I can't believe Mechanics don't know How to Recharge AC system correctly!

The Number 1 cause of Car AC not working is such a easy fix.
Some mistakes are so simple example performing the Recharge in the shade.
Arctic freeze auto AC Recharge Synthetic refrigerant with stop leak, A/C pro refrigerant are just some good brand Refrigerant that can be used.

#mechanic

[NATESINTERACTIVEAUTO]

Do you have any information on improving The AC you can share with the NIA community? Your kindness is appreciated.

[davidcummins]

5 years ago I was on an out of state road trip. A/c kept getting warmer and warmer. Auto shop said $1, 200 to make it right. Didn’t have the bucks so I put in two cans of Freon, with the gauge and followed instructions on can. Held cold for a full year. I have added Freon each year for 5 years and the a/c continues to work. For $30 a year vs $1200 to fix I consider a win for the little guy.

[joshrandall]

A special thanks to all the expert mechanics and hvac techs for pointing out the obvious.
We all know freon in a can is not the same as having our car serviced by an $85/hr professional, but for most of us this works just fine.
Cheers

[E_STI]

For those that don’t know there’s a pressure differential needed to actually charge your AC system. If you are in the green do not try to go higher into the green because for one the system pressure will be higher than your can so it won’t want to take anymore and two you need to leave some space for gas expansion so don’t try and over charge it. If your AC isn’t cooling first check to see if your condenser fan is on because it is what pulls the hot air out of the car and allows for your refrigerant to cool off before going through your vents. So sometimes you don’t need refrigerant but it’s mechanical. I just wanted to throw that out there.

[mooboy]

I can't tell you how refreshing and informative this video has been. I'm not a car person, I'm a computer person. I know how to do most "basic" things when it comes to the engine and maybe 1 or 2 more intermediate, but when it comes to recharging the a/c, I always get a little nervous. Almost every dang video on youtube that talks about recharging your a/c is like "Oh here's your can, here's the valve aaaand....poof done"...that didn't explain crap to me. This video is the FIRST video to explain the gauge, the doors and temp and proper use of the canister. Thank you so much, you have definitely earned a subscriber and follower here.

[kevinhumphrey]

Most legit mechanics do not use ac cans that's why they have a ac reclaimer and recharging station so the system doesn't get over or under charged

[markcarr]

Automotive technician here...

I've been doing a mobile service here in Houston. I have a small inverter generator, Yellow Jacket vacuum pump, a small recovery machine and recovery tank. I remove the freon, pull a vaccum for 30 minutes, and charge with virgin freon to factory specs. All for $90. The problem with AC PRO cans is that they contain alot of oil to push a small amount of freon into your system. That causes an over-oiling of the freon, that decreases the heat transfer and efficiency of the system. Which leads to a decreased performance of the ac.
My camry blows 28 degrees in the morning. In the Texas heat, my customers thank me for getting them cold.

[coltsmith]

Southern guys really know how to explain everything simplisticly and I can't believe most people actually could think any different.

[OnEst_Opinion]

Saw on another video a very easy way to check if the system even has freon, this DOES NOT CHECK PRESSURE LEVEL but does check if there is some in there, use a screw driver or tool to press the valve in on the low pressure port and see if it whistles or makes some noise like air or freon is coming out. Very much like a tire, press in on the valve and it’ll let some out. Very good tips on this video!! If you’re watching this video and are not understanding the terminology, aren’t sure which line you’re to be adding the freon to, which lines you’re even going to be messing with, any level of doubt where you’re thinking you’re “lost” then it’s simple, DO NOT ATTEMPT IT. Just bite the bullet and take it to a shop. If you connect and the pressure is in the green like he said, DO NOT ADD MORE as freon isn’t the issue. That’s something else in the system and adding freon will not only NOT FIX your issue, it can add more problems and lead to a bigger bill when you inevitably do take it to a shop. Had a friend ruin his entire HVAC system because of doing that. I (and you should as well) know what type of freon to be using, which line is the low vs high pressure line (low is usually a thicker line and high pressure is usually a smaller line), know the HIGHLY suggested environment temperature to perform this in, make sure you’re outside or in a garage with proper ventilation, and definitely wear safety gear IE SAFTEY GLASSES AND GLOVES. If you’re injured, specially your eyes, you won’t be able to enjoy the reason you even did this repair in the first place, COLDER AC. Best of luck and DO YOUR RESEARCH!!

[louislamboley]

Some negative comments regarding the use of those charging cans. I charged my truck last year using A/C pro and used the rest of the can this year. I have no problem buying a can every two years . Ice Cold Air for a year in a very hot climate. A cheap and easy fix.

[davidbostock]

I live in South Florida, I can't believe there is a mechanic or any professional that knows anything that doesn't involve emptying a customer's wallet at warp speed.

[vernonbosshard]

I took auto mechanics yrs ago, the AC class was lacking in info so I went over to home HVAC and took a class there, they really explained it well. Superheat and subcool measurements, 2000 rpms, fan blowing on the front to simulate actual driving conditions. 15 to 20 degree drop. Ambient temp, interior temp, all these things come into play.

[blkacdevl]

Growing up our AC was rolling down the windows and driving fast. Nothing like 100 degree air blowing on your face

[k.m.]

Using those "do it yourself "cans are perfectly fine. I have NEVER taken a vehicle to a mechanic just to have freon added.

[RC-Heli]

Another great tip that I have learned is to watch for the lines near the dryer to start sweating and getting good and cold. If you keep adding much freon past that the cooling will reverse and the vent temps get warmer and some freon will have to be removed.
Another thing if adding freon only lasts a couple weeks or a month there is a leak that needs to be fixed.
Try soaping all the AC lines with the car off as static pressure should be close to 110psi and enough to cause bubbling.
Some very slow leaks require draining the system and pressuring with nitrogen at 200PSI to find them.
A leaking seal in an AC compressor shaft can be very hard to find because it only leaks under high pressure with the car running and producing 250 to 350 psi on the high side.
I had a compressor like that in my dump truck. It finally got to where charging the system wouldn't last all day. And I had soaped and pressure tested the line over and over finding nothing. So by process of elimination I determined it to be the compressor. That did fix it. Its been blowing ice cubes ever since I replaced it.
If you change any lines on the AC system you have to add a little of the correct Pag oil back into the system and vacuum it down to get any moisture out.
I haven't always replaced the dryer every time I empty out an AC system especially if I just put a new one on but it is recommended. A moisture saturated dryer can cause your AC to freeze at the orifice or expansion valve and quit cooling.

[jody]

Been using this for over 20 years for many different vehicles.. works PERFECT!

[Blakehx]

Nice work! The only thing I do differently is I check the system by attaching the gauge without the can (just don’t squeeze the trigger)! No reason to break the seal on the can until you know that it’s low and needs recharging!

[JimGrady]

The first step BEFORE turning on the car is to hook up the gauge to make sure you have some pressure in the system. If no pressure you are putting refrigerant in a system that may have air and moisture in it and it needs to be evacuated and leak checked by a mechanic.

[MrMarkguth]

Been doin a/c for 35 years, there’s so many variables low gas is just the tip of the ice burg. The amount of situations that aren’t in text books is incredible

[JeremiahShowtyme]

This was 100% the best video on this I’ve seen. Simple to the point and in layman’s terms.