Refilling the air conditioner in a car with your own hands

Fuel your car air conditioner yourself? Easily!

The car air conditioner provides us with optimal microclimate conditions in the cabin. Most modern cars have this useful unit, otherwise you can get an air conditioner (many service stations offer its installation service).

The main advantages of car air conditioners:

creating a comfortable temperature inside the cabin;
maintaining optimal moisture levels;
preventing car windows from fogging;
getting rid of exhaust gases and unpleasant stocks in the cabin.

But this unit periodically needs maintenance. If in hot weather the air conditioner does not cool the air well, then you need to refill the car air conditioner yourself.

The principle of operation of car air conditioners

Before we start refueling the car air conditioner, let's try to understand the principle of its operation. In total, it has 3 main parts: compressor, condenser and evaporator. Of course, in addition to them, there are other important parts, such as a receiver or a dehumidifier. So how does their work work?

A special refrigerant, freon, circulates throughout the system in a closed circuit
Inside the air conditioning compressor, gas is compressed , after which its temperature becomes higher;
then sent to a condenser , which extracts heat from it and condenses it;
After this, freon is directed into the circuit and then, under high pressure, ends up in the expansion valve;
There it is atomized and passes further into the evaporator, where the refrigerant evaporates and the air is cooled due to the release of heat;
The last step is that the freon in a cold gas state is sent to the compressor through the low pressure side, after which the whole process occurs again.

Note! For proper operation of the unit, the compressor should be repaired in a timely manner and the tightness of the tubes should be checked.

Freon plays a key role in the air conditioning system and can leak over time. The normal annual loss of freon is 15% . The air conditioner in the car should be refilled after 3 years, and in the case of an old unit, refilling should occur more often. However, regardless of the outcome, refilling the air conditioner with your own hands is done using the same method.

If you notice a significant leak of freon, this may mean the following:

leakage in pipeline connections;
system tubes are damaged;
The capacitor becomes corroded.

Refilling car air conditioners does not make sense if there are leaks in the system. Minor problems can be fixed on your own, but more serious problems are best left to specialists.

To check the pressure in the air conditioning system, as well as for its subsequent refilling, use a special set of tools. It includes:

metrology station or test connector;
hoses;
adapters;
taps;
freon bottle.

The main function of the meter station and test connector is to measure the pressure in the system.
Often in car dealerships you can see ready-made kits for refilling air conditioners, which include all of the above. Their cost starts from 30,000 rubles. It is recommended to use R-12 freon for cars before 1992 and R-134a for more modern ones.

Let's take a closer look at the stages of equipment assembly:

on the top of the freon canister you can see a plane that needs to be pierced with the adapter needle when connecting;
then screw the adapter to the cylinder and attach the hose;
the return end of the hose, accordingly, is connected to the metrological station;
We also attach the second hose there;
equipment has been assembled.

However, that's not all. Pressure meters must also be calibrated. The external air temperature is set using the calibrator wheel . You can check the indicators on the on-board computer (if available).

Step-by-step process for refilling a car air conditioner

Click on the picture to enlarge.

So, let's move on to the most important question - how to charge the air conditioner with freon? Our instructions apply to all models.

We look for the low pressure line and remove the cap from it. Do not forget to clean the space around this area, because even small particles of dirt entering the air conditioner can damage the compressor.
We put the filling hose on the fitting and the system is ready.
We start the engine and raise the speed to 1500.
Turn on air recirculation to the maximum value. To do this, open the valve responsible for low pressure, turn the freon cylinder over to the bottom position (faucet down) and slowly open the tap. In this case, the motor must remain turned on.
During the refueling process, monitor the pressure meter. The pressure in the line should not exceed 285 kPa.
After some time, cool air will begin to flow into the cabin. If the air temperature from the blowers reaches 5-8 degrees, then close the tap.
Clear liquid can be seen in the window of the filter drier. The absence of bubbles in it indicates that everything went well.

In some cases, the cooling system may continue to malfunction, then you should pay attention to the climate control (it probably needs to be repaired).

See also the video recording of the process of refueling a car air conditioner in the garage:

Source: https://za-rulem.org/tehobsluzhivanie/uhod/zapravka-kondicionera.html

How to refill a car air conditioner, correct refilling of the air conditioner

Car air conditioning improves driving comfort during the summer heat. Over time, any car air conditioner loses refrigerant due to damage to pipes and other parts. After reading the article, you will learn how to properly refill your car air conditioner, what tools and substances you will need, and whether it is worth doing it yourself.

