At the time of buying new car motorists are increasingly interested in whether there is air conditioning in the list of options. It's easy to explain.

Such a simple system can make trips as comfortable as possible in any, even the hottest weather. But there is one minus - from time to time freon leaks are possible and refueling of the air conditioner may be necessary.

Can this work be done by hand? Let's figure it out.

Purpose and advantage

An air conditioner is an indispensable assistant in the summer, when the temperature outside the window exceeds the 30-degree mark.

Open wide windows and a sunroof in the car play only the role of a fan and simply drive hot air through the cabin.

In turn, the climate system works on a different principle and performs a number of useful functions:

• reduces the air temperature to the temperature required by the motorist;
• effectively fights glass “sweating” (this can be useful in winter);
• maintains the level of humidity at an optimal level;
• reliably protects the interior of the car from getting inside unpleasant odors and burnt gasoline vapors;
• is a very powerful filter for the air inside the cabin;
• you do not need to open the windows - the cooling and cleaning system will do everything by itself.

An air conditioner is an option that is never superfluous. If desired, the device can be installed in almost any car (even if it is not in your configuration).

The principle of operation of the car air conditioner

The car air conditioner consists of several elements:

• A compressor that provides constant circulation of freon along the circuit of the cooling system;
• Condenser - heat exchanger. In this node, freon vapor accumulates and condenses with further heat release;
• Evaporator acting as a heat exchanger. It is in it that the evaporation of liquid freon and the selection of heat take place;
• Receiver-drier, through which the refrigerant is cleaned and dried;
• pipelines;
• expansion valve;
• cooling fan;
• Automation systems (fuses, sensors, and so on).

In fact, an air conditioner has three main elements - a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser. All other details play a supporting role.

The system works according to the following principle.

Freon is in a closed circuit. Under the action of the compressor, the refrigerant is heated and under pressure is sent further through the system.

On its way is a condenser, where the refrigerant is cooled and converted into liquefied gas.

After that, freon enters the receiver-drier, with the help of which dirt and debris are filtered out.

After cooling, freon is sent to the evaporator (located directly in the passenger compartment) and enters the passenger compartment. After that, the refrigerant is sent to the compressor.

All - the cycle is closed. By the way, in addition to the cooling function, the evaporator also effectively dehumidifies the air.

Top reasons to refuel

Many car enthusiasts do not know when to refuel the car air conditioner and remember this already when the device fails. But here it is important to consider several options.

Natural leak.

Freon is in a closed circuit, but even this does not save it from a small leak. It is believed that up to 10-15% of the refrigerant leaves the system during the year.

Therefore, the majority modern cars require refueling after three years, and older models even earlier - after 1-2 years.

System malfunction.

If the refrigerant leak exceeds 15-20% per year, then we can safely say that the system is malfunctioning.

The reasons may be the following:

• violation of tightness in pipeline systems due to increased vibration (for example, a decrease in the effectiveness of gaskets);
• the presence of mechanical damage (holes, cracks) on the tubes or the main components of the system;
• the appearance of corrosion directly in the capacitor itself (this phenomenon is very common).

Leak Search Methods

Today, there are several main ways to quickly find a leak in an air conditioner.

Consider the most popular of them.

The use of a leak detector.

Such a modern device is a real help in finding a leak when it is not possible to visually find the problem.

The advantage of the product is high sensitivity and accuracy. But the leak detector has a drawback. If the damage is small, then finding it in this way will not work.

Refueling with nitrogen.

This technique is as old as the world, but is actively used today to check the car air conditioner. Its essence boils down to filling nitrogen into the system under high pressure.

In this case, the place of freon leakage is determined exclusively by ear. The advantage of this method is simplicity and accessibility. The disadvantage is low efficiency.

Soap solution.

To simplify the search process, a soapy solution is often used. But it's dangerous. In the air conditioning system there is not only freon, but also oil for lubricating the compressor.

The latter is able to absorb moisture well and can only be combined with a specific type of freon.

The use of a soap composition often leads to compressor failure and, as a result, serious expenses.

