Is it hard to recharge the air in your car...?

Paulson

Elite Member
Feb 27, 2001
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www.ifixidevices.com
Our dodge intrepid's air has been out for a little while now... and instead of going to a shop and paying a bunch just to get it recharged when my dad and I can do it ourselves...

It takes R134A (94 Intrepid)... Is it hard to recharge them yourself if you get a kit at like walmart?

Thanks for your opinions :)
 

cmf21

Senior member
Oct 10, 1999
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I did mine myself. It wasn't hard at all. I had to replace the compressor and all the o-rings since I convereted my system over. A friend at a shop emptied the system for me and I replaced the parts and he emptied it again and refilled it. Works great.

Before you start, you need to know what's wrong. Otherwise your just wasting your time and money. Here's a great site for information. A/C
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
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With the old kits, you would just attach the hose from the can to the check valve (looks like a large Schrader valve) on the low pressure side of the compressor (usually the larger of the two tubes attached to the compressor, it's the one that's leading from the passenger compartment, not to the condenser in front of the radiator).

I'm pretty sure the new kits work approximately the same way.

You might want to be certain that you buy the stuff with the leak dye in it, so if it leaks right back out again, you'll be able to diagnose the problem.
 

Sepen

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I do all our vehicles from time to time. Cost me $10 or so for the hose (which I have had for over 3 years now), only fits one side of the line and another $6 for each of the 134a. Takes me about 3 minutes or so.
 

Drakkon

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
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Dont get one of those cheapy walmart kits....the damn gauge on the one I bought was off and it not only overfilled my system but introduced air as well :/
Go to autozone/checker and find a semi decent kit and a good inline gauge...dont skimp...its not a hard thing to do so long as the tools you have aren't compleately worthless :p
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
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Originally posted by: Paulson
Well we know it leaked out... we're just looking for a temporary solution for the summer :)



Well adding freon to a leaking unit is just throwing your money away. Now if it takes more than 2 weeks for it to fully run out then it should not to much to add a can every 2-3 weeks, but if it leaks out faster then your are wasting your money.
 

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
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Originally posted by: Paulson
no, it lasted all summer on a recharge last year... we think it ran out over the winter months...

And that's why you run the AC during the winter once a week to keep everything lubricated :)
 

JC

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
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Originally posted by: Viperoni
Originally posted by: Paulson
no, it lasted all summer on a recharge last year... we think it ran out over the winter months...

And that's why you run the AC during the winter once a week to keep everything lubricated :)

Ya know, the AC runs on 'defrost' too....