How does a car air conditioner work?

This device works on the principle of a refrigerator: a compressor compresses the refrigerant (freon), increasing its temperature. Hot freon passes through a condenser (analogous to a cooling radiator), where it cools and turns into a liquid state.

Liquid gas enters the evaporator, which is also an analogue of a radiator. The transition from liquid to gaseous state leads to a sharp drop in temperature, due to which the evaporator radiator is cooled to a negative temperature.

The compressor fan sucks in outside air and blows it over the evaporator, then drives the air into the cabin, reducing its temperature.

Air conditioner diagnostics

If the car air conditioner starts to work worse, carry out diagnostics yourself. Here is a list of basic steps for this:

Checking the cabin filter.
Inspection of hoses, tubes, condenser and evaporator.
Checking the electric motor and fan blades.
Checking the belt.
Checking the compressor.

To check the cabin filter, it is pulled out and inspected. The clean filter is inserted back, the dirty filter is replaced with a new one. Inspecting the condenser may require removing the radiator grille.

To inspect the hoses, evaporator or tubes, you need to remove the air conditioner casing (this procedure is described in the car manual).

If you installed the car air conditioner separately with your own hands, read the instructions that come with it.

If the radiators are damaged, replace them yourself or contact a specialized workshop. Check the belt tension and compare it with that specified in the machine or air conditioner service instructions. Start the engine, then increase the speed to 1500 rpm.

Place your hand around the high pressure outlet (it has thick steel or copper tubing connected to it). If the compressor is working correctly, then after 1-2 minutes the outlet will heat up and your hand will become hot. If your hand burns, the compressor needs to be repaired or replaced. If it is slightly warm, there is too little refrigerant in the system.

Place your hand around the cold pressure outlet where the thin tube fits. After 1–2 minutes, the hand should freeze to the point of pain. If this is not the case, the system has a large refrigerant leak and needs serious repairs. It is also necessary to check the condition of the fan and replace it if necessary.

This procedure is described in the car or air conditioner manual.

Preparing to refill the air conditioner

Before you start filling the air conditioner with freon yourself, you must understand that this is a very complex process, with a lot of nuances, so it is difficult to do it correctly. In addition, normal equipment for working with freon will cost significantly more than the services of a specialist.

If you are determined to refuel the car air conditioner yourself, carefully study its instructions. Because actions that are suitable for one air conditioner are not suitable for another. Air conditioners are usually charged with freon once every three years.

If there is a leak, then it will have to be refilled often.

What is needed to refill the air conditioner

To work you will need:

container with freon;
pressure regulators;
hoses for connecting to the air conditioner;
adapters;
vacuum compressor.

Freon selection

Until 1992, car air conditioners were charged with R-12 freon. It is more effective in terms of cooling, is inexpensive, but harms the ozone layer. After 1992, any car air conditioner is manufactured only for R-134a gas. They also produce other modifications of freons for air conditioners.

You cannot mix different types of freons; this will damage the evaporator and condenser. There is a sticker on the inside of the hood that indicates what refrigerant is in the unit. The average cost of a can (500 grams) of refrigerant is 1000 rubles. The average cost of a cylinder (13.6 kg) is 8 thousand rubles.

If there are leaks in the pipes or radiators, the size of which does not exceed 0.5 mm and, for some reason, you cannot contact a specialized workshop, use air conditioning sealants. The average cost of a canister sealant (13.6 kg) is 15 thousand rubles, the average cost of a canister (500 grams) is 2000 rubles.

Do not use sealant frequently; it is better to repair damaged parts in a timely manner.

Selection of pressure regulators

The industry produces three types of pressure regulators:

for filling through a high pressure fitting;
for filling through a low pressure fitting;
universal.

The cost of regulators starts from 2 thousand rubles. They are used for all types of freon and sealant. For pressure regulators you will need valves, tees, hoses and other accessories. The average cost of these devices is 4 thousand rubles.

Other tools

To refill the air conditioner with your own hands, you often purchase fully equipped kits, which consist of:

a can of 1 kg of refrigerant;
valve;
tee;
pressure gauge;
hose with fitting.

How to recharge your air conditioner yourself

To fill the car air conditioner yourself, remove the rubber or plastic plug from the low or high pressure line (depending on the equipment you have). Assemble the refilling device and connect it to the fitting. Start the engine and set the speed to 1500 rpm. Open the valve and charge gas for 5 minutes.