Application of ultraviolet additive.

Modern and most effective method leak detection. It is actively used by employees of almost all modern service stations. The point is simple.

In the process of refueling the car air conditioner with freon, a little special additive is added to the composition.

The latter mixes with the contents of the system (refrigerant, oil) and, when released to the outside (at the point of leakage), becomes green.

The advantage of this method is visibility (the place of damage in the system is immediately visible) and absolute safety for the system. Minus - high cost.

Elimination of leakage

If the damage is significant or the whole system node has failed, then it is better to turn to professionals for repairs.

But most often the damage in the air conditioner is minor. Therefore, you can do the restoration work yourself.

There are two options here.

With the help of a special patch.

Here the sequence is as follows:

• prepare a small metal tube that fits in diameter;
• put small clamps on it, clean it with sandpaper and degrease it with an alcohol solution;
• connect the two halves of the coupling with ordinary electrical tape;
• apply glue to the prepared sleeve, put the part in place and pull it off with clamps.

As an option.

With sealant.

Today, special products are sold that effectively tighten minor damage. All that is needed is to upload them into the system along with freon.

After 20-30 minutes, the existing gaps will disappear, and the problem with freon leakage from the car air conditioner will be fixed.

Preparatory work

Before you charge your car air conditioner, you must clearly determine the type and volume of refrigerant required. Everything is simple here.

If your car was produced before 1992, then you should use the type of freon R-12.

Since 1993, car manufacturers have been pumping R-134a freon. The reason is a banal ban on the use of R-12.

Difficulties can arise only for owners of cars manufactured in the 92-93s, because during the transition period, not all manufacturers immediately switched to R-134a.

For more accurate information, please read the label carefully. inside hood (this data is usually indicated there).

The second option - you can recognize the type of freon by the fitting. In new models of air conditioners that operate on R-134a, the fitting has a large height and diameter.

As for the refrigerant charge rates, they are indicated on the plate, which we talked about above.

In addition, this information can be obtained from a specialist or in the instruction manual.

On average, the norm for domestic cars is about 500-1000 grams.

Work order

So, to refuel the air conditioner, we need a special kit. It includes a metrological station, an adapter, hoses, taps and a freon bottle.

Instead of a metrological station, you can use a test connector. The cost of all equipment is about 30 thousand rubles.

• 1. Take a freon cylinder and find a convex part with a thread that needs to be pierced with a needle (adapter).

If there is no adapter in the kit (this happens very often), then it can be purchased separately.

• 2. Screw on the adapter and connect the hose to it.

• 3. Connect the second end of the hose to the metrology station.

• 4. After assembling the filling equipment, calibrate the pressure meter. This can be done using the calibration wheel by setting the ambient temperature.

It is advisable to check with the indicators of the exact device (for example, on-board computer).

• 5. Find your fitting. It is not difficult to do this. Modern car air conditioners have two positions - high and low pressure. Filling is always done from the low pressure side.

It is impossible to make a mistake here, because the fittings have different inlet diameters.

Some manufacturers label the caps in different colors. For example, the low pressure fitting is black (letter H), and the high pressure fitting is blue.

• 6. Clean the area around the low pressure fitting well and remove the cap. Remember that the ingress of dirt into the air conditioner is unacceptable.
• 7. Put the hose on top.

• 8. Start the engine and spin it up to 1500 rpm. If there is an assistant, ask him to hold the gas pedal in one position, and if not, fix it with a small stick.
• 9. Set the air recirculation to the maximum limit, open the high pressure valve, turn the freon cylinder upside down and open the valve smoothly.

• 10. Monitor system pressure at all times. The maximum limit is 285 kPa.
• 11. After a while, cold air begins to flow into the cabin, and the hose itself at the junction with the fitting becomes completely icy.

As soon as the air temperature reaches 5-7 degrees Celsius, the valve can be closed.

In this case, we have 10.7 degrees Celsius, which means we need another cylinder.

• 12. Look carefully through the window of the filter-drier. If there are no air bubbles, then the job is done correctly. That's all.

