- On the driver’s side, pull the hood release lever under the dashboard. hood.
- Find the port for low pressure. This image displays the Audi A4’s A/C charging port. Also take note of the high-pressure line. Avoid using the phrase. The port for the high-pressure line will not accept the A/C charging kit connector. Only the low-pressure port can accommodate the A/C kit.
- Your Audi’s low-pressure port cap should be removed.
- A/C hose to charging port connection Prepare to apply freon to your Audi air conditioning system.
- Idle the engine after starting it.
- Activate the air conditioning. Turn on the air conditioning and adjust the temperature to the coldest setting before beginning to add refrigerant. You can start your Audi’s engine and then add refrigerant to the air conditioning system.
- Observe the directions on the specific A/C recharge kit that you have. Every few minutes, cease pulling the trigger to get a pressure reading as the system charges. Once your gauge reaches the charged range, keep adding refrigerant. Don’t let the system charge you too much.
In This Article...
Quick disconnect fitting for AC recharge charging port
Some recharge kits have this fitting that quickly and securely connects to the AC recharge charging connector.
Your air conditioner probably lost some refrigerant during the winter if it was blowing ice-cold air last year but is now hardly cooling. When aging seals shrink and some refrigerant leaks out, that occurs in older automobiles.
Typically, turning on the automobile air conditioning will send you back to the freezing cold. If your car was built after 1993 and is filled with R-134a refrigerant, you can complete that task by yourself (to make sure, check the label under the hood or the specifications section of your owner’s manual).
Restrictions may apply to the sale of R-134a refrigerant to consumers in several states. The cans may occasionally be designed differently, necessitating various charging techniques. All AC issues won’t be resolved by charging the AC. However, if you’re willing to risk $50 on a rechargeable ac kit, you could become a cool dude in less than an hour. By performing the auto ac recharge yourself, you can save roughly $100 on labor.
Pick up an R-134a A/C recharging kit at any auto parts store. Because it included a quick-connect fitting and reusable gauge, as well as a seal conditioner ingredient in the refrigerant, I used the A/C Pro product you see here. For an AC recharge for a car, however, any brand will work. A word of caution: Many commercial recharging kits utilize oils and seal conditioners that are incompatible with the electric AC recharge compressors in hybrid vehicles. A fatal electrical shock might be caused by using the incorrect auto ac recharge kit. Before making a purchase, verify that your hybrid vehicle is compatible with the car ac recharge product on the label. Consult a professional if you’re unsure.
Caution
If used incorrectly, refrigerant can result in frostbite and severe eye damage. Wear gloves and goggles when doing the process, and pay close attention to all the warnings in the package instructions.
My AC will be recharged at AutoZone.
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.
Is recharging the AC in a car worth it?
Until it fails to work properly in sweltering heat, you probably won’t give your car’s air conditioning system much thought. More than just a hassle, an air conditioner that isn’t working properly. Additionally, it may provide concerns, particularly if you are snarled in traffic and your car is getting too hot.
The air conditioning system in your automobile may need to be recharged if you find that it starts to break down and stops blowing cool air. Recharging an AC involves adding refrigerant to the cooling system so that it can start blowing cold air once more.
It is crucial to realize that charging your air conditioner will help a great deal with future issues. With that in mind, the following are some critical tips on the potential causes of your air conditioner’s malfunction, the warning signs that it might require an AC recharge, and the importance of making a reservation for one.
Is recharging the AC in a car bad?
If your air conditioner is spewing warm air when you wake up, there is a serious leak. To solve this, you must first have the leak located and fixed by an expert before adding more refrigerant. Larger leaks go neglected even though some DIY recharge cans contain seal leak chemicals (and compressor oil) to cure tiny leaks.
Rechargeable battery kits are generally not awful. They frequently cause more harm than help, though. They have a stop leak built in that seals off little leaks as the compressor oil and refrigerant pass through the system.
Unfortunately, using this technique makes it simple to clog the compressor, hose, and pump of an air conditioner. Recharge cans make it simple to overfill the air conditioning system, which will result in more serious issues.
Because they don’t repair faulty AC systems, they are not. Instead, they merely recharge the refrigerant and neglect to address the root of the issue. Therefore, while a recharge may restart the circulation of cool air, it hides the true problem as it gets worse. You might have to eventually repair a leak, swap out broken parts, and recharge the AC system.
Even while you could do it yourself and maybe save some money in the short term, you might end up spending thousands of dollars in the near future. Therefore, rather than trying to fix it yourself, we advise having an ASE-certified mechanic inspect and fix the AC system.
How can I tell which air conditioning gas is in my car?
You are stranded on a lengthy vehicle trip in the sun with a broken air conditioner. Does this situation ring a bell? This is a predicament that many people encounter each year as the weather warms up.
To put it simply, you require an air conditioner to feel cold once more.
I’ve looked into getting an air conditioner, however there are two types of gas available. Which one is best for my car?
A new type of air conditioning gas called HFO-1234yf was mandated by law for all new automobiles if your car was built after January 1st, 2017.
