DIY AC recharge help please.

[manger]

Anyone got any tips for recharging a 1996 with r134a?

 

[trail B2]

There is a real good AC article in the tech library.

 

[TomJenks]

1.Buy a good set of gauges, can tap, freon, and can of charged oil.
2. Hook up the guages. The fittings are different for high and low side so its pretty foolproof.
3. Turn the truck on, AC on high, blower full blast. Note readings(any rapid needle movement on the gauges most likely means a compressor on its way out).
4. Hook up can tap and can of charged oil.
5. Open low side ONLY and pierce can with tap.
6. Should have a sight glass on the gauges. watch the oil go into the system until the can is empty. After that, close low side of manifold. Unscrew tap from can.
7. Hook up freon to can tap and pierce. Open up low side ONLY and watch freon go into the system through the sight glass(should see some bubbling).
-Readings on low side should be 1.5x the ambient temp and high side should be 2.5-3x the ambient temp on high side.
- Its best to do this on a warm day otherwise you will be adding more later.
- Raise engine RPM to around 2000-2500 while you're adding freon to simulate engine load.