How can you recharge your car air conditioner condenser?
When it comes to features in your vehicle, air conditioning is a major plus. It keeps you comfortable during the summer. If you live in one of the warmer states, it may be considered a must throughout the entire year. The last thing you want is a problem with your car air conditioner condenser. If your air conditioner stops cooling your vehicle, you may simply need to recharge your car air conditioner condenser. PartsMax can help you with taking care of your air conditioner condenser needs.
How To Get Started?
If your air conditioner is only sending out gusts of warm air, you probably need to recharge it. When you turn the knob for the air conditioner in your car, a compressor applies pressure to the Freon in your vehicle. Freon is a refrigerant. When the Freon is compressed, it actually becomes warmer until it travels through a condenser. It passes through a receiver next where moisture and any contaminants can be filtered out. It travels to the expansion valve to cool the Freon as it slows down. It travels to your evaporator next. This is located in your dashboard. It continues to cool the Freon and eliminates moisture. The blower motor is the final step as it fills your vehicle with refreshingly cool air. If your refrigerant level runs low, you can recharge your condenser to beat the heat again.
How to Recharge Your Car Air Conditioner Condense
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the year your vehicle was manufactured. Anything after 1994 will use an r-134a refrigerant. You should stop in Parts Max to buy two cans that contain 12 ounces of refrigerant. You will also need a dispenser that has a trigger and a gauge. It is also wise to have protective goggles. The next step to recharging your air conditioning system is to attach the dispenser to the top of the can of refrigerant. Before you actually recharge your system, you will want to check your compressor. Pop the hood and turn your car on. Make sure your fan is blowing at full speed inside your vehicle. You’ll see a hose that runs to the compressor. It is cylindrical in shape. It is attached to the engine. Find the pulley on the compressor and make sure it is spinning in the center. If it is spinning but your vehicle fails to become cool, you should go to your mechanic. If it isn’t spinning, you should add half a can of r-134a.
Adding Refrigerant to Your Vehicle
Look on the left side beneath the hood to locate the fill port on your condenser. It is found on what is considered the low-pressure side. It will be marked with an L on the plastic cap that is located on top. When you open it up, you will find the fill port. As you work, be careful not to touch other parts of the engine. They get hot while they are running and could burn you. Before you attach the dispenser to the port, squeeze the trigger in order to push out any excess air for two seconds. Attach the dispenser to the port. Make sure it is firmly attached before you squeeze the trigger. A chart comes with the dispenser to help you determine the proper amount of refrigerant to apply to your condenser. Watch the pressure gauge and make sure you stay within your guidelines. You should tip the refrigerant gradually as you apply pressure to the trigger. Continue until your gauge is at the proper level of pressure. Wait about five minutes. Check the pressure again. If it remains where it should be, you are done. If it needs extra, you can add more. You can switch cans if you find your system is running really low. If it continues to lose pressure, you probably have a leak. You’ll need to get it checked by your mechanic.
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