Separately, I would like to note that the presence of water and air in the system is unacceptable. For example, moisture can turn into ice in winter and block the thermostatic expansion valve.

Do not forget that the presence of water in the system can lead to rust. Dangerous for the system and air, which has completely different properties than nitrogen.

As a result, the load on the compressor increases, and the unit can fail faster. To remove air and water from the system, a special pump is connected before refueling. This process is called evacuation.

Remove air from the system using a special pump.

Final check and diagnostics of malfunctions of the autoconditioner

Now it remains to turn on the air conditioner and check its operation. Pay attention to the following points here:

• make sure that after a few seconds after turning on the air conditioner, cold air begins to flow into the passenger compartment;
• inspect the entire system for freon leaks;
• if a leak is suspected, you can re-check (we discussed the technology above);
• listen to the compressor, if any. extraneous noise, then this may indicate wear of parts or internal damage to the assembly. Often the cause of noise is a faulty bearing, as a result, this can lead to failure of the compressor;
• clean air should come out of the system, without any odor. Otherwise, replace the cabin filter.

Output

You must clearly understand that the diagnosis, refueling, repair and maintenance of an air conditioner is a very complex and responsible undertaking.

But with everyone at hand necessary tools and strict adherence to the recommendations in the article, you will do the job perfectly.

Comfortable conditions in the car cannot be created without additional systems. Vehicle manufacturers include them in the main parts and mechanisms. The air conditioner belongs to these devices and ensures the optimal temperature in the cabin, even under conditions of summer heat. It works only when the engine is on and makes it possible to drive vehicles without problems. The positive aspects of the climate system include the fact that it prevents the ingress of unpleasant odors into the passenger compartment and regulates the level of humidity in the passenger compartment.

The conditioner is easy to use. Before starting work, you must read the instructions, then you can avoid many misunderstandings. In it are technical specifications, cleaning methods, refilling frequency and application rules.

Many car owners want to know more and, in order to save money, want to learn how to charge the air conditioner on their own. Photo: pro-vidnoe.ru

How often do you need to refuel

• The air conditioner in a new car needs maintenance and refueling no later than three years after purchase, then the frequency is at least once every one and a half years.
• If use vehicle takes about ten years or more, then refueling is done once a year. Self-installed systems also fall into this category.

No need to wait for the air conditioner to stop cooling the air. If you reach this point, you can critically overheat the compressor. Repairing this problem is expensive and takes a lot of time.

IN standard conditions operation, the amount of freon in the cooling circuit decreases by 6-15% per year. After three years, the loss of refrigerant will be significant. Much faster, it begins to be consumed with poor tightness of the connecting parts.

Signs of insufficient freon are as follows:

• The presence of ice on the fitting connections of the outdoor unit of the climate system;
• Less efficient air cooling;
• Insufficient amount of freon during self-examination of the air conditioner.

Why Refill Air Conditioning

A complete recharging of the climate system occurs if:

• It is necessary to clean the system from bacteria and decay products. In this case, the old freon is removed, all components are cleaned and the air conditioner is refilled with liquefied gas.
• Restoring the optimal amount of refrigerant. To begin with, all the gas is released, a vacuum atmosphere is created, and then refilled to the required level.

How to fill a car air conditioner

The following types of refrigerants are often used:

• R-22. It has established itself as a reliable carrier, has a high cooling efficiency and is cheap.
• R-410A. Uses more pressure, improving performance, saving energy.
• R-134 a. It is safe for nature and does not harm the ozone layer, but it has one drawback - high cost.

Any freon will be safe for health if refueling is done correctly. Photo: greenreport.it

Ways to refuel a car air conditioner

The device will be charged correctly if all the features are taken into account. First you need to study the methods and choose the most optimal.

How to fill the air conditioner in the car with your own hands

First you need to prepare the tools and coolant:

1. Freon cylinder;
2. hoses;
3. Adapter with a tap;
4. metrological station.

Before work, you need to take care of safety with gloves and goggles. The process will take place under pressure.

