How do I recharge my A/C up with R134?

[bigdog76]

What is the procedure on recharging up the system with R134A

I think mine might be low since it is not the clutch fan and I cleaned the condenser one month ago.

The air is cool while driving but Idle it is warmer?

How much does it run?

I notice there is a high pressure valve and a low pressure where do I put the R134 in?

[Q45tech]

If you have to ask you are not qualified nor do you have the $2-8,000 in equipment to vacuum down the system properly to remove and weigh charge, remove system moisture, and examine compressor oil .

Any certified AC shop can do it properly.

[bigdog76]

How Much is that?

[jimbyjimb]

Get yourself a bottle of R12 and put it in until you reach desired pressure. There is a tag under your hood with the ac info on it. If you're going to convert, which I wouldn't if I didn't have to, to 134 you're legally supposed to evacuate the system with the proper machinery, ahem. Cough. Twitch. The 134 conversion is readily available at any auto parts store and can be easily completed in under 15 minutes, barnyard style. If you're going to a shop be ready to spend buku bucks. The 134 conversion comes with adaptors for the valve stems, new style compressor oil and the refrigerant. about 50-100 bucks to do yourself while achieving 70-80% max cooling efficiency, or spend well over 1000 at a shop to have ot done legally and "correctly."

[qship96]

His Q is a 1996, it uses r134 not R12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jimbyjimb]

Well crap, just go get a bottle of 134 and get a gauge. Easy as pie.

[mxr662]

If you have to ask you are not qualified nor do you have the $2-8,000 in equipment to vacuum down the system properly to remove and weigh charge, remove system moisture, and examine compressor oil .

Any certified AC shop can do it properly.

The local azone discount auto parts place loans out the vacuum pump and gauges for free.

[mxr662]

The 134 conversion is readily available at any auto parts store and can be easily completed in under 15 minutes, barnyard style.

from: http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Your-Car's-Air-Conditioner

Be extremely cautious about converting your old R-12 system to R-134a. The R-134a conversion kits sold at Auto Parts stores and even WalMart, are called "Black Death Kits" by some AC repairmen. Frequently, the new R-134a refrigerant will not circulate the R-12 oil and you will burn up your compressor. The R-12 mineral oil has chlorine contaminants that will destroy the R-134a PAG or POE special oil. The only way to reliably convert from R-12 to R-134a is to remove the compressor and flush out all the old oil with the new type of oil; then replace the old Receiver-Dryer or Accumulator with a new one; then flush out all the lines, the evaporator, and the condensor with special cleaner then vacuum to a steady vacuum; and finally charge with 70-80%, (by weight) of the original R-12 weight, with R-134a; and expect poorer cooling ability.

[qship96]

The local azone discount auto parts place loans out the vacuum pump and gauges for free.

What about the equipment needed to properly weigh the recharge, separate the lubricating oil {and measure it and replace with new}, filter and remove moisture from the refrigerant to be recycled, etc...... Simpler and much better results are obtained by going to a professional with the proper evacuation/vacuum/recycle/weigh and refill machine

When dealing with the A/C system, good work is not cheap and cheap work is never good !

[Q45tech]

Unfortunately many owners have very low standards of excellence [amount of cooling] and put up with marginal performance instead of maintaining near as new cooling capacity.

Tolerable in North but doesn't cut it in South or Arizona.

Every year the temp capacity drops by a degree or two until they final notice something...............it's as if a thermometer is a magical diagnostic tool.

When driving in traffic interesting to see the makes and brands of cars and people with failed AC systems [open windows].

Just recharging doesn;t get you above 80% cooling as the moisture and air in system limits performance and accelerates TOTAL failure rates.

[maxnix]

The local azone discount auto parts place loans out the vacuum pump and gauges for free.

A sure fire way to fubar your AC with unqualified incompetent help.

Look, here's the deal. If you are missing refreigerant, it is because your system has failed containment. If you just add more refrigerant, you will still have a leak. You will not have fixed anything.

Take it to an automotive AC professional if not an Infiniti shop or the dealer.
Modified by maxnix at 11:57 AM 6/14/2008

[jimbyjimb]

The question is: how bad do you want a/c, for how long and how much are you willing to spend. If you want this car forever with functioning ac and don't want to have to replace a blown compressor take it to a shop, if you just want ac for an indeterminate length of time put some 134 in after the compressor, sounds like a slow leak and will probably cool well for a while with a simple recharge that will cost 30 bucks for one can of decent 134 as opposed to an entire serivice from a shop. If you want to take it to a shop eventually but can'y now throw in some 134 and when you want to, take it to an ac shop.

[smalcom]

...then flush out all the lines, the evaporator, and the condensor with special cleaner then vacuum to a steady vacuum; and finally charge with 70-80%, (by weight) of the original R-12 weight, with R-134a; and expect poorer cooling ability.

I have a 97 Q45t, and the A/C is as cold as any I have had in older, R12 refrigerant cars. Am not at all displeased with the functioning of the A/C.

[mxr662]

I have a 97 Q45t, and the A/C is as cold as any I have had in older, R12 refrigerant cars. Am not at all displeased with the functioning of the A/C.

The 97 came with 134a so it works correctly with it. The retrofit of r134a into a factory designed r12 system lessens the performance somewhat. How much has been debated many times in this forum.

[jimbyjimb]

I've been in some old 50's/60's r12 machines that I swear would bring the interior of that car to freezing. Too bad r12 isn't used anymore. It's only so long before 134 is recalled since it is probably just as bad for the Ozone, and 3m will want to make more money on conversions, etc...

[Q45dude]

I had the same question. Went to Pep Boys and got a A/C recharge kit for dummies. It comes with easy to follow instructions, a can of R134 and a gauge.I was anxious to do it myself (first time) but did today. And now, its frickin FREEZIN' inside the car. Hope this helps.