How to charge the air conditioner in a car

Comfortable conditions in a car cannot be created without additional systems. Vehicle manufacturers include them in major parts and mechanisms. Air conditioning is one of these devices and ensures optimal temperature in the cabin even in summer heat. It only works when the engine is on and makes it possible to drive vehicles without any problems. The positive aspects of the climate system include the fact that it prevents unpleasant odors from entering the cabin and regulates the level of humidity in the cabin.

The air conditioner is easy to use. Before starting work, you must read the instructions, then many misunderstandings can be avoided. It contains technical parameters, cleaning methods, refilling frequency and rules of use.

Many car owners want to know more and, in order to save money, want to learn how to refill the air conditioner on their own. Photo: pro-vidnoe.ru

How often should I refill?

The air conditioner in a new car needs to be serviced and refilled no later than three years after purchase, then the frequency is at least once every year and a half.
If the vehicle has been used for about ten years or more, then refueling is done once a year. Self-installed systems also fall into this category.

Under standard operating conditions, the amount of freon in the cooling circuit decreases by 6-15% per year. After just three years, the loss of refrigerant will be significant. It begins to be consumed much faster if the connecting parts are poorly sealed.

Signs of insufficient freon are as follows:

The presence of ice on the fitting connections of the outdoor unit of the climate system;
Less efficient air cooling;
Insufficient amount of freon during independent inspection of the air conditioner.

You will learn about the features of choosing vibration isolation for a car here.

The ignition adjustment of the VAZ 2106 can be done independently. How exactly - look at Procrossover.

Why do you need to recharge your air conditioner?

A complete recharge of the climate system occurs if:

It is necessary to cleanse the system of bacteria and decay products. In this case, the old freon is removed, all components are cleaned and the air conditioner is refilled with liquefied gas.
Recovering the optimal amount of refrigerant. To begin with, all the gas is vented, a vacuum atmosphere is created, and then refilled to the required level.

How to refill a car air conditioner

The following brands of refrigerants are often used:

R-22. It has proven itself to be a reliable media, has high cooling efficiency and is cheap.
R-410A. Uses more pressure, improving performance, which saves energy.
R-134 a. It is safe for nature and does not harm the ozone layer, but has one drawback - high cost.

Any freon will be safe for health if refilling is done correctly. Photo: greenreport.it

Recommended refrigerants

Before you start filling, you need to select the manufacturer of the freon to be filled into the car air conditioner.

The best option would be the following brands of refrigerant:

"XADO";
EcoFrost;
Refco;
Refrigerant;
Fotech International.

These manufacturers have been present on the domestic market for a long time and have rightfully earned a reputation as manufacturers of high-quality and reliable freon.

You can purchase the required refrigerant in specialized stores or online. The quality of these manufacturers is approximately the same, so you should pay attention not to the brand, but to your own financial capabilities.

Methods for refilling a car air conditioner

The device will be charged correctly if all the features are taken into account. First you need to study the methods and choose the most optimal one.

Pressure filling. This method takes place if there is accurate data on the maximum level of refrigerant in the system. Information can be found in the instructions or on the manufacturer's website. Now, using a pressure gauge, you need to connect the communication tubes and the container with freon. Then the gas is supplied slowly and carefully. Particular attention should be paid to the pressure gauge in order to notice the indicators recommended for the system. When the desired mark is reached, refueling is complete. The main thing in this method is the ability to work with a pressure gauge. The disadvantage of this method is that it takes a lot of time.
Refueling by weight. A special feature of this method is the constant control of the weight of the freon cylinder. The main tool will be scales. The principle is simple - the refrigerant must flow from the container into the air conditioner with periodic weighing. By weight it will be possible to determine the fullness of the system. The only difficulty is that before starting work you need to remove all the freon from the air conditioner; a vacuum pump is suitable for this operation. The method is only suitable for a complete refill.
Using the filling cylinder. The method is relevant only if you have accurate data on the amount of refrigerant in the air conditioner.

How to charge the air conditioner in a car with your own hands

First you need to prepare the tools and coolant:

Freon cylinder;
Hoses;
Adapter with tap;
Metrological station.