Then you need to carry out refueling according to the following steps:

• First of all, the adapter with a tap is attached to the refrigerant cylinder, screwing it, and then to the charging hose.
• The second end of the hose is connected to the metrological station. Another hose is also connected to its counter. The design for transfusion of freon is assembled.
• Next, the parameters of the meter sensors are manually configured, the air temperature indicator is set.
• A low pressure fitting is defined, its piping will be larger than that of a high pressure fitting. The cap is removed from it, and the surrounding surface is cleaned. Then the previously assembled structure is attached to it.
• According to the instructions, refueling is carried out when the car is running at a speed equal to 1500.
• Next, the maximum system performance is turned on for a while. After that, the freon cylinder is turned over and the tap on the adapter is unscrewed. In this position, the gas begins to flow into the air conditioner. All the time you need to make sure that the pressure at the station sensor does not exceed 285 kPa.
• When cold air begins to flow from the pipeline in the passenger compartment, refueling must be stopped.
• Now the air conditioning system should work for 10 minutes.
• After completion of all work, it is recommended to treat the evaporators and air ducts with a special spray. It will destroy germs and unpleasant odors.

Through the inspection hole of the filter-drier, you can evaluate the correct procedure. If there are no bubbles in the liquid, the filling was successful.

You will find an alternative instruction for refueling a car air conditioner in this video:

In a car service, you can carry out all the maintenance and repair of the climate system without much hassle. It has all the necessary equipment and experienced staff. Refueling the air conditioner technical centers will cost 1300 rubles and more.

Outcome

Deciding to refuel with your own hands or contacting specialists is up to the car owner to decide. The main thing is to do everything in a timely manner. The process does not take much time, but extends the life of the climate system for a long time.

Incorrectly working air conditioner in the car can cause a lot of trouble on hot summer days. Therefore, it, like any other important part of the car, must be maintained in working order, including monitoring the amount of refrigerant in it. Many motorists trust this procedure to services, but you can refuel the air conditioner yourself.

How to know when it's time to charge your air conditioner

Another name for a condenser is a radiator, and this part of the car is periodically cleaned of dust and dirt, which helps to avoid corrosion.

Even in good condition, the car's air conditioning system gradually loses refrigerant (freon). According to the regulations, the loss of 15% freon in one year is considered a normal indicator. According to specifications, a leak of 50% or more of refrigerant leads to the fact that car air conditioner no longer able to function effectively. Therefore, even a properly functioning system must be charged with refrigerant every 3 years.

However, in older cars the situation looks different. The loss of freon can occur much faster and in large volumes. Therefore, on such machines, the air conditioner needs to be refueled much more often.

Feeling that the air conditioner needs to be recharged is quite simple. If he has ceased to cope with the high temperature in the cabin on summer days, you need to go to the service or change the refrigerant in it yourself.

You will also have to refuel the air conditioner if there is a depressurization of the air conditioning system due to a breakdown. In this case, before refueling, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the leak, which usually lies in mechanical damage to the tubes or corrosion of the air conditioner condenser. In the first case, you need to seal the leaks with sealant, in the second, most likely, you will have to replace the capacitor itself.

Necessary materials and equipment

Now all car air conditioners are refueled with tetrafluoroethane (marking - R-134a), however, in the old fashioned way, motorists still call this refrigerant freon, since cooling systems cars produced before the early to mid-90s were refueled with CFC-12 freon.

Mixing different types is not allowed, the exact name of the refrigerant can be found on the sticker on the inside of the hood cover.

A bottle of freon weighing half a kilogram will cost about 1,000 rubles, large containers - several thousand rubles.

For small air conditioners cars a bottle of 500 grams is enough, and for larger and more powerful cars, you can get by with two bottles

To refuel your vehicle, you will need one of the following devices:

• automatic station (costs tens of thousands of rubles);
• single or reusable set of equipment.

Naturally, we cannot talk about buying an automatic station for self-refueling - it will cost too much. But the sets should be dealt with more carefully. Complete consists of:

• manometric manifold;
• scales;
• a cylinder filled with freon;
• vacuum pump.

