Rob Gill

Hey guys,

My A/C is not blowing cold anymore. The car has been converted to 134a, and was re-charged with dye filled coolant last year.

Seems as though I have a leak small enough that it looses pressure over the winter, but no die is showing on my floor.

I can't find instructions on how to re-fill with R134a by myself. I understand you can buy kits for $20 that have a pressure gauge, and coolant. I searched here, but can't find the info. Does anyone have do it yourself instructions, as well as where to buy the kit with gauge? (Even better if it's a Canadian source...)

Thanks in advance!

RG.

Richard Curtis

i bought a 134 refill kit from Advance Auto Parts here in the States. Came with instructions. Cost about $30 IIRC. Very easy; almost impossible to mess up.

darth

CTC, Princess Auto, NAPA, UAP

Rob Gill

Think I found the problem... Refill kits are not available in Canada for some retarded reason. Looks like I'm going to have to go to a specialist to get refilled.

Cheers,

RG.

rarebear

its all about the environment maffia, they don't want you to release 1 oz of R134 into the atmosphere,
but BP is spilling zillion tons of poisonous crude into the ocean....
penny wise pound foolish !

peo73

Hi,
try to locate the leak with a black UV-lamp, if you cannot find visible signs of the leaking dye when inspecting the compressor, pipes, drier, condensor or the expansion valve with the light then the leak is in the evaporator, located in the HVAC.

I just finalized replacing my evaporator and had the system refilled yesterday, it is definitely worth the effort, now it is just to use it regularly even during wintertime so it doesn't start to leak again.

good luck

DWS964

One risk of DIY using the parts-store kit is overfilling the system. The pressure vs temperature curves in the factory shop manual show lower pressures than are suggested on the kit gauge. The best bet is to have a shop with the proper equipment evacuate all of the existing refrigerant (and oil) and recharge based on the recommended weight of refrigerant. There are some recent threads on this forum with the correct quantity of refrigerant and images of the pressure curves from the manual.
I admit I overcharged my system, which resulted in the high-pressure switch being activated and intermittenly cutting out the compressor.

crg53

Hi Rob, I have seen refill kits at Canadian Tire, $40.00 iirc.

altarchsa

Recenet refill kits (from Walmart, etc.) have a gauge bult right into the connecting hose. It's pretty generalized so the kit can be used on any system, but it will keep you from overcharging.

hawk911

hmmm- found out on Parade that my AC was not working. Was 95 that day

Gregg-K

I've seen refill kits at Parts Source (affiliated with Canadian Tire).

.. Gregg

Rob Gill

Seems like all the refill kits in Canada are R12a... Which is compatible with R12 and R134a systems, but they need to be completely flushed first, so you don't mix coolant types.

I think I'll have to go to the specialist to get refilled, unless anyone reading this in the States wants to mail me a couple re-charge kits and accepts Paypal!

frankvan

In canada it's illegal to sell R12 and R134 to "non-certified" individuals.
What Canuck tire and partssource have is called "red tek" which is R12a. It's a propane/butane mix of some sort (i think the EPA lists the ingredients on there web site). Apparently not used by car manufacturers because of it's "explosive" properties, but then we carry around 60 liters of explosive material in our cars all the time (aka gasoline!).
also, as stated, you should evacuate your system prior to using r12a as different refrigerants should not be mixed. (IOW, you need to take it to an a/c shop to get evacuated if you want to be environmentally friendly).
And CCRA (CBSA?) will stop any import of r134 at the border... possibly even a fine?

melman911

I hate to bring up this old thread but when recharging the ac (134a converted) with a store bought kit the line goes into the valve with the blue cap right?

tbennett017

It will fit only one side.