How to Add Freon to a Car Air Conditioner
Using your car on long road trips under the sun is now becoming unpleasant, because the air conditioning unit seems isn’t blowing cold air anymore. If this is a problem you encounter, there might be a way to solve it: add Freon to the unit. Taking your car to a mechanic is great idea, but if you’re an ace with automobiles, maybe you can do this yourself.
What You’ll Need:
Can of Freon
Car
Eye protection
Gloves
Procedure:
Buy a can of Freon from a hardware or an automobile store. If you;re not familiar with this product ask a salesperson for help. A word of caution: if your car uses an R-12 for its cooling system or it was manufactured before 1993, don’t try to put Freon on it yourself. It’s illegal, and only a certified mechanic is allowed to do this.
Find the recharging hoses. The shorter hose should be attached to the Freon, while the hoses from the gauges are fixed to your air conditioning system’s compressor.
Open the valve found on the can of Freon for a few seconds, so the air from the system will be purged. Close the valve, then tighten the hose connection.
Start your engine, then turn the air conditioning on high. Open the valve slowly for the low-side manifold, and let the refrigerant enter the system. Hold your Freon can upright, so no liquid Freon will enter your system.
After the can is emptied, remove the hose from the low-side fitting, then close the valve. Be careful when removing the can, because there might be some Freon remnants in it.
If you think your car needs more than one Freon can, repeat these steps. Don’t add too much though, because excessive Freon can damage the car’s AC system.
Some Tips:
Freon instantly freezes any type of liquid. Wear goggles to protect your eyes.
Wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt, so the coolant won’t cause frostbite.
If you are having trouble following these directions, consult a professional mechanic. If you connect a fitting incorrectly to the can of Freon, it might explode.
Adding Freon to a car air conditioner is not a task you can fool around with, so always take proper caution when you do this. If you succeed, you get to enjoy cool air from your car air conditioner again!