Then you need to refuel in the following steps:

First of all, the adapter with a tap is connected to the refrigerant cylinder, screwing it, and then to the charging hose.
The second end of the hose is connected to the metrological station. Another hose is also connected to its meter. The structure for freon transfer is assembled.
Next, the parameters of the meter sensors are manually adjusted and the air temperature is set.
A low-pressure fitting is determined; its pipeline will be larger than that of a high-pressure fitting. The cap is removed and the surrounding surface is cleaned. Then the previously assembled structure is attached to it.
According to the instructions, refueling is carried out while the car is running at a speed of 1500.
Next, maximum system performance is turned on for a while. After this, the freon cylinder is turned over and the tap on the adapter is unscrewed. In this position, gas begins to flow into the air conditioner. You must always ensure that the pressure at the station sensor does not exceed 285 kPa.
When cold air begins to flow from the pipeline in the cabin, refueling must be stopped.
Now the air conditioning system should run for about 10 minutes.
After completing all work, it is recommended to treat the evaporators and air ducts with a special spray. It will destroy germs and unpleasant odors.

Through the inspection hole of the filter drier, you can evaluate whether the procedure was carried out correctly. If there are no bubbles in the liquid, then the filling was successful.

You will find alternative instructions for refilling a car air conditioner in this video:

In a car service center you can carry out all the maintenance and repair work on the climate system without much hassle. It has all the necessary equipment and experienced staff. Refilling an air conditioner at technical centers will cost 1,300 rubles and more .

It is up to the car owner to decide whether to do the refueling yourself or contact a specialist. The main thing is to do everything in a timely manner. The process does not take much time, but extends the life of the climate system for a long time.

Many car owners are interested in when to refill the air conditioning in their car? little freon left in the car’s cooling circuit , it’s time to refill the car’s air conditioner. To save extra money, you can do it yourself.

But how exactly do you refill the air conditioner yourself? What tools will be needed for this? And what rules should you remember? These issues will be discussed below.

How much does it cost to refill a car air conditioner?

If there is not enough freon in the system and the air conditioner does not cool the interior well, then there are 2 options: refill it yourself or contact a service station. If you go to a car service center, they charge an average of 1,500 rubles for a full refill of a car air conditioner. Some drivers do not fully charge the system, but simply add freon. This costs on average 300 rubles per 100 grams. Specialists measure how much freon is missing in the system and add it until the required pressure is reached. That is, if the system does not have enough freon 150 grams, then refilling will cost only 450 rubles.

At some service stations the prices are lower, at others – higher. However, everyone decides for themselves where to refill the car air conditioner. But this can be done at many service stations.

The design and principle of operation of the air conditioner

The air conditioning system in a car consists of three parts - a compressor , a condenser and an evaporator (these parts are connected to each other using pipes).

Let's consider the principle of operation of the air conditioning system.

Inside the unit there is cooling freon in the form of gas. During operation, the compressor compresses the gas, which leads to an increase in the temperature of the freon mixture. The gas then enters the condenser, where it cools and turns into liquid. Cold freon passes through the pipes and enters the evaporator, where it evaporates - while the freon absorbs the heat surrounding it. This leads to a decrease in the temperature in the car and the conversion of the coolant into gas. At the end of the cycle, the freon is again supplied to the condenser and the process is repeated.

Working principle of a car cooler

It is impossible to properly service a car’s air conditioner without knowing its structure and operating principle. The climate control system includes the following elements and units:

external heat exchanger (condenser), installed next to the radiator of the engine cooling system;
internal heat exchanger (evaporator), mounted in the cabin air duct;
the fins of both heat exchangers are forcedly blown by fans;
the compressor, which creates the necessary freon pressure in the circuit, is driven by a belt drive from the crankshaft;
expansion valve, gas dryer;
connecting freon lines made of copper tubes.

Key moment! The operating principle of any air conditioner is based on the ability of the refrigerant to evaporate at sub-zero temperatures. At the moment of evaporation, freon quickly removes a large amount of heat from the air, significantly reducing its temperature.

