Get a can of refrigerant from a nearby car parts store (the term Freon is not used any more). Open the hood, and then follow the aluminum/silver tube to the colored plastic cover that is often on the left side of the vehicle. You should be good to go after unscrewing the cap and applying the new refrigerant according to the instructions on the can.
In This Article...
Can AutoZone fill my car with freon?
Check out our list of recommended stores in your neighborhood for assistance if you need assistance with this or any other AC recharge or service. Alternatively, AutoZone has all the equipment and refrigerant necessary to service your R-134A or R-12 car if you choose to handle the work on your own.
Do AutoZone air conditioners require recharging?
Most of the time, this may be resolved by using a trusted stop leak additive to halt any leaks. Visit AutoZone for an AC recharge when the time comes. Along with other things, we sell R134a refrigerant, PAG46 oil, AC stop leak, and AC system cleanser.
What occurs if a car has too much freon in it?
A refrigerant used in automotive air conditioners is called freon. On warm days, it is what keeps your car cool. However, a car with too much freon in it could have major issues.
The air conditioner blowing heated air, a hissing sound coming from the air conditioner, ice accumulation around the air conditioner vents, hazy windows, and a strong chemical smell emanating from the air conditioner are common signs of having too much freon in a car.
All of these are indications that your car’s freon system needs to be serviced as soon as feasible. In this article, we’ll go through the signs and symptoms as well as a solution, saving you money by preventing the need for costly AC compressor repairs and restoring your air conditioner to peak performance.
How much R134a is required for my car?
The average automobile can contain between 28 and 32 ounces of refrigerant, or roughly 23 12 ounce cans, although larger vehicles and those with rear air conditioning will probably be able to hold more. The system capacity for your particular vehicle can be found in your car manual.
How can I refuel my car’s R134a air conditioner?
To replenish or top off the refrigerant in your car’s air conditioning system, turn on the engine, set the air conditioner to the coldest setting, and open the doors to prevent the air conditioner from shutting off when it gets cool inside the car. Let the engine and AC system run for about five minutes before adding refrigerant.
How much freon can a Toyota Tacoma from 2004 hold?
- A/C Diagnostic Manifold Gauge Set – Once I was certain the system would maintain pressure, I could test it and charge it with 134a refrigerant using this gauge set.
- A/C Vacuum Pump: The vacuum pump, which functions in conjunction with the manifold, purges the A/C system of all air (and, more crucially, moisture) prior to charging.
- Standalone A/C Vacuum Pump: This pump works well on its own if you don’t have a powerful compressor.
- 2, 12oz cans of 134a A/C refrigerantthis is what chills things off.
- Connects the refrigerant cans to the manifold gauge is the A/C Can Tap for R134A Refrigerant.
Recharging the A/C System
The A/C system on a first-generation Tacoma is said to carry 21.16oz +/- 1.76oz of R134a refrigerant, according to the FSM. As a result, the procedure outlined below calls for utilizing two (12) 12 oz cans of refrigerant (for a total of 24 oz). This basically injects the right amount of refrigerant into the system, despite the fact that the process of transferring the material is likely to lose some of it at least inside the manifold set.
This video does a fantastic job of walking through the most of the phases for a visual representation of the recharging process. I found it helpful to watch the video first, then take the actions listed below.
- Hang the A/C Manifold Gauge first. Make that the hood latch is engaged and that all valves on the red and blue lines’ opposite ends are in the closed position.
- Secure the valves on the lines that travel through the firewall to the high (red) and low (blue) pressure lines. It should be noted that because the fittings are quick connect style and come in various sizes, they will only fit on the corresponding line.
- Pulling a vacuum is started by connecting the vacuum pump to the yellow line.
- Open the high and low pressure valves on the manifold as well as the fast connect fittings’ high and low pressure valves. The fast connect fittings “open” a Schrader valve in the A/C lines by depressing it; be careful not to overdepress the Schrader valve when turning the valves to open.
- To completely remove all air and moisture from the system, run the vacuum pump for at least 30 minutes. Depending on your altitude, the vacuum should be pulling between -25inHg and -30inHg at this moment.
- In order to ensure that the vacuum maintains the specified vacuum, turn off the vacuum pump after 30 minutes and let the system sit for at least another 30 minutes. Any drop in vacuum at this point indicates the presence of a leak in the system, which needs to be fixed before the system can be charged.
- Close the high and low pressure valves on the manifold after maintaining a steady vacuum for 30 minutes, and then disconnect the yellow line from the vacuum pump. After connecting the can tap to the first can of R134a, attach the yellow line to the can tap (which is occasionally supplied with the manifold gauge set).
