Debating doing own AC recharge via Low-side port

[TechnoLoGs]

Hey, all. 95 Taurus. AC works, but I want to kerp the R134A freon level good. Been humid. It blows cold; I want to keep it that way. MAY be a little low; blows cold, but, safe to add?

Tomorrow, VSS gets tackled. Continues to fail, in time.

If I buy an AC Pro, and blue or black tall can of refrigerany with hose and nozzle, can I just attach it to.Low-side port when running and sqieeze until nozzle is in the green on its gauge?

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Oh, and getting the brake cleaner for the battery terminals, too.

 

[EricF]

Overfilled is like underfilled.. there's no advantage of trying to add more freon.

Freon doesn't get used up. If you're low on freon, you have a leak. It will leak out over a period of time. But it takes a long time for it to happen on its own.

Best way to measure the temperature is to take the outside ambient temperature. then measure the car's a/c output temp. You should get minimum 40degrees minus outside temperature.
a/c systems can only do just so much.

But if you're low, fill it up a bit, if you're over, you need to evacuate that amount for best efficiency.

 

[AandPDan]

Those little cans with the gauges are not that accurate. If you intend to do this get a real gauge set, that's both high and low pressures, and see what you've got.

You can't do an effective diagnosis of an a/c problem with just the low pressure reading.

Better yet, don't touch it. It's blowing cold and if it does run low on refrigerant it will shut itself down to protect the compressor.

 

[The_Jeff]

Leave it alone.

 

[Rand]

FOR THE LOVE OF BURGER KING dont kill it.

 

[antiqueshell]

Stop fixing things that are NOT broken, fix those things that need attention and are most importantly not working.

 

[EricF]

Since a/c pro had tv and radio commercials, AND are guarenteeing your a/c will be fixed.. I can't keep the stuff on the shelves.
BUT when it doesn't fix anything, people are expecing US to fix their issue and honor the guarentee.
Let's see how a/c pro likes the power of ignorant people!

 

[TechnoLoGs]

I will leave it alone, its blowing cold now.

Car shows immediate improvement after cleaning battery terminals with brake cleaner.

Thank you so much BITOG!

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Rand
FOR THE LOVE OF BURGER KING dont kill it.

 

[JHZR2]

If you HAVE to do something, take it to a competent AC guy and have them evacuate, pull a hard vacuum, refill BY MASS, and then check for leaks. That's all. You're not doing favors by adding more. In fact, it will blow colder when low.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Originally Posted By: Rand
FOR THE LOVE OF BURGER KING dont kill it.

I almost fell off my couch.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
If you HAVE to do something, take it to a competent AC guy and have them evacuate, pull a hard vacuum, refill BY MASS, and then check for leaks. That's all. You're not doing favors by adding more. In fact, it will blow colder when low.


Tomorrow, I am taking another loooooong round trip from NNJ to 19144.

Spraying the batteyr connectors with Valvoline non-chlorinated Brake Cleaner yielded immediate and positive results.. IF I have ot disconnect my battery due to failing VSS when I hit Bensalem/Rt 1 again (I come in via Hunting Park Ave, to Broad St, done this at least three times now, more like four) - then I then take it straight to my mechanic, and we find, and change, the VSS. And it probably will.

Aside from that, I bought the Brake Cleaner as suggested for battery terminals, did NOT yet buy ANY Blue Devil, as there is perhaps NOT a problem with the cooling system - the gauge reading low is something I'd love to get fixed but apparently a lot of them do that, riding around with the temp gauge only 1/8 indicating but the car working perfect... (just started a few days ago, that.) And, I gassed it up at $3.21 a gallon, no fuel cleaners. Was hard not to add cleaners.

 

[antiqueshell]

If you have top tier certified stations around choose one of those.

76 Stations
Chevron
Conoco
CountryMark
Entec Stations
Exxon
Holiday Stationstores, Inc.
Kwik Trip / Kwik Star
MFA Oil Co.
Mileage Stations
Mobil
Phillips 66
Quik Trip
Rebel Oil
Road Ranger
Severson Oil
Shell
Texaco
Tri-Par Oil Co.
U.S. Oil

 

[ram_man]

If the ac needs charged yes do it that way its not worth the money to do it the correct way when that way works fine. Not ideal but it works.nthat being said if its working leave it alone. You seem to have obsessive tendencies to fiddle with stuff. So close the hood and leave it. Its a junk car. Let it run till it dies a natural death. Or sell it. Either way fixing stuff that works is a stupid thing to do.

 

[Merkava_4]

Get yourself a digital thermometer from Target. Measure the air temperature coming
out of the vent. You're looking for 40 degrees lower than the outside temperature.

 

[bullwinkle]

If your AC compressor is not short cycling (kicking off, then back on every few seconds), it's not low enough on refrigerant to worry about. Save your money for other repairs!

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
If your AC compressor is not short cycling (kicking off, then back on every few seconds), it's not low enough on refrigerant to worry about. Save your money for other repairs!


Actually.. If you want to know the God's honest truth?? And I can video prove this.. When I have the hood open and the car is running.. it DOES kick on every few seconds, as you say. DOES.

That being the case, what does that mean?

And yes, I can video document, if need be.. That loud "click" .. I actually DID hear, but thought it normal. My house A/C just did the same thing, and lights dimmed.

And, again, this car is likely on its first and original charge from 18 years ago. gets NICE and cold, but.. Takes awhile to build. And I still have not figured out "Normal" vs "MAX" A/C, except that Normal feels weaker, and MAX is required for comfort.

How does this change things? STILL do NOT buy the tall black AC Pro can I saw in store today, with gauge and nozzle already on can?

 

[michaelluscher]

Don't steal my thing....

THATS MY [censored] THING TO DO TO TROLLS.
AND THE IGNORANT.

 

[toneydoc]

Max a/c closes a vent that brings in outside air from the vehicle. So the max a/c tends to feel better because you are removing more water from the inside air. Normal a/c brings in some air from outside the vehicle.