[BLastro2000]

i am recharging the a/c in my moms 2000 astro van. ive done it before but in a different car. since its my first time doing it in this van, and also has been many years since. im not sure which freon i need to use, tools, or the procees. also by reading a few other posts on the same topic, most needed to convert from r12a to r134 or sumthing like that?



im not sure if i have to convert being that i have a 2000.

honestly i was on my way out the door to recharge when i decided to google which freon i woulda needed. i then came across this site and thought it was pretty good so i signed up

:chevy:

:feedback:

 

['cudapaul]

Your van uses R-134a and it is readily available everywhere for about $6-10 per 12 oz can.

You can buy a fill kit for about $20-30, try to get one with a usable pressure gauge that screws onto the top of the can.

 

[tnhillbilly]

Your van uses R-134a and it is readily available everywhere for about $6-10 per 12 oz can.

You can buy a fill kit for about $20-30, try to get one with a usable pressure gauge that screws onto the top of the can.

X2. Yes your van uses R-134A. I know advance auto, autozone and wal-mart all sell cans with a re-usable hose with a guage made on it.

 

[tefuller1]

Just make sure you charge it on the low pressure side of the system. Most likely the coupler for charging the system will not fit on the high side but make sure it is the low side. On the low side of the system the hoses are larger in diameter. Good luck.

 

[BLastro2000]

Just make sure you charge it on the low pressure side of the system.

which is the low pressure side?

nice, thx

im on it tomorow when i wake up.

 

[spongebob218]

The low side fitting is the smaller of the 2 fittings. Should be on or near the drier.

Make sure you have the correct amount of freon as vans with rear ac hold 1lb more than just a front ac system.

 

['cudapaul]

For a full fill from an empty system:

3 lbs for front air only
4 lbs for front and rear air

Bear in mind the cans are usually 12 oz.

 

[BLastro2000]

nice, i wasnt thinking about the rear a/c

ok, so

12oz = a can.

16oz = 1lb?

5cans = 60oz

64oz = 4lbs

being that ill need 6 cans to fill 4lbs/64oz

will just 5 cans do??
or is that harmful not filling it up all the way.

thx for all the info.

much respects y'all

 

[txturbo]

wow....my 97 only holds 3 cans with the rear a/c. You only need a full charge if the system is completely empty from a leak somewhere. If the system has just stopped cooling good you may only need to add 1 can. It just depends.

 

[acmech13]

where did the freon go in a sealed system. you should look for the leak with soap and bubbles or an electronic leak sniffer. Find the leak and fix it. Save our enviroment from toxic gas's leaking.

 

[maximus7001]

Here in Canada we can't get freon. I use redtek, works much better than r12 or 134a anyways. Don't forget to a can of oil charge.

 

[rev_les]

If you don't have the sniffer to find the leak,Make one of the cans the type with fluorescent dye,then find it.I have an LED flashlight that lights that stuff up just like a blacklight. You'll only need oil if oil was lost, otherwise, leave it be, too much is bad for the system.Some quick points to check for leaks are the schrader valves, the connector on top of the compressor, and the back side of the compressor on the pressure switch, some other folks probably know some other places to check first as well.If it's the condenser or the evaporator, you have a more serious issue, or at least a more expensive and laborious one :mrgreen:

 

[guyonearth]

Freon will leak out seals eventually, especially R-134. R-12 would stay in old cars for decades, modern cars rarely hold a charge more than 5 years. You should only need 3 cans. It is better to be a little undercharged than overcharged. Overcharging will actually make it lose the ability to cool effectively, not to mention risking damaging the compressor. The actual amounts are on the A/C sticker under the hood.

 

[Mr_Bowtie]

The handheld filler with a gauge on it works pretty good. I think it was $15 at Wal-Mart and the 12oz. cans were like $6. I can't get the stuff here in WI, but I can drive down to IA to get it. :mrgreen: