types of AC car recharge kits
Your car’s AC works hard defogging your windshield all winter and keeping you cool on summer road trips. But like all parts of your vehicle, it can break down and need a recharge from time to time. A DIY recharge kit can be a quick, inexpensive fix to get your car back to a comfortable level of cooling. But are there any DIY methods to recharge your car AC without a kit?
Most basic a/c car recharge kit include an adapter hose that connects a can of refrigerant (R-134a is the common choice, but new hybrid and electric vehicles use R-1234yf) to the low side service port in your car’s air conditioning system. The hose also has a pressure gauge that allows you to monitor the air conditioner’s pressure. Many kits also feature leak detection dye and temperature-sensitive vent clips to help you find the problem areas.
But the recharging kits that you buy at your local auto parts store are not made for every car on the market. Some are incompatible with the hybrid or electric compressors found in some of the newest cars, so you could potentially damage your AC system by using a wrong-type kit. And some DIY recharging kits don’t come with the correct type of oil for your car’s system, which can cause it to break down prematurely and require professional repairs.
Are there different types of AC car recharge kits for different climates?
The most common issue with a DIY AC recharge is that it’s easy to overcharge your car’s system. Most recharge kits only measure the pressure on one side of the system, so it’s easy to overfill it with too much refrigerant and cause your air conditioner to blow hot instead of cold.
To avoid this, you must carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using the kit. For example, you might have to shake the can of refrigerant and its reusable dispenser hose slightly every three or four seconds to keep the contents mixed. You should also check the pressure of the system often while releasing the refrigerant.
Finally, most recharging kits offer a stop-leak sealer. These products typically plug small leaks in your air conditioning system and are an effective short-term solution, but they can also interfere with important components in the hoses, compressor and pumps. If you have a larger leak, this is something best left to the professionals at Griffins Auto to handle properly.
A DIY a/c recharge kit can be a good temporary fix to keep your car’s AC running smoothly for a while, but it is not the best way to restore a comfortable level of cooling. A professional shop can use an evacuator to remove the current refrigerant from your car’s system, pull an extremely high vacuum to ensure no atmospheric contaminants are in the system and then refill it with the exact amount needed. This can save you money and headaches in the long run by preventing refrigerant waste and ensuring your AC is working at peak performance.