by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 06/19/2017 at 10:36
by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 06/19/2017 at 10:36
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STARS: 1
Now, before you tell me that none of these really work and I should “take it to a professional”, yeah yeah I know that. I know that the AC is a sealed system that should not leak the stuff out. It is funny seeing the ads that say “refrigerant evaporates over time” and I just lol. But anyways, I am just looking to try an AC recharge kit to observe how long it lasts. They are cheap as hell so its worth a shot if I can get a couple months of AC out of it. So I just want to know what brands others might recommend.
I’ve got a standard R134A system in my Miata. I dont use it much but its useful on rainy days when putting the top down is less than ideal.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
06/19/2017 at 10:44, STARS: 0
I’d like to know this too.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
06/19/2017 at 10:58, STARS: 1
It’s been a while, but I tried a can of “Super Seal” on my old Suburban, and I think I used that “AC Pro” stuff on a work truck once. They both worked... for a little while.
It’s really hard to compare them against each other. There were probably more variables in the leaks I was trying to fix than in the cans.
"McMike" (mcmike)
06/19/2017 at 10:59, STARS: 2
It’s worth a shot. Just like fix-a-flat.
If your compressor is cycling properly and your system is just not blowing very cold, it could be just what you need.
If there are any other issues with your sytem, this stuff (or a simple top-off with proper tools) won’t do shit.
What’s the worst that could happen though? Over charge it and the hi-side switch cuts in?
"Monkey B" (monkeyb)
06/19/2017 at 11:01, STARS: 3
if your compressor is still kicking on and the system functions normally but is only blowing cool not cold these can work. I have had success with it, but also failure because there were other issues with the system. Like you said, it’s cheap enough to warrant a shot.
"jguttes" (Jeff)
06/19/2017 at 11:08, STARS: 0
I few years back I picked up this hose kit
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Deluxe-R-134a-Recharge-Hose-and-Gauge/16888796
and then whatever R134 was cheapest at the time. I refused to use any of that leakstop stuff as I’m convinced it’s just going to gunk up the insides and cause more problems in the long run. The gauge is nice to have, set the dial to the ambiant temp and fill it until the needle is in the green.
I ended up putting about 4 cans through in a month and finally replaced the condenser.
"GTI Sprinks" (gtisprinks)
06/19/2017 at 11:19, STARS: 1
i’ve used ac pro several times on the 98 volvo v70. Turned out what it really needed was some zip-tie shimming on the compressor clutch wheel. And then another bottle or two the next summer. But damn it blows cold now.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
06/19/2017 at 11:19, STARS: 2
Using the AC Leak quit will make the person who actually has to fix it eventually hate you. That stuff gets everywhere.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
06/19/2017 at 11:24, STARS: 1
Yeah, that’s why I don’t use the stuff anymore. The Suburban was my first car, and I just didn’t know any better. As for the work truck, that was something my employer would never bother fixing the AC on, so I figured it was worth a shot.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
06/19/2017 at 11:30, STARS: 1
Just like fix a flat haha. Ask your tire guy to balance it after you’ve used that.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
06/19/2017 at 12:41, STARS: 2
I used this kit as it has the dye in it so I can find the leak at some point.
Then I also use the regular cans of Dupont 134a for top offs in my truck each spring.
"Jay, the practical enthusiast" (jay-m)
06/19/2017 at 12:44, STARS: 0
I can’t remember the specific brand but it was off the shelf from an auto parts store. I put it in a 10 year old Honda Civic and it worked so well that I put it in my mom’s 10 year old Toyota Corolla.
Both cars went from blowing cool air to ice cold air. We use the AC every day of the year here in Florida and the cars were still blowing cold when we sold them 3 years later.