To properly charge a car air conditioner, you need to imagine the operating cycle of the air conditioning system:

While in a liquid state, the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator, through which a fan drives hot air. Freon evaporates, takes away heat from the flow and is sent further - to the compressor.
Inside the blower, the gas is compressed and moved to an external heat exchanger. The boiling point of a substance under pressure increases, so the freon in the external radiator condenses and releases the accumulated heat to the outside air.
After flowing through the dryer and expansion valve, the refrigerant pressure drops again. The gas again moves into the internal heat exchanger to evaporate and go through the cycle again.

When to refill your car air conditioner

Every year, for natural reasons, the amount of freon in the cooling system decreases by 10-20%, so it is necessary to periodically refill the air conditioner. Please note that the power of the device drops significantly even if the freon loss is 50 percent or more.

It is recommended to refill your car's air conditioner at least every 3 years!

Do-it-yourself refueling of a car air conditioner is required in the following cases:

Violation of the tightness of pipes;
Mechanical damage to pipes;
Condenser coated with rust.

Equipment and tools for refueling

To refill your car air conditioner with your own hands, you will need: a station for measuring pressure, an adapter with a tap, two hoses and a cylinder of freon.

From these components you need to assemble a device for refilling the air conditioning system.

The procedure should be as follows:

Take a freon bottle and screw an adapter with a tap onto it (there should be a thread on the top of the bottle);
Connect the hose to the adapter;
Attach the hose to the pressure measuring station;
Attach another hose with an adapter to the pressure control station on the other side;
The filling device is ready. Please note that some stores sell already assembled devices.

Also, in some cases, you may need additional equipment - if you are doing evacuation, then you will need a vacuum pump , if you are checking the integrity of pipes with pressure, then in this case you will have to buy a cylinder with safe gas , and so on.

Freon selection

To charge the air conditioner, use R134a cooling mixture .

Older installations ran on R12 freon, but in the nineties this mixture was banned due to its negative impact on the environment, and after the ban, the R134a mixture began to be used in air conditioners. To refill a car air conditioner, about 700-1000 g of mixture is required.

If there is a leak

If a refrigerant leak is detected, there is no point in topping up or completely charging the system. In this case, troubleshooting will be required. If it is a radiator, then the leak is most often sealed. But there are also cases when the radiator has to be completely replaced.

If a leak occurs, it must be repaired quickly. This matter cannot be put off for long, because after all the freon has leaked from the system, air can penetrate through the hole in the tubes or radiator, which may result in oxidation of some elements of the system or the onset of corrosion processes.

Preparing for refueling

First of all, before refueling the air conditioner in the car with your own hands, you need to find and eliminate leaks, as well as perform vacuuming.

If the leaks are small, you can fix them yourself; for larger damages, we recommend contacting a car service center.

Finding and fixing leaks

If the freon in the air conditioner runs out due to damage to the pipes, then in this case you need to find and fix the leak. To find leaks, it is recommended to use a special tool called a leak detector . If there is no such device, then find the leak location as follows:

Make a liquid mixture based on oil and freon;
Add a special ultraviolet dye to the mixture;
Refuel and turn on the air conditioner;
After 5-10 minutes, take an ultraviolet lamp and shine it on the air conditioner - the damaged areas should turn greenish-yellow.

To eliminate a leak:

Take a metal pipe and cover the leak with it;
Place 1 clamp on both sides of the pipe;
Degrease the place where the clamps are attached (for example, with alcohol);
Secure the coupling parts with electrical tape.
Apply glue to the coupling, place the coupling on the pipe and tighten the clamps.

Pressure test

After eliminating leaks, it is necessary to check the integrity of the system. To do this, you should fill the air conditioner yourself with some safe gas (for example, nitrogen).

After refueling, be sure to measure the pressure - if after 30 minutes the pressure has not changed, this means that the system is completely sealed. Otherwise, repair any remaining leaks and repeat the test procedure.

Evacuation of the air conditioner

Now you need to evacuate the device to remove air and moisture droplets from the system. For evacuation you will need a special vacuum pump, and the procedure itself is as follows :

Turn on the heating system and warm up the car (if this is not done, then a lot of moisture will remain in the evaporator);
Take the vacuum pump and connect it to the car air conditioner - to do this, attach the pump pipe to the pipe;
Turn on the pump for 10-15 minutes. After this, close the valve and turn off the pump. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times;
Finally, turn off the pump and wait 2-3 hours for the temperature and pressure to normalize. After this, you can proceed directly to refueling.

