Re charging ac??

tommykaw · #1 07-11-2011, 05:49 AM

Does anyone know if it is difficult to recharge/add freon to a 1994 b3000 with a five speed transmission. My local guy said he would re charge it for 125. I suspect I have a small leak and dont want to throw away 125 just for laughs..thanks Tom

PS the previous owner mentioned when he sold the truck to me that at the end of last summer his AC wasnt staying real cold...

2000ranger302 · #2 07-11-2011, 05:52 AM

If its R134A you can buy recharge bottles at auto parts stores for around $25

richarddhoward · #3 07-11-2011, 06:18 AM

Sounds like you have a leak. You need to have the mechanic check all the lines. You have a pre 1996 truck. I believe the cut off for R12 was 1995, then they switched to R-134A. If he can update you to the new gas, he will need to change lines if your truck is R12 equipped. 134a is a smaller molecule gas then R12 so it will leak out if you don't retrofit. But you can also still get R12 at many places that deal in AC. The other issue could be that your receiver dryer is worn out, so all he has to do is replace that and recharge the system. AC is not a cheap thing to fix, but if you live in hotter climates, IE Texas, I'm in South Carolina at the moment, it is definately worth the cost in my opinion. Good luck, let me know if you have any other questions, I am ASE certified in AC, I haven't had to deal with it in several years, so I don't remember everything, but I can definately help you out with some things. 125 bucks to recharge the system is not a bad price at all to get the system recharged also.

RLong31 · #4 07-11-2011, 06:25 AM

You can probly find a coupon in your local paper for a free a/c system check. Use that and take it and have it tested. If you have a leak... save yourself some money and fix the line.. or o-ring or whatever is leaking yourself. $125 ain't bad. I just paid $169 on my car.

As far as the conversion goes... from my understanding you have to change some fittings, and then flush the system of the old stuff, if there is anything left, and then re-charge with new stuff. But, that's just what I've been told.

tommykaw · #5 07-11-2011, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richarddhoward

Sounds like you have a leak. You need to have the mechanic check all the lines. You have a pre 1996 truck. I believe the cut off for R12 was 1995, then they switched to R-134A. If he can update you to the new gas, he will need to change lines if your truck is R12 equipped. 134a is a smaller molecule gas then R12 so it will leak out if you don't retrofit. But you can also still get R12 at many places that deal in AC. The other issue could be that your receiver dryer is worn out, so all he has to do is replace that and recharge the system. AC is not a cheap thing to fix, but if you live in hotter climates, IE Texas, I'm in South Carolina at the moment, it is definately worth the cost in my opinion. Good luck, let me know if you have any other questions, I am ASE certified in AC, I haven't had to deal with it in several years, so I don't remember everything, but I can definately help you out with some things. 125 bucks to recharge the system is not a bad price at all to get the system recharged also.

Thanks for the quick response. The mechanic is not a bad guy- he told me basically he would recharge it for 125 without checking for leaks-If i wanted the system checked it would be more and i would have to leave the truck for at least and make an appointment, My thoughts were to just recharge myself if it wasnt too involved for maybe 1/3 of the price. The previous owner said it leaked out at the end of the season so maybe it isnt a large leak and i might get through the rest of the NY summer with a self recharge. But if they dont make the right freon and it's going to be very involved I might have to lay the money down-I'm sure to change the lines and do other repairs it might get pretty expensive..its a 94 141000 miles but runs pretty well, thanks Tom

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RLong31

You can probly find a coupon in your local paper for a free a/c system check. Use that and take it and have it tested. If you have a leak... save yourself some money and fix the line.. or o-ring or whatever is leaking yourself. $125 ain't bad. I just paid $169 on my car.

As far as the conversion goes... from my understanding you have to change some fittings, and then flush the system of the old stuff, if there is anything left, and then re-charge with new stuff. But, that's just what I've been told.

thanks for the reply-Thanks not a bad Idea and maybe the mad rush for ac is over and the prices are dropping a bit..Like swim suit sale ..thanks again

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000ranger302

If its R134A you can buy recharge bottles at auto parts stores for around $25

I hope its the cheap stuff-I can refill it every week!!!thanks Tom

richarddhoward · #6 07-11-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLong31

You can probly find a coupon in your local paper for a free a/c system check. Use that and take it and have it tested. If you have a leak... save yourself some money and fix the line.. or o-ring or whatever is leaking yourself. $125 ain't bad. I just paid $169 on my car.

As far as the conversion goes... from my understanding you have to change some fittings, and then flush the system of the old stuff, if there is anything left, and then re-charge with new stuff. But, that's just what I've been told.

They don't change all the fittings, but they need to change out some of them. They are going to have to replace a bunch of O-rings as well. As far as the self recharge kits, I have no experience with them, but I have heard they are really simple. I'm the kind of person though that likes it done right the first time. I'm a mechanic by trade, so it's what I do.

Fightinirish157 · #7 07-11-2011, 12:52 PM

Make sure you don't over charge the system, my neighbor did that cause the gauge on his refill can did not read correctly, he did not know this at the time, and blew the compressor up.

richarddhoward · #8 07-11-2011, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fightinirish157

Make sure you don't over charge the system, my neighbor did that cause the gauge on his refill can did not read correctly, he did not know this at the time, and blew the compressor up.

This is true, but it's not easy to overdo it.

GhostRanger · #9 07-11-2011, 01:17 PM

I believe Richard is correct in the cut-off year for R-12 to R-134A. And if this is the case and it does have a leak it should be repaired. The only issue with repairing it is that you will have to recharge it with the R-12 which is impossible to get hold of unless you are a shop. Also it is expensive as hell. To the point at which it is better to convert it to R-134A. Which for a shop to do will be about as expensive as the R-12 recharge.

The conversion is to change the high and low side orifices and the seals and oil in the compressor. The only reason I know this is because I did it to a '88 chev cavalier a few years ago that had the A/C system torn apart before I got the car. I repaired it and converted the compressor, the charged the system with the recharge kits you can get.

It is a bit of a pain but in the end it is worth it because then you won't have to worry about it in the future.

Hope this helps some

2000ranger302 · #10 07-11-2011, 01:22 PM

^x2 On the conversion because in the future if you ever need a recharge it is much less expensive as R-12 as stated above

tommykaw · #11 07-12-2011, 11:03 AM

The gentleman who sold me the truck included the repair manual. It states it is r134a. I checked it last night. The local advanced auto parts store sells a recharge kit that includes a pressure gauge, a few cans of r134a and a can of leak sealer for about 30 bucks. as we all know times are tuff if 30 bucks will do the trick i'm good with that. Its mid july and I dont have the cash to fix it 100 correct.It seeems like its a slow leak-hopefully this kit will work some magic for me..thanks for all the responses..Tom

ColinS · #12 07-12-2011, 11:14 AM

my 1994 came factory with 134a look on your a/c system under the hood and there should be decals saying what kind is in the system

tommykaw · #13 07-12-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinS

my 1994 came factory with 134a look on your a/c system under the hood and there should be decals saying what kind is in the system

thank you- thats my year also and i think i have the r134a also...

thanks again tom