The disposable kit is quite inexpensive and includes a vial, hose and pressure gauge. Also in both cases, you will need adapters and fittings.

A disposable set is cheaper, but less reliable, a reusable one is the opposite

The choice of these two options is the decision of the car owner.

Step by step instructions for refueling

Regardless of the brand and model of the car, the general part correct instruction for refueling an air conditioner with a one-time set is as follows.

1. It is necessary to remove the protective cap from the port of the low pressure line. If there is debris in the inlet, carefully clean it and the cap. Not a single piece of dirt or debris should enter the system, otherwise the compressor may fail.
2. Put the car in neutral and hand brake. After that, we start the engine and keep the speed at around 1500 rpm. At this moment, an assistant is needed to hold them at a given value using the gas pedal. Alternatively, you can put something under the accelerator.
3. Turn on the air recirculation in the cabin to the maximum.
4. It is necessary to put a hose on the filling fitting and connect it to the opening of the low pressure line.
5. We turn the valve of the low pressure line, having previously turned the refrigerant bottle upside down. Next, slowly, turn the valve.
6. In the process of refueling the air conditioner, we maintain pressure using a pressure gauge. It should not exceed 285 Kilopascals (kPa), it is best to keep it at around 275 Kilopascals.
7. As soon as the temperature of the air leaving the deflector reaches 6-8 ° C, and the nozzle near the low pressure port is covered with ice, the filling can be considered completed.

Video: do-it-yourself air conditioning refueling

However, a simplified scheme does not always give the desired result. Therefore, motorists have the right to use a complex method and an expanded set of equipment. In this case, the refueling scheme is somewhat modified. First, the system is diagnosed using a tester, but you can also determine the lack of freon “by touch”.

If the low-pressure line remains warm when the air conditioning is on, there is not enough freon in the system

After making sure that refueling is necessary, you need to proceed as follows.

1. First, all refrigerant is removed from the air conditioning system.
2. Air and liquid are then pumped out using a vacuum pump. Vacuuming is carried out for half an hour.
3. Next, using a scale or volumetric flask, the amount of refilled freon is measured.

Further refueling looks the same as in the first case, only the pressure of the incoming gas is controlled using a pressure gauge manifold, and not a conventional pressure gauge.

How to check the quality of work

Insufficient refueling of the air conditioner can lead to the failure of the compressor, and the interior will not be cooled enough. An excess of freon will lead to automatic operation of the shutdown system and, consequently, also to the absence of interior cooling. So you need to fill the air conditioner only according to the calculations.

You can determine the exact amount of refrigerant for a particular air conditioner in the instructions for the car or in tables published on the Internet.

After refueling, it is necessary to check the quality of the work done. This process cannot be called long: the car air conditioner is switched to active mode, and if cold air immediately enters the cabin, then the air conditioning system is charged correctly. To identify errors in refueling will also help:

• extraneous odors from the deflectors (you may have to change the cabin filter);
• freon leaks from the air conditioner tubes (detected using a leak detector or visually);
• extraneous noise (if present, corrosion of the compressor or condenser is likely).

In case of freon leakage, it is necessary to resort to the help of a repairman.

How often to fill the air conditioner in the car

As already mentioned, you need to fill the air conditioner at least once every three years. But this regulation is valid only for new cars. If the car is more than 6 years old, then checking and refueling the car air conditioner should be carried out annually, and even more often if the air conditioning system leaks are not eliminated.

Recharging your air conditioner is pretty easy. An elementary set for this work costs about 1 thousand rubles - in fact, this is a little less than the price of one refueling in the service. Therefore, motorists are not always willing or able to carry out such a procedure. However, for those who are used to taking full control of their "iron horse" and repairing it themselves, self-refueling looks like a worthy alternative to a trip to a service station.

When buying a new car, motorists are increasingly interested in whether air conditioning is on the list of options. It's easy to explain.

Such a simple system can make trips as comfortable as possible in any, even the hottest weather. But there is one minus - from time to time freon leaks are possible and refueling of the air conditioner may be necessary.

Can this work be done by hand? Let's figure it out.

