How to refuel a car air conditioner without spending on service stations: when you really need it

Almost all modern cars are equipped with air conditioning. This device provides the necessary level of comfort in the cabin, but periodically requires maintenance, which mainly consists of refilling with refrigerant. The frequency of the procedure and the timeliness of its implementation directly affect the life of the compressor. Therefore, refueling the air conditioner should not be neglected.

Why and how often to fill the air conditioner

The car air conditioner is constantly exposed to the following factors:

• constant vibrations;
• evaporation of liquids during operation of the power unit;
• constant temperature changes.

Since the connections in the air conditioning system are threaded, over time the seal is broken, which leads to freon leakage. Gradually, its quantity decreases so much that, in the absence of refueling, the compressor fails within a short time.

Freon leakage leads to a malfunction of the air conditioning system and accelerated wear of the compressor

If you listen to the opinion of experts, they recommend refueling the air conditioner even in the absence of visible malfunctions.

When buying a car in a car dealership, refueling should be done every 2-3 years. If the car is 7-10 years old, then the procedure in question is recommended to be performed every year. Sometimes car owners equip their car with air conditioning on their own, so the time until the next refueling must be counted from the moment of installation. If a malfunction occurs in the device, leading to a freon leak, repairs are required, followed by refueling of the air conditioning system.

Learn how to repair the air conditioner radiator yourself: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/sistema-ohdazhdeniya/remont-radiatora-kondicionera-avtomobilya.html

Signs you need to recharge your air conditioner

There are several signs that indicate the need to refuel the car air conditioner, but the main one is a decrease in performance. To fully understand that the device needs to be refueled, attention should be paid to the following points:

• decreased quality and speed of air cooling;
• oil appeared on tubes with freon;
• frost has formed in the indoor unit;
• there is no cooling at all.

The appearance of oil on the tubes with freon indicates a refrigerant leak and the need for repair and refueling of the system

How to check freon level

Checking the refrigerant should be carried out not only when there are reasons. To diagnose the fullness of the air conditioning system, there is a special window in the area of ​​\uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbthe dryer. It determines the state of the working environment. If a white color and air bubbles are observed, then this indicates the need to replace the substance. Under normal conditions, freon has no color and is a homogeneous mass without bubbles.

You can check the level of freon through a special window

How to fill the air conditioner in the car with your own hands

Before you start refueling the air conditioner, you need to purchase the appropriate equipment and tools, as well as familiarize yourself with the step-by-step actions.

Necessary tool for refueling

Today, tetrafluoroethane labeled r134a is used to refuel car air conditioners, but out of habit, many call this substance freon. A refrigerant weighing 500 grams (bottle) will cost about 1 thousand rubles. For a car with a small engine volume, one bottle is enough, and for more voluminous ones, you may need a couple of spray cans. Refueling can be done with one of the following devices:

• special station;
• a set of equipment for single or multiple refueling.

In specialized services for refueling car air conditioners, special stations are used, but such equipment is too expensive for home repairs.

The first option for an ordinary motorist is no longer necessary, since such equipment is quite expensive - at least 100 thousand rubles. As for the sets, the most complete option is considered to be the one consisting of the following list:

• manometric manifold;
• scales;
• a cylinder filled with freon;
• vacuum pump.

If we talk about a disposable device, then it includes a bottle, a hose and a pressure gauge.

Simple air conditioner refill kit including bottle, pressure gauge and connecting hose with adapter

For this and the previous filling option, fittings and adapters will also be required. A disposable kit has a low cost, but is inferior in reliability to a reusable one. Which option to opt for is up to the owner to decide.

About choosing an air conditioner for the VAZ-2107: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/salon/konditsioner-na-vaz-2107.html

Safety measures

When working with freon, there is no danger if you follow simple precautions:

1. Use goggles and cloth gloves to avoid contact with skin and eyes.
2. Carefully monitor the tightness of the system and valves.
3. Work outdoors or in an open area.

If the refrigerant comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes of the eyes, immediately wash it off with water. If signs of suffocation or poisoning appear, the person should be taken to fresh air for at least half an hour.

Description of the procedure

Regardless of the brand of the car, the procedure for refueling the air conditioner involves the following steps:

1. Remove the protective cap from the fitting of the low pressure line. If debris is found at the entrance, we remove it, and also clean the cap itself. Even the smallest particles of debris and dirt are not allowed to enter the system. Otherwise, the compressor is likely to break down.
   

   We remove the protective cap from the port of the low pressure line and check if there is debris and any other contaminants in it and at the inlet
2. We install the car on the handbrake and select the neutral on the gearbox.
3. We start the engine, keeping the speed within 1500 rpm.
4. We select the maximum mode of air recirculation in the cabin.
5. We connect the cylinder and the low pressure line with a hose.
   

   We connect the hose to the cylinder and to the fitting for refueling in the car
6. Turn the refrigerant bottle upside down and unscrew the low pressure valve.
7. While filling the system, we maintain pressure with a pressure gauge. The parameter should not exceed a value of 285 kPa.
8. When the air temperature from the deflector reaches +6–8 °C and frost on connection near the low pressure port, filling can be considered complete.
   

   After refueling, check the operation of the air conditioner

Video: how to fill the air conditioner yourself

Refueling a car air conditioner with your own hands

Checking the quality of the air conditioner

Upon completion of refueling, it is recommended to check the quality of the work performed. To do this, it is enough to activate the air conditioner and if the air immediately goes cold, then the work has been done correctly. The following points indicate the incorrect functioning of the system after refueling:

• the appearance of foreign odors from the deflectors. In this case, it may be necessary to replace the cabin filter;
  

  If an unpleasant smell enters the cabin from the deflectors, it is necessary to replace the cabin filter
• the appearance of a refrigerant leak from the elements of the air conditioning system. To detect a leak, you will need a gas analyzer or charging the system with refrigerant with an ultraviolet dye, followed by checking with a special lamp;
  

  Freon leakage can be checked using an ultraviolet lamp
• extraneous noises. If these occur, the condenser or compressor may be damaged by corrosion.

More about checking the air conditioner: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/sistema-ohdazhdeniya/kak-proverit-kondicioner-v-mashine.html

Video: checking the performance of a car air conditioner

Car air conditioner check. Dnieper.

At first glance, refueling a car air conditioner may seem like a complicated procedure. But if you read the step-by-step instructions and follow the precautions during operation, then almost every motorist can handle this process. If there is no self-confidence, then it is better to contact a car service.