use an AC car recharge kit
A faulty car air conditioning system can be more than just an inconvenience during scorching hot weather. Without proper maintenance, it can even put your safety at risk. One of the most common reasons you might need to recharge your vehicle’s AC is that it’s no longer blowing cold air from the dash vents. Typically, this is the first sign that your AC is low on refrigerant. Low refrigerant can also cause the compressor clutch not to engage or only to engage intermittently, such as when you rev the engine.
Recharge kits are marketed as an inexpensive and convenient way to restore your car’s AC to peak performance. These kits can be purchased at many auto parts stores, and contain everything you need to get your AC back up and running, including the refrigerant, an ac recharge valve, and a pressure gauge.
However, if your car ac recharge kit isn’t working at all, an at-home ac recharge kit is unlikely to fix the problem. The reason is that recharging your car’s air conditioner doesn’t address the root of the problem, which is a leak. Recharging your AC only refills the system with new refrigerant, which doesn’t plug any existing leaks. In fact, recharging your AC could actually make the situation worse if the leaking isn’t fixed properly.
Can I use an AC car recharge kit on a leased vehicle?
A professional mechanic can clean the entire AC system, which will remove any old refrigerant and moisture that has collected in the components over time. They can also diagnose and fix any leaks. Then, they will fill your AC with fresh refrigerant at the right pressure level for your specific vehicle.
The most important step in using a DIY AC recharge kit is determining what type of refrigerant your vehicle uses. You should have this information from your owner’s manual, but if you don’t, the can of refrigerant you purchase will likely say what kind of refrigerant it contains. Using the wrong type of refrigerant can damage your AC system and pose health and safety risks.
Once you have the correct type of refrigerant, attach the hose to your car’s service port and start the engine. Then, set the pressure gauge to match the outside temperature and allow the refrigerant to reach its ideal pressure. This is typically indicated by an arrow on the pressure gauge.
Most at-home recharge kits use a combination of R134a refrigerant and compressor oil with a leak stopper additive. This is fine for most classic cars, but many newer vehicles use environmentally friendly R1234yf refrigerant that’s incompatible with the refrigerants and seal conditioners used in DIY recharging kits. Also, hybrid and electric cars use a different kind of compressor that requires a special kind of oil. These types of cars are incompatible with the compressor oils and leak stoppers included in DIY recharging kits, so they should only be worked on by a certified professional.