- Start the truck, set the A/C to the coldest setting, turn the fan to its highest setting, and leave the windows open. Have a helper maintain 1500 RPM for the engine.
- Open the low side valve on the manifold, which is often blue and on the left. Make sure the high side valve is closed (red).
- To start the flow of 134a refrigerant into the system, screw in the top of the can tap until it pierces the can’s seal. Then, release the can tap. Rotate the can frequently from 12- to 6-o’clock while the refrigerant is flowing to help with the transfer of gas and liquid. The can will become quite cold during this process, so take note.
- Close the low side (blue) valve and ensure sure the can tap is fully backed out of the R134a can once the can has been entirely emptied. Screw in the second 12 oz. can of refrigerant after removing the empty can from the tap. Refrigerant must be injected into the system once more using the second container of refrigerant. (Phase 9 and Step 10)
- Close both the low side (blue) and high side (red) valves on the manifold once all the refrigerant has been moved out of the second can. To seal and separate the R134a can from the system, fully insert the can tap into the now-empty R134a can.
- Cut the engine off.
- Slowly open the high side (red) valve on the manifold gauge to equalize pressure on the high and low sides of the system. By doing this, you can push some of the refrigerant that is now in the manifold lines into the system.
- Close the high side (red) valve on the manifold gauge as soon as the system is balanced. Additionally, close the two quick connect valves before disconnecting them from the lines going through the firewall. Refrigerant may leak slightly during removal; be prepared by donning gloves and safety eyewear.
- Finally, slowly open each valve to let the pressure in the manifold gauge drop. Once more, some refrigerant will leak; be prepared by donning gloves and safety goggles.
You’re done with it, then! Put the finishing touches on the truck’s remaining unfinished items, then slap yourself on the back for a job well done. With the necessary tools in hand now, was it really that difficult?
In my car, where do I place the freon?
Remove the hood.
2. Find the refrigerant fill port on the system’s low pressure side. A little plastic lid with a L printed on the top will be attached to this. To access the port, unscrew this lid.
The low pressure side fill port is often found on the left side of the engine bay on most cars. It frequently takes the form of a short metal pipe with two lengths of rubber hose emerging from either end. Look at the “firewall” at the back of the engine compartment. There should be two pipes or hoses sticking out from the firewall, one bigger than the other. The low pressure side fill port can be located by following the longer hose. The photographs show where the fill port is on two various late-model engines.
DANGER! Never handle anything you’ve never handled before. Nearly everything in the engine bay is in motion or becomes warm. Do not touch the high pressure side’s tiny pipes; they become quite hot. The low pressure side hoses can be touched, and they should be at room temperature.
Do you fill the high or low side with freon?
Check what type of freon your car utilizes first. A tag indicating this should be located under the hood or on the radiator cover cowl. Search for 134A. This Instructable does not apply to you if it says 12. Although conversion kits exist, they are outside the purview of this demonstration. Now look at the illustrations to see what an AC system’s fundamental components are. We won’t talk about the pieces you can’t see because they are not important to understand in order to charge the system.
A pump or compressor in the most basic AC system transfers low pressure gas to high pressure. It is termed a compressor because of this. The high pressure gas then travels to a condenser in front of your radiator. You may have observed that while the air conditioner is on, your fan runs frequently. To cool the hot compressed freon, that chilly air is forced into the condenser. Then something fantastic happens. After cooling, the heated freon transforms from a hot gas to a semi-hot liquid. Count on me for this. The liquid continues to be under high pressure and at a high temperature until it is utilized to cool the evaporator.
It is no longer a liquid as it enters the evaporator; instead, it is a low pressure, cold gas. As soon as it exits the evaporator, it travels via hoses to the accumulator/drier, which is just a sizable tank for collecting any liquid that could have leaked out with the gas. After that, the cold, low-pressure gas returns to the compressor to restart the cycle. You may have noted that the system has two sides with different pressuresthis is VERY IMPORTANT. You’ll just be working on the side with little pressure. Only the LOW PRESSURE SIDE receives the freon addition. Since the fittings on the high side and low side are different in size and shape for safety’s sake, the hose tool you purchased is only designed to hook to the low side.
Why isn’t the AC blowing chilly air in my car?
The requirement for a recharge is the most frequent reason why a car’s air conditioner doesn’t get chilly enough. You can replenish your refrigerant on your own, but scheduling an appointment with a neighborhood reputable auto shop will save you time and ensure the service is done correctly.