Home a/c recharge kits

Macdaddy4738

Macdaddy4738

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2005
Do these actually work? A/C on the XJ is going out and its become a pain.

If these suck, what other options are out there?
 
Its not the correct way, it may work if the refrigerant is low. But unless you know what's wrong your just shooting in the dark. Does the compressor clutch kick on? Could it be vacuum or blend door related. It would be worth your money to have the system evacuated and vacuum tested then recharged if you feel its low. Otherwise you have no way of knowing how much is in the system.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
 
I wish they never even sold these things (I work at a parts store), people always ask if we can recharge the sys and or bitch that it didn't work because they either have a leak or overcharged the sys and have issues else where. I'd do as advised above.
 
Recently did a recharge with an off the shelf kit on my fathers 97 Buick. It did the trick and was trivial to do. It's been blowing cold all summer now. May be the exception, not sure but we were quite pleased with how well it went.
 
If it's just leaking, the kits at the store work fine. Check the low side pressure, go from there.
 
I also agree with the last two. I fix up and sell old Toyotas and 90% of the time they need only a small charge. The 134 kits I buy from the parts store have a guage to tell you when the system is full, not sure abiout the R12 ones, but I imagine they are the same...I have/use an R12 manifold gauge set you can borrow if its R12.
 
If it's R12 you won't be able to buy the refrigerant unless you have a HVAC license. You will want to convert to R 134a anyway since it's cheaper.
 
I used the cheapo r134 kit from Autozone, worked great. No complaints. I heard if you overcharge it though it will cause more problems.
 
If it's R12 you won't be able to buy the refrigerant unless you have a HVAC license. You will want to convert to R 134a anyway since it's cheaper.
Click to expand...
I was in this situation and bought this alternative. Reasonable price and works just great. Use two cans to bring my r12 compressor from blowing hot air to nice and chilly again.

http://autorefrigerants.com/co00033.htm
 
How do I tell what type it even is? This is actually the first vehicle I've owned with A/C so I have no clue what I am doing.
 
It should say right on it what refrigerant type and charge it's using. There was a cutoff year for R12, so if it's before that, look at the fittings and see if conversion fittings have been installed on it to use R134.
 
The R 12 fitting will be threaded on the outside of the fitting when you take the cap off. An R134a fitting will look more like a large compressed air fitting (i.e. quick connect.)
 
Back
Top