Purpose and advantage

An air conditioner is an indispensable assistant in the summer, when the temperature outside the window exceeds the 30-degree mark.

Open wide windows and a sunroof in the car play only the role of a fan and simply drive hot air through the cabin.

In turn, the climate system works on a different principle and performs a number of useful functions:

• reduces the air temperature to the temperature required by the motorist;
• effectively fights glass “sweating” (this can be useful in winter);
• maintains the level of humidity at an optimal level;
• reliably protects the interior of the car from getting inside unpleasant odors and burnt gasoline vapors;
• is a very powerful filter for the air inside the cabin;
• you do not need to open the windows - the cooling and cleaning system will do everything by itself.

An air conditioner is an option that is never superfluous. If desired, the device can be installed in almost any car (even if it is not in your configuration).

Principle of operation

The air conditioner consists of several elements:

1. A compressor that provides constant circulation of freon along the circuit of the cooling system;
2. Condenser - heat exchanger. In this node, freon vapor accumulates and condenses with further heat release;
3. Evaporator acting as a heat exchanger. It is in it that the evaporation of liquid freon and the selection of heat take place;
4. Receiver-drier, through which the refrigerant is cleaned and dried;
5. pipelines;
6. expansion valve;
7. cooling fan;
8. Automation systems (fuses, sensors, and so on).

In fact, an air conditioner has three main elements - a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser. All other details play a supporting role.

The system works according to the following principle.

Freon is in a closed circuit. Under the action of the compressor, the refrigerant is heated and under pressure is sent further through the system.

On its way is a condenser, where the refrigerant is cooled and converted into liquefied gas.

After that, freon enters the receiver-drier, with the help of which dirt and debris are filtered out.

After cooling, freon is sent to the evaporator (located directly in the passenger compartment) and enters the passenger compartment. After that, the refrigerant is sent to the compressor.

All - the cycle is closed. By the way, in addition to the cooling function, the evaporator also effectively dehumidifies the air.

Top reasons to refuel

Many car enthusiasts do not know when to refuel the car air conditioner and remember this already when the device fails. But here it is important to consider several options.

Natural leak.

Freon is in a closed circuit, but even this does not save it from a small leak. It is believed that up to 10-15% of the refrigerant leaves the system during the year.

Consequently, most modern cars require refueling after three years, and older models even earlier - after 1-2 years.

System malfunction.

If the refrigerant leak exceeds 15-20% per year, then we can safely say that the system is malfunctioning.

The reasons may be the following:

• violation of tightness in pipeline systems due to increased vibration (for example, a decrease in the effectiveness of gaskets);
• the presence of mechanical damage (holes, cracks) on the tubes or the main components of the system;
• the appearance of corrosion directly in the capacitor itself (this phenomenon is very common).

Leak Search Methods

Today, there are several main ways to quickly find a leak in an air conditioner.

Consider the most popular of them.

The use of a leak detector.

Such a modern device is a real help in finding a leak when it is not possible to visually find the problem.

The advantage of the product is high sensitivity and accuracy. But the leak detector has a drawback. If the damage is small, then finding it in this way will not work.

Refueling with nitrogen.

This technique is as old as the world, but is actively used today to check the car air conditioner. Its essence boils down to filling nitrogen into the system under high pressure.

In this case, the place of freon leakage is determined exclusively by ear. The advantage of this method is simplicity and accessibility. The disadvantage is low efficiency.

Soap solution.

To simplify the search process, a soapy solution is often used. But it's dangerous. In the air conditioning system there is not only freon, but also oil for lubricating the compressor.

The latter is able to absorb moisture well and can only be combined with a specific type of freon.

The use of a soap composition often leads to compressor failure and, as a result, serious expenses.

Application of ultraviolet additive.

The modern and most effective method for detecting leakage. It is actively used by employees of almost all modern service stations. The point is simple.

In the process of refueling the car air conditioner with freon, a little special additive is added to the composition.

The latter mixes with the contents of the system (refrigerant, oil) and, when released to the outside (at the point of leakage), becomes green.

