Inevitably during the summer I get calls to ask if I can charge an A/C. The next question is "How much does it cost?" Seems simple I suppose but it's not easily answered without more information. On my side of the fence, I need to know what the specifics of the car are because they don't all hold the same amount of refrigerant. I need to know how much refrigerant is already in the system. I need to know why the caller thinks it needs refrigerant. I need to know what work has been done, if any. I need to know that no "sealer" has been added. Bearing in mind from experience that the back and forth here can go on for a very long time, there is a point early on that I just suggest letting me check the A/C to see what is needed. The "How much to charge my A/C?" will boil right down to "My A/C isn't working. What will it cost to fix?" The sooner we can get down to me checking the actual car, the better for all parties involved.
An odd thing I've noticed over the years is that some people, for whatever reason, don't want you to see what the car actually needs. I have no answer for that. But I also can't help with a price quote for an unknown problem. Sorry.
So... just what happens once the car gets in the bay. I'll give the A/C refrigerant system a good visual inspection. I'm looking for signs of a leak, belt condition, compressor clutch condition, anything obviously broken, damaged or a problem. Refrigerant leaks usually bring refrigerant oil to the area and the oil attracts dust and dirt so looking for oily residue can show you where a leak exists.
This older R12 unit has leaks at the compressor and the manifold hoses:
Evaporators are not easily seen visually inside the car but this one that has been removed has easily seen oil residue:
Most cars these days have a fluorescent dye added to the refrigerant. This high side fitting cap has oily residue indicating a leak and fluorescent dye showing up using a special light and glasses:
There was a dye present in that evaporator as well:
Depending on results up to this point, the next step may be to recover refrigerant or it may be to evacuate the system. Time to see what is going on inside the refrigerant system. Cue the "dedicated recovery/recycling machine" that every professional shop is required by law to own and maintain. Actually there are two generations of the R134A - R12 units, second generation being much improved on actual refrigerant measurements.
R12 only (museum piece at this point in time) :
R12 AND R134A Dual Refrigerant Unit:
The current R134A Unit:
If you think it is inexpensive to do car repair you would be very very wrong. Anyway... we'll connect the machine to both the high and low pressure A/C fittings and watch the gauge pressures. Pressure readings don't tell you how much refrigerant is in the system. Just that *some* is. You might think no pressure would mean *empty*. Well it means no refrigerant but technically the system is full of air. If the system shows no pressure I'll be evacuating the air, pulling a vacuum on the system to remove the air and the moisture. If the machine pulls a good vacuum, -26 to -30 in, then I'll let it stand and see if it will hold that for a half hour or more, as time allows. Holding vacuum lets me know that the system won't be letting refrigerant out as fast as I'm putting it in. A good thing to know BEFORE charging the system. While the vacuum is there, and before I charge I'll sometimes add 1/2 to 1 oz. refrigerant oil. Depends on how much refrigerant oil I've seen in the leaking areas. If I've gotten this far and seen no reason not to charge the system, then I'll do just that. Charge the system. I want to know that the system works when fully charged, or if there are other problems. If I can tell the system is not only leaking but needs a compressor, or has a plugged condenser, etc. I'm a step ahead and can inform the customer accordingly.
This system had no pressure but did hold vacuum for a half hour. There was some very slight dye residue inside both front and rear evaporator drains. Most dye and leak indication was at the high side service valve though. I replaced the valve prior to evacuating, charged the system and it is getting very cold now. We are going to see just how long it takes for those evaporator leaks to cause a problem. Sometimes a very slow leak is something that can be tolerated vs cost to repair.
Now if the gauges show pressures, you'll have to recover refrigerant from the system. You can't tell from from pressures how much refrigerant is in the system. Recover to the machine and the weight of the recovered refrigerant will be measured.
Recently a system showing 80 psi recovered only 2 oz of refrigerant. You can't go by system pressures!
Once an overall view of the system problems and possible fixes is made you can better make a decision as to what to do from this point. My job is to gather that information for you. Now the refrigerant system isn't all there is to an A/C. There is a climate control system. The electrical and electronic system controls. You can have no problem at all with your refrigerant system but still have no working A/C. I think it makes sense to have your A/C system tested & inspected before just calling around for who can charge it "cheap".
The controls require expensive equipment to test:
The refrigerant requires expensive equipment to handle. The newest refrigerant R1234yf, I haven't made the leap yet. The recovery/recycle machine is $6000 and the refrigerant is $600 for a ten lb canister. At my cost. If you think A/C work is expensive now...........
Hope I gave you some idea what is actually involved in "charging" your A/C. Experience, training & lots of equipment.
Thanks for your time,
Kenny@ggauto.repair
