DIY Freon Recharge

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

chrmbly

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2018
Posts
95
Reaction score
48
I have an '05 Hoe that the AC seems to work adequately unless stopped in traffic when the temp is north of 85. I do have a bit of the hissing sound when the A/C is on so maybe my freon is low? I bought one of those DIY recharge kits w/ the valve / pressure gauge on it.

Any good / bad reviews of these products? Is it ok to do it yourself, or should i just take it somewhere and have them check the pressure?

Thanks

CB
 

Doubeleive

Wes
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Posts
23,418
Reaction score
34,044
Location
Stockton, Ca.
I have an '05 Hoe that the AC seems to work adequately unless stopped in traffic when the temp is north of 85. I do have a bit of the hissing sound when the A/C is on so maybe my freon is low? I bought one of those DIY recharge kits w/ the valve / pressure gauge on it.

Any good / bad reviews of these products? Is it ok to do it yourself, or should i just take it somewhere and have them check the pressure?

Thanks

CB
if you just have a very slow leak those recharge cans with the pressure gauge serve there purpose for a temporary fix just fine, but the best solution if it continues to leak out is to fill it with a can that has a dye in it so you can find the source of the leak and make whatever repairs are needed.
 

HiHoeSilver

Away!
Joined
Feb 28, 2017
Posts
10,919
Reaction score
14,571
Location
Chicago
if you just have a very slow leak those recharge cans with the pressure gauge serve there purpose for a temporary fix just fine, but the best solution if it continues to leak out is to fill it with a can that has a dye in it so you can find the source of the leak and make whatever repairs are needed.

Or find the leak with a little dish soap.
 

sumo

dn ʇǝƃ ʇuɐɔ & llǝɟ ı
Joined
May 21, 2010
Posts
5,752
Reaction score
1,246
Location
rhode island
When it comes to ac I recommend a shop to evac and recharge with dye. The thing is those gauges are not the greatest. Without the proper gauges, you don’t know how much of a charge you have in your system. If your ac stops working, you can search for the leak with UV light and try to pinpoint the source of the leak.
 

Randy Whistler

Living the dream! I'm just not sure who's dream
Joined
Dec 12, 2017
Posts
139
Reaction score
61
Location
In Hell, but I've got a Tahoe!
I've used several different recharge kits on several different vehicles over the years, and they all do the same thing - give a reasonably accurate gauge reading of the system, and allows you to refill the system. As was mentioned above, though, even though this will refill, if you have some other issue or leaking Freon, it will only be a stop-gap measure.
 
OP
OP
chrmbly

chrmbly

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2018
Posts
95
Reaction score
48
its an 05 so you should have electric fans. Have you checked to make sure the condenser fan is kicking on with the a/c. Your symptoms in stop and go traffic are pointing at air circulation issues to the condenser.

Good advice guys, I was going for the 'easy fix'. I had a shop tell me the gurgling sound of the A/C kicking on could mean low freon, but who knows. I'll see if I can check the condenser fan kicking on.. This should be obvious when the air is on and you hear the additional fan kick on - where is it located so i can eyeball it? Guessing it's just the big fans up by the grille?
 
OP
OP
chrmbly

chrmbly

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2018
Posts
95
Reaction score
48
So the google-fu is telling me it could be the high pressure sensor if it doesn't kick on?
 

Doubeleive

Wes
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Posts
23,418
Reaction score
34,044
Location
Stockton, Ca.
its an 05 so you should have electric fans. Have you checked to make sure the condenser fan is kicking on with the a/c. Your symptoms in stop and go traffic are pointing at air circulation issues to the condenser.
I have seen these kick on/off either when the Freon is low and/or when there is the digital control, the digital controls on 03+ are known to start failing and will work intermittently, the only fix for the control is to replace it. so the first thing I would check is if the charge is correct or not and go from there.
 
OP
OP
chrmbly

chrmbly

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2018
Posts
95
Reaction score
48
I have seen these kick on/off either when the Freon is low and/or when there is the digital control, the digital controls on 03+ are known to start failing and will work intermittently, the only fix for the control is to replace it. so the first thing I would check is if the charge is correct or not and go from there.

Both fans up by the grille are running and heard one kick off when I shut the ac off.

Digital control seems to work, but only heats up in stop and go, so probably worth having a shop check the Freon.
 
Top