Stop the engine and close the valve, and after 5 minutes look at the pressure gauge. If the pressure in the system is below normal, repeat all operations. Do not overpressure as this will damage the air conditioner. The procedure for refilling your specific model of air conditioning system is described in more detail in the operating manual of the car or air conditioner.

Source: http://AutoLirika.ru/soveti/kak-zapravit-avtokondicioner.html

How to refuel your car's air conditioner yourself?

The air conditioning system performs the following functions:

cools and maintains optimal temperature conditions;
prevents the windows in the cabin from fogging up;
maintains optimal humidity;
cleans the air entering the cabin from exhaust gases and unpleasant odors.

Like any equipment, an air conditioner requires maintenance. If service is not performed on time, consisting of a series of cleaning, refueling, repairs and other work, the device will not function fully. One of the types of work is cleaning and refilling the air conditioner.

Refilling, cleaning and repair of car air conditioners is included in the services of any car service center, but you can save on servicing your car if you do the refueling and cleaning yourself. To perform refueling correctly, you first need to know the structure of the air conditioner.

The design of an air conditioner is similar to that of any cooling unit.

A car air conditioner consists of the following elements:

evaporator;
capacitor;
fan;
compressor;
control valve;
highways.

Car air conditioner device

As in other cooling devices, the air conditioning system uses freon as a refrigerant.

The operating principle of the air conditioner is as follows. All elements included in the kit are connected in a closed loop using highways. Freon moves along one of the lines under low pressure, and along the other under high pressure.

The air conditioning compressor is driven by the engine. In the compressor, freon, which is in a gaseous state, is compressed, its temperature increases and pressure increases.

Freon moves along a high-pressure line to the condenser.

Hot refrigerant enters the condenser. When it reaches the condenser, it is subjected to rapid cooling, condenses and becomes liquid. In this state, it reaches the control valve. With its help, the supply of refrigerant to the evaporator is regulated, where the temperature is adjusted to normal. The more freon enters the evaporator, the more heat will be removed from the cabin.

The freon evaporates as a cold gas and again enters the compressor through the low-pressure line. After this, the process is repeated.

Cooling process diagram

How often do you need refueling?

Freon is used as a refrigerant in a car's air conditioning system. During operation, involuntary leakage occurs, which cannot be stopped.

During the year, the loss of freon is 15%, this is considered normal. To restore the required amount of refrigerant, the air conditioner should be refilled after three years.

If the equipment is not new, then the system has to be refilled often. The charging technology for all air conditioners is the same.

If there is a large loss of freon, then it is necessary to make a diagnosis. Often the cause of leaks is a violation of the tightness of the connections. Special equipment is often used to diagnose the air conditioning system and detect refrigerant leaks.

Special equipment for leak detection

One such device is a leak detector. The sensitivity of modern devices allows for diagnostics and determination of the exact location of the leak.

When there is no equipment to diagnose the system, you can use another method: add ultraviolet dye when refueling. To diagnose leaks, you need to turn on the system several times after fully filling it with dye, and then check for leaks using an ultraviolet lamp. In places of leakage, yellow-green streaks will be visible.

Refueling instructions

If after diagnostics no deficiencies are identified, then you can begin charging the system with refrigerant.

Training video on diagnosing, charging and repairing car air conditioners.

Tools and materials

To check the pressure in the system and further refuel the car air conditioner with your own hands, you should prepare the following tools and materials:

metrological station;
adapter with tap;
hoses with appropriate tips;
freon cylinder of the appropriate type: R-12 or R-134a.

To know exactly which brand to use, you need to look under the hood, where there is usually a table with information about the refrigerant used. If it is missing, information should be found in the car manual.

Stages

The sequence of steps that you need to follow to charge the car air conditioner yourself consists of the following steps:

The adapter with the tap must be screwed to the freon cylinder, which has a thread. Screwing the adapter with the tap
When the adapter is screwed on, the filling hose is connected to it.
The second end of the filling hose is connected to the metrology station. Another charging hose should also be connected to the station meter. Thus, the structure for charging the air conditioner with freon has been assembled.
At the next stage, you need to independently configure the parameters of the meter sensors. Using the calibration regulator, you need to set the ambient temperature.
Next, you need to attach the assembled structure to the fitting, which is located on the low-pressure pipeline. It is important to choose the right fitting. The high-pressure pipeline is smaller in diameter than the low-pressure pipeline. Having decided on the fitting, you need to remove the protection in the form of a cap and thoroughly clean the surface around the fitting.
Then the filling hose from the meter must be connected to the fitting. The refueling system is ready.
According to the instructions, refueling is done from the low pressure side when the car is running. In this case, the speed should be set at 1500.
Next, you need to let the air conditioning system work at maximum performance. Then you need to turn the refrigerant cylinder over. In an inverted state, you need to unscrew the tap on the adapter. After this, the refrigerant will begin to flow into the system. During refueling, you should monitor the pressure at the station sensors. The norm is considered to be a pressure of no more than 285 kPa.
The refrigerant must be refilled until cold air begins to flow from the cabin piping.

