My Car’s AC Stops Working After Using a Recharge Kit
Imagine being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a blistering hot summer day when, out of the blue, your car’s AC stops working. It’s not only an inconvenience, but it could also be dangerous if you’re driving in high temperatures and have no way to cool off. If your car’s air conditioning stops working after using a recharge kit, there’s a good chance that there is another problem with the system that needs to be addressed before the recharging can be effective.
One of the main reasons your vehicle’s AC may stop blowing cold air after a DIY recharging is that the wrong type of refrigerant was used or the process wasn’t done correctly. If you’ve tried adding more Freon to your AC system and it still doesn’t work, it’s likely that there is a leak or other issue that requires professional diagnosis and repair.
Recharge kits are available at many auto parts stores and come in a variety of price ranges. Some of the most basic recharge kits are only $20 or less, and they usually include a can of the proper refrigerant along with a hose and gauge. For a little more money, you can buy a more comprehensive car ac recharge kit.
The most common type of recharge kit includes three eight-ounce cans of R1234yf, the new refrigerant that has been replacing R134a in new vehicles, a hose and a pressure gauge set. This is a great option for people who want to try a do-it-yourself fix but are not ready to shell out for a full diagnostic and refrigerant recharge service.
What Should I Do If My Car’s AC Stops Working After Using a Recharge Kit?
Another option is a more expensive recharging kit that has a high-quality vacuum pump and other tools to make the job easier. These kits usually cost about $90 and include a can of the right refrigerant, a can tap, a hose coupler, a gauge set and a can opener.
If you’re going to spend more than $50 on a recharge kit, it’s important to choose the best one. Look for a kit with a good pressure gauge set that monitors both the low and high side of the system. Avoid cheap recharge kits that only have a single gauge attached to the hose and can be easily misread.
A good gauge set will help you determine whether your refrigerant is being displaced by water or other contaminants in the system. When water and refrigerant mix, they can hydrolyze – creating corrosive acids that can deteriorate components or clog the system with sludge. In addition to causing AC problems, these acids can also damage the environment.
A low-pressure port in a car serves as a vital access point for recharging the vehicle’s air conditioning system. Located under the hood, this port allows technicians to introduce refrigerant into the system, ensuring optimal cooling performance. As cars evolved, so did their air conditioning systems, transitioning from the ozone-depleting R-12 refrigerant to the more environmentally friendly R-134a and now to the even greener R-1234yf. Throughout these changes, the low-pressure port remained a constant, albeit with modifications to accommodate newer refrigerants.