Noob here. Tried an A/C recharge..got some questions?

[jareddavidj]

The entire time i was recharging i was looking at the gauge and it looked all normal. when i got towards the end, i just attached the pressure gauge and it had the normal reading to begin with and then I would here something click in the engine compartment and then the reading went into the "Alert" zone, it would click again and it would go back. It just keeps doing this, I'm not sure if I overcharged it or what. Can you guys help me out?

 

[Socco]

The entire time i was recharging i was looking at the gauge and it looked all normal. when i got towards the end, i just attached the pressure gauge and it had the normal reading to begin with and then I would here something click in the engine compartment and then the reading went into the "Alert" zone, it would click again and it would go back. It just keeps doing this, I'm not sure if I overcharged it or what. Can you guys help me out?

That "click" is the clutch on the compressor engaging. If pressures are "normal" then jump into "alert" when this happens, you're overcharged.

 

[jkoni426]

I don't trust those diy a/c chargers, they only have one gauge when you need 2 (one for the high side, one for the low). you really need to have it done right professionally.

 

[fourwd1]

You may want to bleed some of the refrigerant out before you blow a seal somewhere.

 

[SJC4Runner]

Don't get any on your skin when you let it out or you could end up with severe frost bite.

You should have the AC on max and the fan on high when you are filling it.

 

[Singtoe]

It probably is fine. Is it cold?

When the ac system clicks on. it pumps down the freon (giving you a regular reading) from the low side to the high side. When it clicks off, The compressor stops turning and the freon equalizes from the high side to the low side raising the pressure into that alert zone.

 

[3rd gen king]

Also, the a/c system is a "closed system" so if you have to "recharge it" that means you have a leak somewhere.

 

[TN22Corps]

You could always borrow the better equipment you need from Advanced Auto, O'Reilly's, etc.

 

[TheDurk]

Also, the a/c system is a "closed system" so if you have to "recharge it" that means you have a leak somewhere.

I needed to recharge mine last summer for the first time since 1999. Brought it back to like new cooling and still doing that this year. It took about a third of a can. No mechanical system is totally closed and one charge in 12 years does not mean there is a leak beyond what escapes past the seals in the normal course of business.

 

[Evilmunkey]

Normally if you don't know anything about recharging or the pressures that are normal to your or any a/c system I don't recommend recharging yourself. Since more than likely due to an over-charge your going to do more harm to the system. So now since you're over-charged you need to find a shop to take out the over-charged amount.

Also don't mean to scold over this it happens. . but normally try to find a friend who works at a shop w/ an a/c machine so you can do a full evac and recharge on the system. . and if it's still not that cold I recommend changing the Dryer and orifice tube/filter

 

[opie74]

The entire time i was recharging i was looking at the gauge and it looked all normal. when i got towards the end, i just attached the pressure gauge and it had the normal reading to begin with and then I would here something click in the engine compartment and then the reading went into the "Alert" zone, it would click again and it would go back. It just keeps doing this, I'm not sure if I overcharged it or what. Can you guys help me out?

The reading you are seeing on the gauge, with the compressor clutch engaged, is what the compressor is pulling in regards to vacuum. Yes its a pressure reading, but it is showing the compressor pulling a vacuum.

It is completely normal for the low side gauge reading to increase when the clutch cycles off as the low side and high side pressures equalize.

If the clutch is cycling quickly, you may have overcharged it. If you want to get serious about working on the AC system, invest in a gauge set. They can be had for $60 at HF, or $80- $90 from an auto parts store. Oreillys here in town sells them, but not AutoZone or Advanced. Just reading the low side will not tell you much and the gauges that come on the recharge cans are not very accurate.

If you do not want to get that serious about it, take it somewhere and have them pull the refrigerant. Then put in a new drier and take it back to have the correct amount of refrigerant put back in.