You can determine whether the filling is correct with your own hands through the inspection hole located on the filter drier. The liquid is visible through it; if there are no bubbles in it, then the filling was carried out correctly. Self-refueling and repair of car air conditioners allows you to save on maintenance.

Video “How to refuel a car air conditioner yourself”

This video from Oleg Akushin demonstrates in detail how to refill a car air conditioner.

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Source: http://AvtoZam.com/elektronika/ac/zapravka-kondicionerov-avtomobilja/

Refilling the car air conditioner with your own hands. How much, what and how to fill the air conditioner

A car air conditioner is a unit that creates and maintains a given microclimate inside a car. A car air conditioner, like any other equipment, requires timely maintenance.

That is why, in order to maintain it in working condition, periodic refueling of the car's air conditioner, cleaning of the air conditioning system, and a number of other procedures are required to prevent its failure.

Those car owners who often use air conditioning have most likely visited service centers more than once to service it, paying a certain amount of money (the price of refilling a car air conditioner starts from 1000 rubles). However, you can save on this procedure; we will tell you how to refuel a car air conditioner yourself in our article.

Let's look at these points:

The principle of operation of a car air conditioner

How the air conditioner works in a car

Before you start refilling the air conditioner in your car with your own hands, in order for the procedure to be successful, it is advisable to understand the device and the principle of its operation. The system has three main parts:

compressor;
capacitor;
evaporator.

The conditioning process goes something like this::

Freon circulates in a closed loop, passing through all 3 parts.
The air conditioning compressor compresses the gas and raises its temperature.
Next, the refrigerant (already hot and under pressure) enters the condenser, where it cools and condenses (becomes liquid).
After which the freon goes into the high-pressure circuit and is supplied to the expansion valve, where it is sprayed and enters the evaporator.
It is in the evaporator that the cooling process occurs, since there the refrigerant undergoes evaporation, as a result, heat is removed from the air, and it is cooled.
To close the circuit, freon again enters the compressor (in the form of cold gas) on the low pressure side, and there the process is repeated.

How often do you need to recharge your car's air conditioner?

During operation of the car air conditioner, a small leak of freon occurs. The rate of such gas loss in 1 year can reach up to 15% .

So, every three years , if the circuit has not depressurized, the car needs to refill the air conditioner with refrigerant.

And in the case when the car is already quite old, the natural leakage is even greater, so refueling may be required a year more often, but the refueling method will be the same.

When there is a large freon leak, it makes no sense to refill the car’s air conditioner; you must first identify the damaged area and repair it (this can only be done at a specialized service using ultraviolet light).

When the freon leak is more than normal, then most likely:

or the pipes of the air conditioning system have lost their tightness due to mechanical/corrosive damage;
or corrosion processes have appeared inside the capacitor.

What kind of freon is in a car air conditioner?

Types of refrigerant used in car air conditioners

Previously, fluorine-containing freon R-12 , although it is more productive, but due to the fact that it is very harmful , its use was banned in 1992 and replaced with R-134a refrigerant .

Therefore, owners of cars with air conditioning manufactured before 1992 have to either refill it themselves or switch to a new type of freon. After all, although they operate on R-12, refilling chlorofluorine-containing gas at service stations is prohibited .

So all new car models with car air conditioning are filled with R-134a freon. By the way, what kind of freon is in the car air conditioner of a particular system can be seen on the plate by lifting the hood. Although it is difficult to confuse, because even the filling fittings are different (in the tube for R-134a it is higher and has a larger diameter).

On the sticker under the hood you can also see the rate for refilling freon in the car air conditioner.

The amount of freon in a car air conditioner

Before refilling the air conditioner with your own hands, it is advisable to determine exactly how much freon is in the car’s air conditioner in order to calculate the purchase of the required number of cans. As we have already found out, you can see the rate for charging freon in a car air conditioner on the plate under the hood, which indicates both the type of refrigerant and its quantity in the system.