How often to recharge the air conditioner in your car

As already mentioned, you need to refill your air conditioner at least once every three years. But such regulations are valid only for new cars. If the car is more than 6 years old, then the car air conditioner should be checked and refilled annually, and even more often in the case where air conditioning system leaks are not eliminated.

Refilling the air conditioner yourself is quite simple. A basic kit for this work costs about 1 thousand rubles - in fact, this is slightly less than the price of one gas station at the service station. Therefore, motorists are not always willing or able to carry out such a procedure. However, for those who are accustomed to complete control of their “iron horse” and repairing it themselves, refueling with their own hands looks like a worthy alternative to a trip to a service station.

Author: Exudha
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Air conditioner refilling steps

Let's now find out how to refuel .

Please note that air conditioners differ very little from each other in their structure, so this scheme is suitable for all models:

Locate the low pressure line (it looks like a small wide pipe with a narrower pipe underneath) and open the protective cap.
Place the hose from the assembled filling device onto the nozzle.
Start the engine (speed should be about 1,300-1,700 rpm). Please note that the engine must be turned on during the entire refueling procedure, so it is recommended to place a hard object under the gas pedal.
Start air recirculation.
Turn the freon bottle upside down. After this, gradually open the main tap and the freon valve (this must be done simultaneously). Freon pumping will begin.
Watch the pressure gauge reading. The pressure level in the system should not exceed 275 kPa (otherwise you may damage the compressor).
When the hose near the nozzle becomes very cold and cold air appears in the cabin (about 6-10 degrees), you need to gradually turn off the engine and remove the filling device. The refueling procedure is completed.

Pressure test

Before refilling the car air conditioner, you need to make sure that there are no leaks in the system and that it can withstand high pressure. This can be done at a service station by pumping pressure into the system. This is usually done with nitrogen. That is, nitrogen is “driven” into the system and the pressure is measured, then they wait about 20-30 minutes, and if the value on the pressure gauge does not change, then this means sufficient tightness. In this case, you can refuel the car air conditioner yourself or at a service station. Typically, the system check service is inexpensive - it costs about 300-400 rubles. But it is necessary to carry out such a check, because if freon has disappeared from the system, then you need to understand whether there is a leak, and whether it makes sense to “drive” expensive gas inside if it still evaporates in 3-4 days.

Air conditioner care

Now you know how to charge the air conditioner in a car with your own hands. In conclusion, let's talk about the rules of care :

Wash the radiator at least once every 3 months, as dirt and dust constantly settle on it, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the device.
In winter, you need to warm up the air conditioner at least once a month. To warm up, you need to drive the car into a warm place and turn on the cooling device for 15-30 minutes.

If leaks occur, contact a service center for repairs or repair the pipes yourself.

Watch the video yourself to see how to recharge the air conditioner in your car.

Air conditioning has become an almost indispensable component of any modern car. With its help, you can create and maintain an optimal microclimate in the cabin. But, like any other equipment in a car, the air conditioner needs preventive maintenance and periodic maintenance. Many who own a car with such a system have repeatedly contacted service centers with the problem of air conditioner failure. This is mainly due to leaks and consumption of freon, the reserves of which must be replenished. Using professional equipment for refilling car air conditioners, service centers ask decent amounts of money for their services. The minimum cost of refilling is 1000 rubles. But the car owner can save a lot by dealing with this element of the car with his own hands.

How to check the quality of work

Insufficient air conditioning charging can lead to compressor failure, and the interior will not be sufficiently cooled. Excess freon will lead to automatic operation of the shutdown system and, therefore, also to a lack of interior cooling. So you need to refill the air conditioner only according to calculations.