Since it creates 98 percent fewer climate-damaging emissions than its predecessor, R134a, it replaces earlier refrigerants.
However, some manufacturers made the changeover far sooner and required the new gas for automobiles registered as early as 2012. This made the transition less simple.
Lifting the bonnet and looking for a stick that either says R134a or 1234yf can help you find out which type of gas your car uses and which one is right for it.
By clicking here, you can reserve your time slot online, or by selecting the appropriate links below, you can get in touch with the branch.
Is refrigerant liquid or gas?
The mechanical components just serve to induce the exchange of hot and cold air; the refrigerant itself really cools the house. Refrigerant is a chemical that, when changed from a gas to a liquid state, has a remarkable capacity to absorb heat.
The refrigerant can absorb heat from within your house and release it outside when it undergoes a state change as a result of compression and pressurization. While the air conditioning system is functioning, the refrigerant circulates continuously in a loop to convert hot air to cool air.
LOCATE THE SERVICE FITTINGS
The service fittings on the A/C system must then be located. A LOW side fitting and a HIGH side fitting are both present. The suction pipe or line that connects the accumulator to the compressor often has a LOW side fitting on it. On the line leading from the compressor to the condenser is where you’ll find the HIGH side fitting.
The LOW and HIGH pressure service fittings on older R-12 systems are screw-type schrader valves. The LOW and HIGH side service fittings on R-134a systems are quick-connect style connections. The fitting for low pressure is SMALLER than the fitting for high pressure. Additionally, R-1234yf-equipped late-model vehicles have special service fittings that are not compatible with R-134a or R-12 systems.
AIR CONDITIONING RECHARGE PROCEDURE
1. Check to see if you have the right refrigerant for your car. Use R-1234yf in only more recent R-1234yf systems; only use R-134a in R-134a systems. DO NOT combine several refrigerant types. Okay, you may now attach a can of refrigerant to the recharge service hose and valve.
2. To pierce the can’s top, turn the service hose’s valve.
3. RETURNING THE VALVE SLOWLY OUT will allow a tiny amount of refrigerant to flow into the hose. You don’t want air blowing out of the hose into your A/C system, therefore doing this will prevent that.
4. Quickly attach the other end of the service hose to the LOW pressure service fitting on the air conditioning system after closing the valve to prevent further refrigerant leakage. WARNING: A can of refrigerant MUST NOT BE CONNECTED TO THE HIGH SIDE SERVICE FITTING. The can may explode if the operating pressure within the running A/C system is greater than the can’s burst strength! Since the service hose for recharging the A/C system can only fit the smaller LOW pressure service fitting, this should be impossible to accomplish. You should be aware of the risk nonetheless.
5. Hold the can upright to prevent any liquid refrigerant from entering the service hose. Only VAPOR should be drawn into the air conditioning system; otherwise, the compressor may sustain damage.
6. OPTIONAL BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: You ought to keep an eye on the recharging procedure by using a gauge. A gauge is not required, but it will help you recharge your air conditioning system more correctly and lower the possibility of undercharging or overcharging (either of which will reduce cooling performance).
You can attach a high pressure air conditioner gauge to the HIGH pressure service fitting, a low pressure air conditioner gauge to the LOW pressure service fitting, or gauges to both fittings (that is what professional technicians do).
NOTE: A low pressure gauge may be included in some DIY recharge kits on the service hose or on a can dispenser with a trigger-grip design. For various types of refrigerants, the gauge may have distinct color-coded zones. Make sure the pressure range you are looking at is appropriate for the type of refrigerant you are using.
8. IMPORTANT: If the system’s refrigerant level is too low, the compressor might not turn on. If the system’s refrigerant level drops too low, the low pressure cutout switch will stop the compressor from operating (this is done to protect the compressor from damage due to a lack of proper lubrication). To draw refrigerant into the system through the service pipe, the compressor must be functioning. Therefore, you might need to utilize a fused jumper wire to directly give battery energy to the compressor clutch if it isn’t engaging when the A/C is turned on. To connect a jumper wire to the battery POSITIVE terminal, locate a single wire connector close to the front of the compressor, disconnect it, and locate the connector. The clutch should engage as a result, and the compressor should start up.
9. OPEN the service hose valve to allow vaporized refrigerant to flow from the container into the air conditioning system. Per can, it could take up to 10 minutes or longer for the refrigerant to be completely sucked into the A/C system. When it’s hot outside, recharging will go more fast than when it’s cold outside. Feel the air escaping the vehicle’s air conditioning ducts. It ought to be becoming chilly.
10. Check the gauge if you are monitoring recharge using a high or low pressure gauge (or both) (s).
When the pressure gauge reads between 25 and 40 psi while the air conditioner is running, STOP. The system should be cooling properly because it is fully charged. NONE MORE REFRIGERANT SHOULD BE ADDED. You have overloaded the system with too much refrigerant if the gauge reads more than 50 psi. Make sure you are operating within the proper range for the refrigerant type you are using if your gauge has distinct color-coded zones for R-12, R-134a, and/or R-1234yf.
