How to Use a Car AC Recharge Kit

Use a Car AC Recharge Kit

If your car’s air conditioner isn’t blowing cool air, you may need to recharge it. A car ac recharge kit will give you the refrigerant you need to get your AC system working again, but it’s important to use it correctly. If you don’t, you could damage your air conditioning system. Before using the recharge kit, check your owner’s manual to determine what type of refrigerant your car uses. This is very important, as the wrong refrigerant can damage expensive components.

The car ac recharge kit usually contains a can of refrigerant and a dispenser with a gauge to determine pressure. You will also need a pair of insulated gloves and a can opener to open the can. If you don’t have these tools, they can be purchased at most auto parts stores or online.

First, locate the low side port. This is the larger of the two tubes that come out of your compressor, and it’s the one you need to connect to for recharging. The location of the low-side port varies by vehicle, so consult your owner’s manual to find it. Once you’ve found it, connect the dispenser hose to the port and attach the can of refrigerant. Once you’ve attached the can, start the engine and turn on the air conditioning. While you’re doing this, make sure the compressor clutch is spinning.

Continue to add refrigerant, shaking the can slightly every 3 to 4 seconds. This will help keep the refrigerant mixed with the existing air in the system. Keep adding refrigerant until the pressure on the low and high sides of the system are at their maximum capacity. This should be about 20 to 40 psi, depending on the ambient temperature.

How to Use a Car AC Recharge Kit

After you’ve added the refrigerant, wait 10 minutes before testing your AC. Turn the air conditioning on and set the blower to the highest setting. Check the pressure gauges to see if they are now at their max capacity. If not, you may need to add more refrigerant. If the system doesn’t reach its max capacity, there may be a leak somewhere in the line. You may need to seek professional repairs from a service center.

You should only need to recharge your car’s AC once unless you have a leak. Recharging it several times over a short period of time can indicate that there is a major leak, which will need to be repaired by a professional. To avoid damaging your system, if you do notice a leak, take the car to a mechanic immediately for repair. Otherwise, the recharge kit may just delay a trip to a pro, making your cooling problems worse.