When for some reason the table is missing, you can also find out how much refrigerant is needed from the car dealer or look in the manual. For Russian cars, the filling rate is usually about 600-900g .

Although, in principle, accuracy is by and large not needed, because, as a rule, you refuel the system yourself, and not completely fill the air conditioner.

The car air conditioner is refilled either at the factory, or after repair, when the gas is completely out, and during scheduled maintenance, we can only top up the freon to the norm, when it can work at full capacity.

But with such a partial charge of the car air conditioner, we cannot know how many grams of freon are left. Therefore, the air conditioner in the car is charged according to the pressure displayed on the pressure gauge. Therefore, if you were unable to find out the exact numbers and determine the amount of freon in the car’s air conditioner, then follow the arrow of the device.

Since in garage conditions it is not possible to find out the exact amount of refrigerant, it is much easier to determine how much freon is needed to refill a machine air conditioner using the readings of the pressure gauge.

The table for the amount of freon in a machine air conditioner always contains numbers and oil filling rates, but few people know how to add it, and why.

Some drivers, when refueling a car air conditioner, advise always adding oil.

But excess lubricant often leads to breakdown of the piston compressor, since the oil, passing through the unit along with the gaseous refrigerant, burns on the components. So what to do in this situation?

The answer is quite simple - to refill a car air conditioner, it is better to use freon with added oil (this information is indicated on the refrigerant canister), since it is already dosed there.

But if, nevertheless, separate refilling of lubricant is provided, then polyalkylene glycol oil - PAG (pictured in the middle) should be used.

Oil is poured into the compressor through the crankcase (indicated by the arrow in the photo on the right).

Do-it-yourself vacuuming of an air conditioner

Not everyone takes this into account, but an equally important procedure, in addition to the norms for refilling freon and the amount of oil in the system, is also evacuation of the air conditioner !

Evacuation of car air conditioner

When less than 50% of the refrigerant remains in the car air conditioning system, air and moisture penetration is inevitable.

Naturally, the unit will be able to work, although not to its full potential, but, most likely, the compressor will fail, and corrosion will form on the system tubes, and then repairs will cost much more than evacuation.

To remove atmospheric air and moisture vapor from the air conditioner, you will need a vacuum pump.

To vacuum your car air conditioner yourself you will need:

Turn on the heater and warm up the car so that moisture condenses in the evaporator;
Connect the vacuum pump to the compressor fitting, and then, unscrewing the nipple, turn the tap under it (counterclockwise);
Turn on the pump for 15 minutes, then close the valves and turn it off. Repeat the procedure several times.

After completing the procedure, you need to wait 2-3 hours, and only then can you refuel the car’s air conditioner.

Equipment for refilling car air conditioning

Refilling a car air conditioner yourself requires both basic skills and a certain set of equipment. Therefore, to check the pressure in the system and then refill the car air conditioner, you need to purchase:

Set of equipment for refilling car air conditioning

metrological station;
hoses;
an adapter with a tap that allows you to connect to the system;
refrigerant cylinder of the appropriate type (R-12 or R-134a).

All the necessary equipment for refilling a car's air conditioner with your own hands can be purchased at any auto store.

A standard magazine refill kit is connected as follows:

The cylinder contains freon; it has a thread and a plane that is pierced with a needle when connecting the adapter (when such an adapter with a tap is not available, you need to purchase it separately).
The coupling makes it possible to connect via a tee, pressure gauge and hose.
The other end of the hose is connected to a metrology station (purchased separately), to which another hose is connected.

How to tell which fitting is which?

How is it refilled and how can you tell which fitting is which?

Air conditioning systems have two sides: low pressure (indicated by the red arrow) and high pressure (indicated by the blue arrow).

The car air conditioner is refilled into the low pressure line, so the first thing you need to do is find the right fitting. To avoid charging from the high pressure side, the inlet sizes are different. On some models, the fitting caps are designated by the letters “H” and “L” or have different colors.

When unscrewing the low-pressure line tap, carefully wipe the cap itself and the section of the tube with a rag to prevent dust or debris from getting inside.

Do-it-yourself refilling of a car air conditioner - visual video

Regardless of the car model and the appearance of the components, the general instructions for refilling the car air conditioner will be similar.