You can determine the exact amount of refrigerant for a specific air conditioner in the instructions for the car or in tables published on the Internet

After refueling, you need to check the quality of the work done. This process cannot be called long: the car’s air conditioner is switched to active mode, and if cold air immediately enters the cabin, then the air conditioning system is charged correctly. The following will also help identify errors in refueling:

foreign odors from the deflectors (you may need to change the cabin filter);
freon leaks from air conditioner pipes (detected using a leak detector or visually);
extraneous noise (if present, corrosion of the compressor or condenser is likely).

In the event of a freon leak, you must seek the help of a repairman

Frequency of refueling

During the operation of the car air conditioner, a partial leak of refrigerant, that is, freon, gradually occurs. The generally accepted loss rate is no more than 15% during the year. It follows that you can refill the air conditioner in your car every 3 years of normal use. If leaks and depressurization occur during operation, then additional repairs and earlier refueling will be required.

But it is important to understand that old machines that have been in operation for a long time, due to natural aging processes, have more intense natural leakage, even if there are no breakdowns. In this case, refueling is carried out approximately once every 1 – 2 years. In this case, the filling method is similar.

If your car's air conditioner has damage, defects or breakdowns associated with intense refrigerant leakage, then there is no point in refilling it. First you need to find out what is wrong with freon and why it is being actively consumed. Having eliminated the problem, you can return to the usual periodic refueling of the unit.

There are two most common reasons:

the tubes inside the system were damaged mechanically or due to the formation of corrosion processes, which led to loss of tightness;
Corrosion began inside the capacitor, disrupting the integrity of the closed circuit.

It is not always possible to identify the damaged area on your own. Sometimes it is better to contact a service center, where ultraviolet light will be used to identify leaks. Having figured out how often you need to refill the air conditioner, you can move on to the issue of choosing a refrigerant.

How to choose

Before you start updating the refrigerant, you need to determine what kind of freon is charged into the car air conditioner and the volume. These parameters are indicated in the service book or on the device.

If the information is missing, you need to go to the car manufacturer’s website and find the data by entering the VIN code specified in the registration certificate. You can also determine the type of freon by the year the car was manufactured, since until 1992 only R12 was filled.

You cannot mix different types of refrigerants. A difference in fluidity will lead to water hammer and compressor failure. In addition, polymer oils for lubricating components cause corrosion of metal lines and connecting elements.

Freon selection

A professional service station with qualified personnel can be used to recharge the car's air conditioner. Although many drivers want to maintain their car themselves. Solving such problems may require different types of tools. But in all cases it is necessary to purchase the refrigerant itself. Previously, all cars used R12 freon refill. This composition contained fluorine and was very productive. Efficiency indicators are even higher than modern solutions. The only problem with R12 is the fact of the increased harmfulness of the refrigerant. Due to the identified problems that the composition leads to, in 1992 it was decided to completely abandon its use. R12 was officially banned.

All motorists who own vehicles manufactured in 1992 have switched to the new R134a composition. And owners of old cars were forced to buy and refill the old mixture themselves, or switch to an updated type of freon. All gas stations were officially ordered to completely eliminate freon containing chlorine and fluorine.

When selecting the composition for each specific air conditioning system on your car, you can simply lift the hood and look at the appropriate plate. It indicates what refrigerant is used here. But it is difficult to confuse the systems, since the filling fittings used, in addition to other differences, are completely different. Thus, on the new type of refrigerant pipes, the fitting was higher and had a larger diameter. There are stickers in the engine compartment of cars indicating the type and rate of refilling of the car air conditioner.

Required quantity

Also, motorists do not always understand exactly how much refrigerant they need to refill the air conditioner. After all, it doesn’t make sense to buy an excessive amount, since you will spend extra money and not use the freon itself. The pleasure is not the cheapest, so it is recommended to first accurately calculate the required filling volume. In the best case, the car has a special plate under the hood indicating the type, norm and required amount of the substance. But not everyone is so lucky, since some cars do not have a plate for one reason or another.

If there are no recommendations from the manufacturer under the hood, you should seek help from an authorized dealer or the machine’s operating manual. Such information is necessarily duplicated there. For Russian cars, the norm for most refilled air conditioners is considered to be from 600 to 900 grams. Although sometimes absolute accuracy does not play a big role, since refueling and partial filling of the air conditioning system with refrigerant are carried out independently. The air conditioner can be filled with freon:

at a factory during the production of a car;
after renovation;
as part of scheduled maintenance, etc.