"Tristan" (casselts)
06/19/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 1
Don’t EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER use any of the crap that has stop leak, cold-booster, leak detector, super compressor lube, guaranteed lottery winner, etc. etc. etc. ONLY use R-134a with nothing in it. Those additives to nothing but clog up your AC system. The $5 cans of no-additive refrigerant are cheaper, too.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 13:28, STARS: 1
Yup, definitely knew this one. Sure, your system might stop leaking because its now broken and no longer has the capability to leak.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 13:31, STARS: 2
Yup, the AC definitely works. I know the previous owner had used one of these cans to begin with. AC blew cold for one summer, then cool enough the next summer, and just barely “not heat” now. It definitely still kicks on the compressor and the fans operate normally. So it should get me through the summer again.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0
Ahh okay, I didnt know there was any other way to buy R134. This definitely seems like a pretty economical route.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 2
I’d be excited to use this and then when I use the UV light the dye is literally everywhere in the engine bay lol.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 0
Does it have an actual pressure gauge on the bottle? The amazon reviews of that particular one made it sound like it had an idiot gauge on it that didnt indicate the presssure value.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 0
It should work. I only care at all since I may end up with a long commute in the middle of the desert. I plan on getting a car other than my Miata for that but I may also still use the Miata some days. Would need to pick up a hard top and make the AC work for that though for sure.
"GTI Sprinks" (gtisprinks)
06/19/2017 at 13:45, STARS: 0
I’d call it closer to an idiot gauge. Gauge is dependent on ambient air temperature, giving a range of approximate pressures.
"Steve P" (stevepugh)
06/19/2017 at 13:47, STARS: 0
I used the AC Pro on my last car when the air started to not be so cold after many years. I would top it off once in the spring, maybe again a few months later, one can of that was way cheaper than having a shop figure out where the leak was coming from. I didn’t have time to try and find it myself.
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
06/19/2017 at 14:44, STARS: 0
How often do NA miata cycle their AC compressor. I always wonder if mine is cycling too much but it maybe just because I can feel the pump cluctch come on everytime.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 14:59, STARS: 0
Oh yeah, thats how I know the compressor works for sure. The car feels like it got caught in a giant net and is being held back. Nowhere near as bad as it was in my previous Civic though, I always called my AC button the “anti-turbo”.
I assume the AC in NA/NB is the same. Mine will cycle every minute or so. Seems to be pretty normal for any AC, its just quite obvious in any low power car.
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/19/2017 at 14:59, STARS: 0
My wife’s Vibe is in the same boat. It blows cool, but not as cold as it should.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 15:04, STARS: 0
Its just funny the reaction that I got when I asked about the AC on Miata forums. They were just like THE CANS ARE JUNK, FIX IT RIGHT!!! But it requires a ridiculous amount of specialized tools and effort by a professional to deal with that. Meanwhile, I can get a refill can for $20-$30 once per summer and have the same results. It would take like 30 years to equal the cost of doing it the “right way”.
"mazda616" (mazda616)
06/19/2017 at 17:35, STARS: 1
I used that and a can of some other no-name brand refrigerant in my ‘95 S10 and it has held the charge for around a year. I figure I’ll charge it once a year until that doesn’t work anymore and then I might fix it. I don’t drive enough to bother. If it was a daily, though, my fat ass would have to have A/C.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/19/2017 at 18:36, STARS: 0
That’s why I have nature’s Ac! It also doesn’t really get hot enough in NJ to matter. It’s only useful on long trips on the highway where the top being down gets grating after a couple hours on really hot days.
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
06/19/2017 at 21:43, STARS: 0
I hate how much power it sucks! I wish the engineers would have done something to make it not suck so much. I think i timed mine once and I think it was like a minute between as well. for some reason when I added an additional ground from the engine to chassis it seemed the hit from the compressor was much less noticeable. It might have just been my imagination.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
06/19/2017 at 22:31, STARS: 0
Like a Jackson pollock painting.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/20/2017 at 07:42, STARS: 0
Ehh its not really that bad. Miatas are slow anyways and the only way I would use the AC is just cruising so the power loss is neglible. It is funny though getting in any new crappy 4 cyl rental though (even ones with less power like the Spark) and not noticing ANY effect of the AC. But such is like with a 16 year old car (or 20+ for most NAs)