Repair 7

How to Recharge an Auto AC Unit

Refrigerant circulates through the air conditioning system of your vehicle. Warm air blowing from the interior vents of the vehicle is the first sign refrigerant levels have dropped. Refrigerant levels lower naturally in older vehicles or from leaks in the vehicles A/C system. Adding refrigerant to the vehicles air conditioning system will restore cool air to the passenger compartment.

Instructions

1

Open the vehicles hood.

2

Find the low-pressure (smaller) fitting of the vehicles A/C system. Pull the plastic cap from the fitting and inspect it. Older vehicles will have threads on the outside of the fitting, and newer vehicles will have a quick-connect (non-threaded) fitting.

3

Connect a refrigerant gauge to the low side fitting. The gauge should be designed for your vehicles style of low side fitting. Attach the second fitting of the refrigerant gauge to a can of automotive A/C refrigerant.

4

Hold the can upright as you depress the trigger and send refrigerant into the A/C system. Stop adding refrigerant when the gauge needle sits in the range of 25 to 40 pounds per square inch.

5

Turn on the vehicle. Set the A/C temperature to full cold and the fan speed to high. Allow the vehicle to run until cold air blows from the interior vents. Turn off the vehicle.

6

Remove the refrigerant gauge from the low side fitting. Push the protective plastic cap over the fitting and close the hood.