So, to fill freon into the car air conditioning system, do the following:

We clean the protective cap and the section of the low pressure line from dirt, then open it.
We put a hose from the previously assembled equipment onto the filling fitting.
The instructions for refilling car air conditioners provide for starting the engine and maintaining 1500 rpm. They need to be held so that the compressor pumps freon through the lines. Therefore, at this stage you either need help or you can put something under the gas pedal.
Turn on air recirculation throughout the cabin to maximum.
Open the low pressure line tap by turning the refrigerant cylinder upside down and slowly open the valve. The air conditioner starts charging (with the engine running).
Refilling the car air conditioner is accompanied by constant monitoring of the pressure gauge readings.
The pressure in the low pressure line should not exceed 285 kPa and ideally should be 10 units less. Exceeding the maximum permissible pressure can lead to compressor failure.

To understand whether the system is being charged correctly, you can look into the window of the filter-drier - if there are no bubbles there and clear liquid is visible, then you are doing everything correctly.
As soon as cool air enters the cabin (about 5-8 C°), and the hose near the low pressure fitting is cold as ice, the procedure for refilling the car’s air conditioner can be completed.

How to extend the life of the air conditioner in a car?

To extend the performance of your car air conditioner, you should follow simple recommendations for self-service:

periodically wash the radiator of the car air conditioner (condenser);
in winter, go into a warm room and let the air conditioner run for 10-15 minutes, at least once a month.

As you can see, refilling a car air conditioner yourself is not difficult, and if there is no need to look for a freon leak or repair the air conditioning system, then you can handle the maintenance yourself.

Although, of course, in order to benefit from independent actions, you need to have all the necessary kit for refilling the refrigerant, because its cost will cost you the same price as refilling the air conditioner at a service station.

Therefore, it is beneficial to perform this procedure during regular, once every 2-3 years, maintenance of the car air conditioner.

Source: https://etlib.ru/blog/452-zapravka-konditsionera-avtomobilya-chto-skolko-chem-i-kak

How to charge the air conditioner in a car with your own hands

Before the onset of sweltering heat, the best time to refuel your car air conditioner. Of course, you can go to a car service center and entrust this work to specialists. However, those who are used to servicing a car with their own hands...

The long-awaited summer is coming. Now, before the onset of sweltering heat, is the best time to refill your car air conditioner. Of course, you can go to a car service center and entrust this work to specialists.

However, those who are used to servicing their car with their own hands can refill the air conditioner in the car themselves. You save not only your money, but also time. For the procedure, you do not need to go to the service center and stand in queues.

After refueling, the car does not need to “settle”: you can immediately go about your business and enjoy the comfort in the cabin. Thanks to modern auto chemical manufacturers, everything is as simple as one, two, three!

Go to catalog →

What can you use to recharge your air conditioner?

To refill your car air conditioner yourself, pay attention to the products of the AuTech company, whose representative in Nizhny Novgorod is the company CleanTech. Car wash partner." Under this brand, two types of kits containing R134a gas are offered:

device for self-filling (500 milliliters of freon);
a kit containing a cylinder of freon, sealant and a leak indicator (in case you suspect a refrigerant leak in the car's air conditioning system)

Any of these kits includes a pressure gauge, which allows you to control the flow of gas into the system, and a hose for connection.

Absolutely any car owner can charge the air conditioner in a car with these kits - no deep knowledge is required, just follow the instructions and have hands growing from your shoulders! The quality of the AuTech kit meets the highest requirements, so it can be used to refill air conditioners not only at home, but also in professional service centers.

Advantages of the AuTech self-refilling system for air conditioning:

No special knowledge or skills are required. Any adult can handle refueling.

The kits include everything you need for work. For your comfort, you can only add gloves.
Effective replenishment of lost refrigerant in the system;
Rapid cooling of the interior;
Dry cold air;
Increasing the performance of the vehicle air conditioning system, increasing its service life due to anti-wear additives;
A set with sealant prevents leaks of gaskets, hoses and O-rings;
Convenient quick-release connection;
Reusable trigger dispenser with built-in low pressure gauge;
The hose and pressure gauge are universal (ideal for cylinders from other manufacturers).

How to charge the air conditioner in your car yourself?

Even if this is your first time refilling the air conditioner with your own hands, you will succeed! You just need to follow the step-by-step instructions:

The car's air conditioning system is set to maximum internal airflow mode.
The temperature is set to minimum.
Under the hood you find the air conditioning nipple. Please note that the quick release is only suitable for the low pressure nipple (it is marked with the letter L, the nipple itself is thin, like the tube).
Start the car engine.
Checks the correct operation of the compressor (the air conditioning system clutch rotates).
Screw a fitting with a valve onto the bottle containing the air conditioner refill and slowly screw it in.
Shake the bottle with the product. Remove the cap from the nipple. Gradually unscrew the valve until the pressure gauge needle is in the red zone.
Be careful that when putting on the quick release, the ring does not fall onto the nipple.
Bleed the gas to remove any air trapped inside the hose.
Shake the gas bottle up and down.
Check the pressure gauge from time to time: the reading on the device should correspond to the value in the table.
Close the valve. Remove the remaining product for storage.