After repairs and at the factory, when the system is empty, it is fully charged. But as part of scheduled maintenance, only refueling is carried out, which is why it is only possible to fill the air conditioner to normal. Only in this state will the unit be able to operate at full capacity. Partial refilling is problematic because we cannot know exactly how much freon is left inside the system. For this reason, refueling is carried out by monitoring the pressure on the pressure gauge. So if you were unable to find out the exact numbers and determine the amount of refrigerant required, then just start from the arrow of the measuring device.

Using oil when refueling

If you look carefully at the table for the amount of refrigerant in the air conditioning unit, you will see the value and oil standards there. At the same time, not everyone knows the nuances of refilling it and the reasons for its use. Some car owners, when filling the air conditioner in their car with their own hands, always recommend adding oil. But in fact, if there is an excess amount of lubricant, breakdowns of the piston compressor occur. This is due to the fact that when oil passes through the unit along with the refrigerant, carbon deposits appear on the components. And it’s not entirely clear how to act in such a situation.

But experts give simple and clear advice. When refilling the air conditioner in a car, use freon, which already contains a certain amount of oil. The manufacturer indicates the relevant information on the packaging of the can. Everything there is strictly dosed, so you can’t overdo it with oil or add too little. Be sure to read the owner's manual specific to your car. The thing is that some cars require separate refilling of freon and oil. Then so-called polyalkylene glycol oils, abbreviated PAG, are used. In this case, oil will need to be poured into the compressor using the appropriate inlet in the crankcase.

Vacuuming

In addition to the procedure for refilling freon and pouring oil into the system, many people overlook such a significant operation as vacuumization or evacuation of the air conditioner. It is almost impossible to avoid the penetration of air and moisture into the car air conditioning system if less than 50% freon remains inside it. Yes, the equipment will continue to operate, although it will not be able to operate at full capacity. The probability of compressor failure and the formation of rust (corrosion) on the tubes of the unit is too high. If you miss this point, expensive repairs will be required. It will cost significantly more than conventional vacuuming. To remove accumulated air and moisture from the system, you will need to use a vacuum pump.

Necessary equipment for refueling

If you decide to refuel your car air conditioner yourself, you will definitely need basic knowledge and understanding of the system. You also need to assemble a set of tools and equipment. As part of refilling the car air conditioner, you will need to check the pressure and then refill the system. The standard set of equipment includes:

hose kit;
metrological station;
adapter with tap (choose one that fits the system of your machine);
a cylinder with a coolant in the required quantity.

All this is sold in almost all automobile stores. This greatly simplifies the process of refilling air conditioners in your car yourself. There are special kits that are sold ready-made. Each element performs its own function and tasks.

Refrigerant cylinder. It has a special thread and cavity. It will need to be pierced with a sharp object (ordinary needle) when connecting the adapter. If the kit does not include an adapter with a faucet, do not forget to purchase one before starting work. Otherwise, you won't succeed.
Coupling. Using a tee, you can connect hoses and a pressure gauge to measure the pressure inside the system.
The second end of the hose is connected to the metrology station. You will have to buy it separately, since the station is not included in the standard package for refueling the air conditioner yourself. Another pipe (hose) is connected to the metrological station.

It is important to note that the car air conditioning system has 2 sides:

low pressure;
high pressure.

The low pressure side runs along a wider line. Therefore, they can be distinguished purely by the size of the tubes. Also, the low pressure line is often located above the high pressure line.

The car air conditioner should be charged through the low pressure line. Therefore, first find the required fitting. To prevent the possibility of filling from the other side (high pressure), manufacturers have provided inlet openings of different sizes. There are cars on which the fitting cap is marked with the letters H (high pressure) and L (low pressure). Or they use different color designations, painting the lines with appropriate paints. When you unscrew the low pressure line valve, be sure to thoroughly wipe the cap and tube. This will prevent debris, dust and other contaminants from entering the system.

