Anyone know what I'd need and how to do this? I did it with my uncle a long time ago on his blazer, but I don't remember a damn thing about it other than getting a can of refrigerant. It seems my A/C isn't blowing as cold as it used to. Of course it may just be that it's F*CKING HOT in Texas?

 

get the recharge kit for like autozone or pepboys for the 134A refriderant and follow the instuctions or take it somewhere to have it recharged like any auto repair shop

 

if ur AC needs a recharge then u gotta leak somewhere. get someone with a manifold guage set and test the pressure. also do a vent temp check.

 

When checking the air temp coming from the vents.... you want to put the A/C on MAX cool, drive around for 5 minutes and then check the in cab air temp near the floor and compare that temp to the air temp coming from the vents... The difference in temperatures should be about 20*. IF it is not... then you should check the your system pressures, compare them the refrigerant temperature and ambient outside air temp to determine if adding refrigerant is required.

OR 4x4

 

It's easily done by yourself. If you need to recharge it, that doesn't mean you have a leak. The refridgerant just gets used up over time. If it blows cold for a day and gets hot again, then that would be a possiblility. You want to put the can on the low pressure side of the system so that it sucks the r134a out of the can. I believe on our trucks...the 4.0 at least... it is on the passenger side right by the windshield fluid and coolant resivoirs. It's just a quick disconnect type connection. You can get a neat kit at wally world that has a gauge on the line you use to refill. kinda handy. And remember, if the can is getting cold, then you know that it's going into the system. make sure to have everything on full blast too.

 

the AC system is a closed system. there is no way the refrigerant will be "used" up...unless theres a leak.

my dads 95 effer has R-134a and the AC system has never been touched and blows out ice cold yet and he uses it everyday for 6 months outta the year. i have no idea who told u it gets "used" up...but they're wrong.

 

True ^^^

If the system has a leak, it should to be discharged into a refrigerant recovery unit for reuse and then the leak can be repaired.

Afterward, a vacuum pump must be used to remove the air and residual water from the system before recharging. If you skip this step, the efficiency of the AC system and the life of the system components will suffer.

 

dont forget the right kind of oil, for the compressor ;-)

 

PAG oil is used with R134a.
Both can be purchased at your local auto parts store.

OR 4x4

 

But if you want a to recharge the system you need to pull the system to 30mmhg of vaccum for 30 minutes and see if there is in fact a leak. I noticed people complain about the a/c not cooling "as good" because its fricking hot. If your truck sits in the sun all day it will take more time to cool, because cabin temp can reach staggering heights. Test your a/c vent temp early in the morning when temperatures are lowest. Also your evaporator fins are probably dirty and the heat exchange isnt as effective as a clean evaporator core would be. Get an evaporator core cleaning kit first. Really easy to do, just spray the aersol foam into the evaporator drain and let it drip out. It cleans and refreshes in one simple step.

 

Call me an idot, but thats the holes at the base of the windshield right?

 

Yeah I'm wondering the same thing. Where would I get one of these cleaner kits?

Reminds me once of when I went mudding, and then I turned on the A/C the next day and it blew mud flakes out at me

 

Here are some "Excerpts" I pulled from the MSDS for R134A, so be careful when you use this stuff.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
KLEAŽ134a
Alternate names: Fluorocarbon 134a, R134a, HFC134a, HFA134a
3. Hazards Identification
Emergency Overview:
Appearance: Colorless liquified gas with faint ethereal odor
Physical hazards*: Compressed liquified gas
Health hazards*: Harmful (central nervous system depression, cardiac arrhythmias)
*Hazard summary (as defined by OSHA Hazard Comm. Std., 29 CFR 1910.1200):
Potential Health Effects:
lngestion: Extremely unlikely to occur in use.
Eye contact: Liquid splashes or vapor spray may cause freeze burns.
Skin contact: The liquid form of this product may cause freeze burns (frostbite-like lesions).
Skin absorption: This product will probably not be absorbed through human skin.
(/\/\/\I thought this was Funny!)
Inhalation: Exposure to very high vapor concentrations can induce anesthetic effects progressing from dizziness, weakness, nausea, to unconsciousness. It can act as an asphyxiant by limiting available oxygen. Very high doses can cause abnormal heart rhythm which is potentially fatal.
7. Handling and Storage
Liquid refrigerant transfers between containers may generate static electricity. Ensure adequate grounding.***
9. Physical and Chemical Properties
Appearance; Colorless liquified gas
Boiling point: -15.1 deg. F., -26.2 deg C.
Vapor pressure (mmHg at 20 deg . C.): 4270
Vapor density (air = 1): 3.6***
Solubility in water: Very low
pH: Not applicable
Specific gravity: 1.22 at 20 deg. C.
% Volatile by volume: 100
10. Stability and Reactivity
Stability: Stable under normal conditions.
Incompatibility: Finely divided metals, magnesium and alloys containing more than 2% magnesium. Can react violently if in contact with alkali or alkali earth metals such as sodium, potassium or barium.
Hazardous decomposition products: Hydrogen fluoride by thermal decomposition and hydrolysis.
11. Toxicological Information
POSSIBLE HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS
Inhalation: High atmospheric concentrations may lead to anesthetic effects, including loss of consciousness. Very high exposures may cause an abnormal heart rhythm and prove suddenly fatal. Higher concentrations may cause asphyxiation due to reduced oxygen content of the atmosphere.
Skin contact: Liquid splashes or spray may cause freeze burns. Unlikely to be hazardous by skin absorption.
Eye contact: Liquid splashes or spray may cause freeze burns.
Ingestion: Highly unlikely, but should this occur, freeze burns will result.
13. Disposal Considerations
Disposal method: Discarded product is not a hazardous waste under RCRA, 40 CFR 261. However, HFC134a should be recycled, reclaimed, or destroyed whenever possible.
Refrigeration application: Subject to "no venting" regulations of Sections 608 and 609 of the Clean Air Act during the service or disposal of equipment.