That's all! You have successfully refilled your car air conditioner yourself!

If you find a leak in your car's air conditioning system, you'll have to take the extra step of getting a bottle of sealant. After this, you can safely work according to the instructions given. The whole job will take approximately 10 minutes.

Attention! When refilling the air conditioner, there is no need to release the gas that fills the system!

Price issue

The cost of a system for self-refueling a car air conditioner is very affordable - less than 1000 rubles. One cylinder may be enough for several refills, which allows you to save even more compared to refilling the air conditioner at a service station.

You can order a system for self-refueling your car air conditioner on our website
or by calling +7-920-253-13-29. Go to catalog →

Order now and enjoy the coolness!

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Everything about refilling car air conditioners with freon

Car air conditioners are refilled with freon or any other refrigerant as needed every 3-5 years. In a fully functional air conditioner, it is considered normal to leak up to 15% of the refrigerant per year, especially if the car is more than three years old. The fact is that the design of a car air conditioner contains many tubes, hoses, connections and rubber gaskets.

Under severe operating conditions (frost in winter, heat in summer, large temperature changes, constant vibration) such leaks occur.

We also note that refilling the air conditioner may also be required after repair or depressurization of the air conditioning system in the car.

Diagnostics of car air conditioners before refueling

Refilling a car air conditioner begins with inspection and diagnostics of the system. Since the air conditioner in a car is a rather complex device, when refilling it, diagnostics are limited to only searching for indirect signs of malfunctions and possible refrigerant leaks.

First of all, you need to open the hood and find two service ports (high and low pressure) and the air conditioning compressor - usually it is located in the area of the accessory drive belt, from which the compressor pulley rotates.

Next, the preliminary diagnostic process proceeds as follows:

Carefully unscrew the plastic caps from the service ports, after which a station for refilling car air conditioners is connected to them (read more about the equipment below in the text).
The low and high pressure ports are opened alternately, and the refrigerant pressure in the system is determined from the readings of the pressure gauges. The presence of pressure in both ports indicates that there is refrigerant in the system and there are no major leaks.
Next, start the car engine, turn on the air conditioning and observe the operation of the air conditioning system. First of all, pay attention to the operation of the compressor (engagement of the drive clutch) and to the change in pressure in the system according to pressure gauges.
After turning on the compressor clutch, the refrigerant pressure in the low-pressure circuit of the car air conditioner should decrease, and in the high-pressure circuit it should increase. A pressure in the high pressure circuit below 10-12 bar indicates an insufficient amount of refrigerant in the system.
Check the temperature of the low pressure circuit tube (thick tube) by touch. If it is warm, then most likely this also indicates that there is little refrigerant in the system.

An insufficient amount of refrigerant in the system leads to the fact that the car air conditioning compressor constantly works, trying to pump up pressure, but cannot pump it up (at the same time, the air conditioner in the car does not cool). This is very bad, since there is an additional load on the engine (and a constant one), and the compressor does not receive enough lubricant from the refrigerant, which significantly reduces its service life.

Procedure for filling car air conditioners with refrigerant

To refill car air conditioners on most modern cars, R-134a (tetrafluoroethane) refrigerant is used, but in the old fashioned way everyone calls it freon. To refill the air conditioning system of a small or medium-class passenger car, you will need an average of about 0.5 kg of refrigerant.

You can find out information about the type of refrigerant for your car’s air conditioner and its refill rate from the service book for the car. Also, this information is often indicated on a plate located on the inside of the hood.

Refilling car air conditioners with refrigerant consists of the following steps:

Pumping out remaining refrigerant from the air conditioning system. Modern stations for refilling car air conditioners automatically pump out old refrigerant to weigh it and remove waste oil from it.
Evacuation of the system. This is a very important stage in recharging the car air conditioner. As a result of this operation, residual air and moisture are removed from the system. To achieve a vacuum of the required depth, it may take from 10 to 30 minutes (depending on the power and class of equipment); it is impossible to perform high-quality vacuuming in 1-2 minutes.
The leak test allows you to detect any leaks present in the system. If the evacuation is poor (stage No. 2), the leak test may not show existing leaks, which will lead to further malfunctions of the car air conditioner.
Refilling the oil. During the operation of the car air conditioner, the oil filled into the system (on average about 15 grams) serves to lubricate the compressor mechanisms. Quite often, the oil is filled with a dye (tracer) to make it easier to identify possible leaks in the future.
Refrigerant loading. This is the final stage of refueling car air conditioners, which takes place quite quickly. As we already wrote above, on average, about 500 grams of refrigerant are needed to refill one air conditioner in a passenger car.