Refueling instructions

Regardless of what kind of car you have and what the air conditioning system looks like, general instructions can be used for all cases. Although the systems look and work differently, they are united by the principle of operation and design. Therefore, it is not necessary to look for a manual for servicing the air conditioner of a specific car. If you decide to charge your air conditioner yourself, try not to deviate from these recommendations and strictly follow the instructions.

Remove all contaminants on the protective cap and the adjacent area of the low pressure line. Only after this can you safely open it without fear of debris entering the system.
Assemble the equipment and attach the hose to the filler fitting. If the refrigerant bottle comes with instructions for its use, be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Freon is supplied in different cylinders, so they may differ slightly from each other.
When refueling car air conditioners, you should start the engine and keep the speed at 1500 units. RPM support is required to pump freon through all lines of the air conditioning unit. Here it is better to use the help of another person, or use something to fix the gas pedal in the desired position so that the speed does not fall or rise.
Now you can turn on air recirculation using the appropriate buttons or controls on your air conditioner. The equipment is turned on at maximum values.
Open the low pressure line tap. In this case, the freon cylinder itself turns upside down. The canister valve gradually opens. At the same time, the engine continues to run, and the escaping refrigerant begins to charge the system.
While the freon leaves the cylinder and enters the air conditioner, you need to simultaneously monitor the pressure gauge readings. Make sure that the value in the low pressure line does not exceed 285 kPa. Optimally it should be at a level of 275 kPa. If you exceed the specified numbers, then this will lead to compressor failure.
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To check that the system is properly charged, look at the filter drier window. If there are no bubbles and you can clearly see the transparent liquid, everything is working out correctly.
When cold air appears in the cabin (its temperature will be from 5 to 8 degrees Celsius), and the hose near the low pressure fitting becomes cold, like ice, the process can be completed. Close the cylinder and disconnect all contacts.

If you do everything correctly and according to the instructions, you won’t see anything complicated in refilling your car air conditioner yourself. Therefore, rely on the manuals, carefully read the recommendations of the freon manufacturer, and also do not forget about safety standards. If problems arise, when something does not work out and gets out of control, it is better to stop the work and send the car to specialists.

Preventive measures

Long-term operation of the car air conditioner without problems or leaks indicates that the car owner carefully monitors the operation of his vehicle and all its systems. There are literally two useful recommendations for self-service of an air conditioner, which are aimed at increasing the service life of the system and maintaining its efficient operation. Car owners need:

Periodically clean the radiator of your car air conditioner. The procedure for washing this element is not the most complicated, so there is no need to involve specialists in it.
Use air conditioning in winter. In winter, there is no need to cool the interior. Here the entire emphasis is on heating. But to prevent the air conditioner from breaking down prematurely, it should be turned on in winter. To do this, it is recommended to go into any warm room at least once a month and turn on the interior cooling at medium speed for 10 - 20 minutes.

When there are no breakdowns or leaks in the car air conditioning system, refilling freon yourself is not so difficult. You can easily cope with the task yourself. But in order to carry out all operations correctly, you should study the design of the air conditioner in advance, understand the principle of its operation, select the appropriate refrigerant and acquire the necessary equipment.

How to recharge the system in case of freon leak?

Many drivers refuel thoughtlessly. They don’t think about where exactly the freon disappeared, and whether it’s normal at all. Some even know that they have a leak in their air conditioning system that is causing gas to escape. In this case, it is also necessary to refill the air conditioner, but it is important to do this correctly. Many service stations offer to add a special dye to freon for 500 rubles, which will evaporate along with the freon. Then, when the system is illuminated with ultraviolet light, the leak can be easily detected - paint will be clearly visible at the leak site.

There are other ways to determine a leak. The simplest and cheapest, which is often practiced at many service stations, is to apply a soap solution to the radiator or air conditioning system. If the solution gets into the leak area, a soap bubble forms and begins to inflate at that location. In this simple and free way, you can find a leak in the air conditioning system literally within 10 minutes. There is no need to add paint to freon and wait a couple of days for the paint to evaporate. Using this method of detecting a leak, you can identify it yourself, however, to do this you need to know where the lines with freon are located. Most often, leaks are found at the junctions of different lines or on the radiator itself - it is necessary to apply a soap solution to it first.