High pressure gauge: Stop when the reading reaches 225 to 250 psi (R-134a) or 200 to 225 psi (R-12). The system should be cooling properly because it is fully charged. NONE MORE REFRIGERANT SHOULD BE ADDED.
NOTE: The system and outside temperatures will affect the high and low pressure measurements (higher temperatures cause higher system pressure readings).
For information on typical system operating pressures and the system’s total refrigerant capacity, consult the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. Because the majority of current passenger car A/C systems only contain 14 to 28 oz. of refrigerant, you don’t want to add too much if the system is low. R-134a cans typically contain 12 oz. of refrigerant.
11. After adding one can, you can add a second can if the system still need extra refrigerant. Disconnect the service hose from the empty can, screw a new can onto the valve, crank the valve to puncture the new can, then turn the valve all the way back out so that refrigerant can flow through the hose and into the A/C system.
Turn off the engine once you’re done. Before removing the service hose from the low-pressure fitting, CLOSE the valve on the refrigerant can (in case there is any refrigerant left in the can). No residual refrigerant from the can should be vented. You can conserve the refrigerant for a later recharge if you leave the service hose connected to the container and the valve closed.
If you had to jump the compressor to get it to run, don’t forget to remove the jumper wire before replacing the plastic caps over the service fittings.
After numerous days, weeks, or months of being recharged, your air conditioner stops blowing cold air, which indicates that there is a leak in the system and that refrigerant is leaking out. To discover the leak, you should inject the system with some leak detection dye. The system should then be repaired for the leak before being recharged once more; otherwise, you are wasting time charging the system repeatedly.
New Restrictions for Selling R-134a Start January 2018
R-134a and other replacement refrigerants sold after January 1, 2018, will be subject to new regulations for businesses selling or distributing refrigerants for use in automobiles. The rule specifies certification standards for purchasing big containers of refrigerant and requires self-sealing valves to be included in small containers.
Anyone buying an R-12 replacement refrigerant in a container weighing more than two pounds is now required to provide the vendor proof that the technician has a Section 609 Technician Certification. The supplier must be shown proof that at least one technician at the facility is certified if the buyer is not certified and is purchasing the refrigerant on behalf of a service facility.
Wholesalers of refrigerants are required to keep an invoice including the buyer’s name, the transaction date, and the amount purchased. EPA advises distributors to get a statement attesting that the cylinders will be delivered to certified technicians even though they are not obligated to check any technician certifications.
Small cans of R-134a (less than two pounds) can be purchased by anyone, regardless of their level of certification. To prevent refrigerant from escaping after being withdrawn from the charging valves, self-sealing valves are required on all cans manufactured after January 1. Retailers are still allowed to sell off their current stock of tiny cans without the self-sealing valves as long as they were bought before December 31, 2017, despite this new restriction.
Is It Legal to Vent Old Refrigerant from your A/C system into the air when making repairs to your vehicle?
When a vehicle was being serviced, it was ILLEGAL under previous EPA regulations for anybody (professional or do-it-yourself) to purposefully vent refrigerant from an A/C system into the air. Refrigerant recovery equipment is necessary in professional repair shops. To remove any remaining refrigerant from the system and prevent vapors from escaping into the atmosphere when the A/C system is opened to replace a part, the machine must be connected to a vehicle PRIOR to doing repairs. The rationale behind this action is to stop the release of ozone-depleting CFC chemicals into the atmosphere that are present in older refrigerants like R-12. It makes sense and is the right course of action. However, R-134a, which does not contain any CFCs and does not pose a hazard to ozone layers, was also subject to EPA regulations. However, as R-134a is a greenhouse gas and so contributes to climate change, it is equally necessary that it be recovered rather than emitted. The rationale behind the EPA regulations’ requirement for R-1234yf recovery is unclear because this gas neither depletes the ozone layer nor contributes to global warming.
The question of whether or not it is appropriate to vent refrigerant when repairing an air conditioning system is irrelevant because it is obvious that a DIYer lacks access to a refrigerant recovery device. People simply carry it out. Additionally, there won’t be anything left to vent if your air conditioner has a leak because it’s likely that most or all of the refrigerant has already gone out.
The EPA recently released a new rule amending its earlier regulations, which forbade venting any refrigerant into the air when servicing a car, regardless of whether it contained CFCs or greenhouse gases. R-12 should still be recovered rather than vented, although it now appears that R-134a and R1234yf can be vented during service procedures. There is no recovery needed.
Due to the absence of CFCs that deplete the ozone layer, R-134a and R-1234yf are exempt from the new regulation’s leak inspection and repair requirements.
The EPA also published a proposed regulation that would accept three technical standards for R-1234yf A/C recovery and recycling equipment created by SAE International. The following updated SAE standards would have to be met by this equipment under the new regulation:
J2843 Mobile Air-Conditioning System Flammable Refrigerant Recovery, Recycling, and Recharging Equipment
contaminated R-134a or R-1234yf refrigerant from mobile air conditioning systems, according to J2851 recovery equipment;
Equipment for recovering, recycling, and recharging automotive refrigerant J3030 intended for both R-134a and R-1234yf usage.