After completing all stages of refueling, you need to start the car engine, turn on the air conditioning (blowing at full power), increase the engine speed to 2500-3000 rpm, after which you need to carefully observe the operation of the system:

The pressure in the low and high pressure ports should return to normal immediately after turning on the car air conditioning compressor. The low pressure gauge should show about 2 bar, and the high pressure gauge should show 15-18 bar.
Check the temperature of the low pressure circuit tube by touch with your hand - it should be cold.
Cold air should come out of the deflectors in the car's interior, and the air conditioning compressor should periodically turn off.

The presence of all these signs indicates that the air conditioner in the car has been charged successfully and the driver can enjoy its proper operation.

As you understand, it will be practically impossible to refill a car air conditioner with high quality without professional equipment. However, you can assemble a kit for refilling car air conditioners yourself from available and inexpensive components yourself. At the end of this article, watch a video on how to use this set.

And for a general idea of the cost of this type of service, below we present the order of prices for refilling car air conditioners in large cities of Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnodar, etc.).

Reference prices for diagnostics and refilling of car air conditioners

Type of work	Cost, Russian rubles
Charging the system with refrigerant (evacuation, evacuation, leak test, refilling)	1000 rub. (excluding refrigerant cost)
Refilling the car air conditioner	600 rub. (excluding refrigerant cost)
Refrigerant R-134a	150 rub. per 100 grams
Adding oil to the system	300 rub. (including oil)
UV dye for oil (tracer)	150 rub.
Diagnostics using a leak detector or ultraviolet	500 rub.

Once again, please note that prices are approximate and may differ from prices in your region.

Equipment for refilling car air conditioners

To refill car air conditioners with high quality, you first need to have good equipment. To charge the air conditioner in a car, you can use one of three types of equipment:

Automatic stations for refilling car air conditioners;
A set of equipment for manual refilling of automobile air conditioners;
A disposable kit for refilling one car air conditioner with your own hands.

Automatic stations allow refueling of car air conditioners in a fully automatic mode, which minimizes the intervention of the installation operator in the refueling process. But the price of such equipment will start at 130-150 thousand rubles.

Servicing your car's air conditioning system at such a station is certainly the best solution - this will not only allow you to quickly and efficiently refill your car air conditioner, but will also significantly extend its service life.

A set of equipment for manually refilling car air conditioners , in turn, costs much less than an automatic station, but to work with it you also need to have some experience and skill. This kit usually includes the following equipment:

Manometric manifold designed for the use of freon;
Electronic scales for monitoring the volume of refrigerant charged;
Refrigerant cylinder (the operator fills the refrigerant directly from the cylinder, guided by the scale readings);
Vacuum pump (for vacuuming the system).

The video below clearly shows the process of independently refilling a car air conditioner with refrigerant using such a kit.

Disposable kits for refilling air conditioners are naturally the cheapest among the equipment listed above. Such a kit, as a rule, is a small disposable cylinder with freon, which is connected through a hose with a pressure gauge to the low-pressure service port to refuel the system.

The price of such a kit is about 1000 rubles, but the efficiency of such a car air conditioner refill leaves much to be desired. And all because with the help of such kits it is simply impossible to completely remove the remains of old refrigerant, air, moisture from the system and carry out evacuation.

There are no miracles, so if you want to refill your car air conditioner with new freon, then you need to use high-quality equipment.

Also, for diagnosing and refueling car air conditioners, you may need additional equipment:

Ultraviolet lamp and safety glasses to search for leaks in the system.
Electronic leak detector that reacts to freon.
Thermometer-moisture meter. Its readings are necessary to assess the climatic conditions in the cabin before and after refilling the car air conditioner.
Oil injector. When refueling the system, it ensures that oil is added to it in the required quantity.
A set of adapters for connecting a pressure gauge manifold to any car.
Special pullers for disconnecting air conditioning system pipes (mainly relevant for Japanese and American cars).
Special puller for service port valves.

The need for this or that additional equipment is determined by the specialist who refills car air conditioners.