can replace the fitting where it is leaking.

After that, it is necessary to pull a vacuum to ensure there are no leaks and to remove any moisture from the system. Next it can be charged with the correct amount of refrigerant (R-134a).

**cheesycook** · 05-03-2007, 06:48 PM

Mine hadn't worked for a while. The original owner said there was a leak in the condenser. I bought a replacement a while back and finally put her in. Words of advise, leak stop is crap and won't seal squat. Get the kit with the pressure gauge. When you first start putting a can in the pressure will fluctuate while the compressor turns and does not turn. The pressure when it is running is what you go by. The high pressure is the pressure of the bottle. Make sure the bottle is upright and the AC is set to MAX. It may take quite a bit of time. Mine took about a half hour to get a bottle of oil and two cans of refrigerant in there. Now it is almost icy cold and is still in there after four days or so.....so no more leaky. If you suspect a leak get the stuff with UV dye in it.

Combatsylvania · 05-04-2007, 06:47 AM

agree with above.. systems dont just lose charge, .. if its not charges you have a leak, adding a recharge would jut be a waste of money / pollute the air.

Take in it, have it pressure tested/fixed.. then recharge it.

pigeon · 05-04-2007, 10:02 PM

It's 10 years old. How long do you guys expect it to hold a charge. Charge it first and see what happens chances are you'll have a/c for another few years - if not at least for the summer.

**Rocky529** · 05-04-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigeon

It's 10 years old. How long do you guys expect it to hold a charge. Charge it first and see what happens chances are you'll have a/c for another few years - if not at least for the summer.

He doesn't know how much refrigerant is currently in the system. Randomly adding cans isn't the correct way to do it. I don't care if it is 20 years, refrigerant just doesn't vent to the atmosphere without a leak.

Ten years can wear out an o-ring, certainly.

turkish6 · 05-04-2007, 11:47 PM

hey,

i was having a problem with my wifes xj. so i bought a rechill kit. it was pretty simple to use. it has a gauge on it and tells you what you have and how much to add. as stated before you need to do it with your ac at max. her ac's cold air would come and go. when i checked with gauge it was right on the lower level of what is needed. so i added almost a full can which brought it up to dead center of how much is needed. it was 40 bucks at strauss auto

05-03-2007, 06:48 PM	#3
cheesycook Accident Prone Bonehead Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Hermiston, OR Posts: 2,659 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Mine hadn't worked for a while. The original owner said there was a leak in the condenser. I bought a replacement a while back and finally put her in. Words of advise, leak stop is crap and won't seal squat. Get the kit with the pressure gauge. When you first start putting a can in the pressure will fluctuate while the compressor turns and does not turn. The pressure when it is running is what you go by. The high pressure is the pressure of the bottle. Make sure the bottle is upright and the AC is set to MAX. It may take quite a bit of time. Mine took about a half hour to get a bottle of oil and two cans of refrigerant in there. Now it is almost icy cold and is still in there after four days or so.....so no more leaky. If you suspect a leak get the stuff with UV dye in it. __________________ 98 TJ 4.0 Stick 30 Lock-Right/44 True-Track,4.56. Fire RED. Optima Red top. 3" Full Traction lift, Cragar 352 Street locks w/3.75 BS. 32" BFG AT's. Sailcloth top. Classic4x4 tubular fenders. AtoZ Fab rockers and front and rear bumpers. TBT sportsbar and rear spreader. VDP 6 speaker bar. 2K Intake Manifold. Tuffy Speaker lock boxes. Power inverter. Cobra CB. Magellan GPS. Bed lined tub. 3core HD radiator. Olds airbox with Hummer snokle. Besttop seat covers with heaters. All running lights LED.Steering and oil pan skids. Mile Marker PE8000 winch. Currie Anti-Rock. Olympic trunk. Tuffy Console....and Buddha on the winch. :) And a child seat stained with mud. Hermiston, ORL AtoZ Where Zach makes me toys! Stu-Offroad, because I don't have a clue, but Stu does!

05-04-2007, 06:47 AM	#4
Combatsylvania Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Elmvale, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,850 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	agree with above.. systems dont just lose charge, .. if its not charges you have a leak, adding a recharge would jut be a waste of money / pollute the air. Take in it, have it pressure tested/fixed.. then recharge it. __________________ 2006 TJ SE - Does what I want it to do. [URL="http://www.combatsylvania.com"]http://www.combatsylvania.com[/URL]

05-04-2007, 11:47 PM	#7
turkish6 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: new jersey Posts: 472 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	hey, i was having a problem with my wifes xj. so i bought a rechill kit. it was pretty simple to use. it has a gauge on it and tells you what you have and how much to add. as stated before you need to do it with your ac at max. her ac's cold air would come and go. when i checked with gauge it was right on the lower level of what is needed. so i added almost a full can which brought it up to dead center of how much is needed. it was 40 bucks at strauss auto