by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 06/21/2017 at 17:38
by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 06/21/2017 at 17:38
No Tags
STARS: 4
Picked up this R134a charging hose and a can of refrigerant from advance auto for about $30. 12oz cans of the plain stuff with no stop leak or whatever crap are just $10! Was super easy to hook it up and get my system in the Miata from 10psi up to around 40. Now it blows super cold AC just like it did when I bought the car. Seeing as it took like 3 years to run low, I think this is a permanent plan for the future. It should take like 50 years to equal the cost of getting it fixed properly. Tested it on my drive home and was nice and shivering cold by the time I got home 20 minutes later.
"veryloud435iwouldn'thaveitanyotherway" (fencingboughtmy435i)
06/21/2017 at 17:44, STARS: 0
You know I did that with an old F150 shop truck we have. Everyone said it would fail but actually it worked pretty good. Would try again.
Gotta admit, I was super nervous about getting into the right valve. the F150 had two of them and a two valve setup wasn’t in the instructions. One valve on each side of the hose from the compressor. If i remember right.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
06/21/2017 at 17:44, STARS: 3
It should take like 50 years to equal the cost of getting it fixed properly.
Assuming things like seals, o-rings, and hoses do not degrade and worsen the problem. Methinks... good luck.
"FiST of FuRRY" (steeeez)
06/21/2017 at 18:15, STARS: 0
Exactly! I had a friend with a Ford van and a shop quoted him $900 to fix the a/c. He instead decided to buy a can of freon. $10 and it lasted him 2 years before he had to recharge it.
"FiST of FuRRY" (steeeez)
06/21/2017 at 18:16, STARS: 0
You need a/c in that thing? you realize the roof is removable, dont you :/
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
06/21/2017 at 18:20, STARS: 1
I always buy the cheap R134a from wal-mart - it’s the only cans that aren’t full of shit I do NOT want in my A/C system.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
06/21/2017 at 18:21, STARS: 2
Yeah, this works great if the leak doesn’t get bigger. If you’re dumping a can of R134-a every week, probably better to have the system repaired.
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
06/21/2017 at 18:22, STARS: 0
Many of the refrigerant brands include seal conditioners. The only thing to worry about is with constant recharging with those type products without evacuating a system at some point the moisture content in the system can increase to where its less efficient for cooling. Also you can get too much of oil or sealers from constant using some of the DIY cans. He did good to get the plain stuff, its the safest option.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/21/2017 at 18:30, STARS: 1
Well of course. Or if it gets worse I just stop caring about AC. I use it about 3 days per year anyways.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
06/21/2017 at 18:33, STARS: 0
Oh, then ignore my saltyness! (=
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/21/2017 at 18:34, STARS: 1
Yup, plain r134a was my only priority. I figure I can’t go wrong with that.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/21/2017 at 18:35, STARS: 0
It was really obvious with the big L on one and H on the other haha. I imagine it’s not as easy in every car.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/21/2017 at 18:39, STARS: 1
Yes but getting rained on in hot weather is no fun. If I’m not on the highway, the rain kinda just pools up lol. But with the roof up, I get hot! Other times include 100 plus degree days with high humidity during long ass road trips. Or in the winter, I hate being warm even then lol.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
06/21/2017 at 19:20, STARS: 0
Really? I might have to do this.
"FiST of FuRRY" (steeeez)
06/21/2017 at 19:32, STARS: 0
Absolutely
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/21/2017 at 20:18, STARS: 0
I mean assuming your AC components actually work, it’s worth a shot. I have a leak somewhere but who knows where that is. Maybe I’ll track that down someday but for now this works.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
06/21/2017 at 20:39, STARS: 0
I just don’t know. It still kinda works it just lost a lot of cooling in a short period. I think my local dealership is having a free inspection deal and I’ll go let them look at it.
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/21/2017 at 22:08, STARS: 0
I need to do this exact same thing! AC in the wife’s Vibe blows cool, but not cold.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/22/2017 at 07:55, STARS: 1
Yup, it was stupid easy to do too. I really thought I would at least need a wrench and to follow some instructions to do it properly. But really it was turn on the car, plug it in, see the pressure was super low, turn the valve to add the stuff, see the pressure was in the acceptable range, unplug it and done!
"jonny11quest" (jonny11quest)
06/22/2017 at 11:16, STARS: 0
Anyone know if the AC Pro handle/hose will fit onto the cheap cans? I kept the hose from an old AC Pro can from a few years ago, but need to charge a different car and want the cheap stuff.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/22/2017 at 11:32, STARS: 0
As long as the hose has some sort of threaded valve and a puncture mechanism, it should work just fine. I know the AC pro one in the store I saw they sold both the reusable kind and the disposable kind. So you had to have the specific one to reuse it.
"jonny11quest" (jonny11quest)
06/22/2017 at 12:00, STARS: 0
Hmm, I might just bring it with me to the store. I have the hose from the same AC Pro can in your recent post picture.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
06/22/2017 at 13:07, STARS: 1
I’m pretty sure thats the disposable kind. I know the reusable one for AC pro was sold separately at least. Some of the other brands had a reusable one with a couple of cans. But I didnt want anything with stopleak or other junk in there. It turned out to be cheaper anyways.
"WhatsUpDOHC" (WhatsUpDOHC)
07/22/2017 at 10:37, STARS: 1
Still working well? And who no stop-leak? Have you heard anything bad about it or just don’t tr
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
07/22/2017 at 19:18, STARS: 1
From what I’ve heard about stop leak is that it gums up components and can be a real hassle if I ever actually try to repair it. For now it’s still holding the refrigerant and blows cold so I’m happy. This week of heat index 100+ degrees multiple days made the AC very worthwhile to have.