The AC in the 99 burb we just bought is the only thing not perfect on this truck. The air is just a little cooler than the ambient temperature. I have seen those bottles of A/C crap at autozone. Is it easy enough to just grab one of those and charge the system? Or do I need to get special tools, etc? I have watched the guy recharge the A/C on my humvee back in iraq about a million times, and he had this big vacuum machine.... never really seemed to help thou...
CK5
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Is it hard to charge A/C?
- Thread starter us74k5
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Its pretty easy. Get the cheap regulator, a can of freon, and hook it up to the low pressure side. Turn the a/c on high and give it some time. FYI, the low pressure fitting is the only one the regulator will hook to, so you don't have to worry about putting in the wrong place.
British Slave
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It's easy, but you do need a little knowledge of the system. Your problem could be as simple as a low pressure switch gone bad. And R-134-A is easy to overcharge.
Ask your Auto Zone guy to show you how.
Ask your Auto Zone guy to show you how.
badmix
1/2 ton status
Also if you put too much in or overcharge it, it wont run cold, itll act like it is low. Its easy sorta kinda. 
4xcrazy
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British Slave
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You have my condoliences that Arizona doesn't have knowledgable Auto Zone employees. Texas does.
Well, most of them anyway.
4xcrazy
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we get alot of AAI (automotive mechanics school) and MMI (motorcycle mechanics school) kids that get hired in these places, for some reason, corporate thinks just because they are going to school to become some sort of mechanic, they can help the everyday person work on their cars as well.
problem is they are all book junkies, no real world hands on experiance that doesn't teach you certain issues from certain problems that a book doesn't cover.
problem is they are all book junkies, no real world hands on experiance that doesn't teach you certain issues from certain problems that a book doesn't cover.
British Slave
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That would be better than one guy we have here......he can't speak English.
4xcrazy
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British Slave
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That's what he is there for!
Ok, So I bought the can, had the vatozone guy show me how, ez peasy. I assumed that the only time I was supposed to care about what the pressure gauge said was when the pump clutch engaged, I hope that was correct? I used the entire can. The A/C is still blowing just slightly cooler than the ambient temperature. Do you guys think its a low pressure switch? Or was I wrong in assuming that the only time the pressure mattered was when the pump was running?
GsxrMike
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What was the pressure?
It would be a lot handier with a manifold guage set on there, so you could read high and low pressures. Why not just vaccum down the entire system, and start over? Then you know how much refrigerant you have in there.
Martin
Martin
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
should be about 45ish when the compressor is running, how big of a can did you buy?
and make sure both front AND rear AC units are running at full speed.
with the Burbs ac systems, they take alot of freon, it's easy to be 2 or 3 cans low and have the compressor still run.
and make sure both front AND rear AC units are running at full speed.
with the Burbs ac systems, they take alot of freon, it's easy to be 2 or 3 cans low and have the compressor still run.
British Slave
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If the compressor clutch was engaged and you had 30 lbs suction, the low pressure switch is good.
kd7kmp
Registered Member
I don't mean to sound harsh or rude, but I've seen this many times...someone tries to charge their own system because it's not blowing cold. They take the advice of friends and the local parts store guys and add one can...two cans...three cans, and it still isn't cold. They ONLY way to know if you have the correct charge, especially with R143a, is to have the system evacuated and charged using a scale to measure the amount of refrigerant put in. Even with a set of manifold gauges you only have a rough (sometimes very rough) idea if you are in the ballpark. This means taking it to someone with the proper equipment and expertise. It costs some money, but is worth it. And, as 4xcrazy alluded, dual A/C systems are even more fickle.
Kevin
Kevin
Just go to an AC shop and have them check it out. I had mine inspected, flushed, filled and leak tested for $90 and it blows ice cold now. Some stuff is just worth paying a guy that knows what he's doing with the right tools.
You guys need to get with the CK5 way of doing things! I would rather f*ck it up, learn how to do it right, and do it myself. But fortunately, I bought a few more cans, turned on the rear ac, charged it up, and now it blows ice cold! Eat that A/C repair shop!
78Blazer4x4
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That's cool that it worked. I got my blazer and took it to an A/C shop so he could look it over and charge it. Paid 50 bucks. Not sure if I was ripped off but he siad he put a couple lbs of coolant and it's freakin cold. The only thing on the blazer that doesn't leak