The advantage of this method is visibility (the place of damage in the system is immediately visible) and absolute safety for the system. Minus - high cost.

Elimination of leakage

If the damage is significant or the whole system node has failed, then it is better to turn to professionals for repairs.

But most often the damage in the air conditioner is minor. Therefore, you can do the restoration work yourself.

There are two options here.

With the help of a special patch.

Here the sequence is:

• prepare a small metal tube that fits in diameter;
• put small clamps on it, clean it with sandpaper and degrease it with an alcohol solution;
• connect the two halves of the coupling with ordinary electrical tape;
• apply glue to the prepared sleeve, put the part in place and pull it off with clamps.

As an option.

With sealant.

Today, special products are sold that effectively tighten minor damage. All that is needed is to upload them into the system along with freon.

After 20-30 minutes, the existing gaps will disappear, and the problem with freon leakage from the car air conditioner will be fixed.

Preparatory work

Before you charge your car air conditioner, you must clearly determine the type and volume of refrigerant required. Everything is simple here.

If your car was produced before 1992, then you should use the type of freon R-12.

Since 1993, car manufacturers have been pumping R-134a freon. The reason is a banal ban on the use of R-12.

Difficulties can arise only for owners of cars manufactured in the 92-93s, because during the transition period, not all manufacturers immediately switched to R-134a.

To find out more accurate information, carefully study the sticker on the inside of the hood (these data are usually indicated there).

The second option - you can recognize the type of freon by the fitting. In new models of air conditioners that operate on R-134a, the fitting has a large height and diameter.

As for the refrigerant charge rates, they are indicated on the plate, which we talked about above.

In addition, this information can be obtained from a specialist or in the instruction manual.

On average, the norm for domestic cars is about 500-1000 grams.

Work order

So, to refuel the air conditioner, we need a special kit. It includes a metrological station, an adapter, hoses, taps and a freon bottle.

Instead of a metrological station, you can use a test connector. The cost of all equipment is about 30 thousand rubles.

• 1. Take a freon cylinder and find a convex part with a thread that needs to be pierced with a needle (adapter).

If there is no adapter in the kit (this happens very often), then it can be purchased separately.

• 2. Screw on the adapter and connect the hose to it.

• 3. Connect the second end of the hose to the metrology station.

• 4. After assembling the filling equipment, calibrate the pressure meter. This can be done using the calibration wheel by setting the ambient temperature.

It is advisable to check with the indicators of an accurate device (for example, an on-board computer).

• 5. Find your fitting. It is not difficult to do this. Modern air conditioners have two positions - high and low pressure. Filling is always done from the low pressure side.

It is impossible to make a mistake here, because the fittings have different inlet diameters.

Some manufacturers label the caps in different colors. For example, the low pressure fitting is black (letter H), and the high pressure fitting is blue.

• 6. Clean the area around the low pressure fitting well and remove the cap. Remember that the ingress of dirt into the air conditioner is unacceptable.
• 7. Put the hose on top.

• 8. Start the engine and spin it up to 1500 rpm. If there is an assistant, ask him to hold the gas pedal in one position, and if not, fix it with a small stick.
• 9. Set the air recirculation to the maximum limit, open the high pressure valve, turn the freon cylinder upside down and open the valve smoothly.

• 10. Monitor system pressure at all times. The maximum limit is 285 kPa.
• 11. After a while, cold air begins to flow into the cabin, and the hose itself at the junction with the fitting becomes completely icy.

As soon as the air temperature reaches 5-7 degrees Celsius, the valve can be closed.

In this case, we have 10.7 degrees Celsius, which means we need another cylinder.

• 12. Look carefully through the window of the filter-drier. If there are no air bubbles, then the job is done correctly. That's all.

Separately, I would like to note that the presence of water and air in the system is unacceptable. For example, moisture can turn into ice in winter and block the thermostatic expansion valve.

Do not forget that the presence of water in the system can lead to rust. Dangerous for the system and air, which has completely different properties than nitrogen.

As a result, the load on the compressor increases, and the unit can fail faster. To remove air and water from the system, a special pump is connected before refueling. This process is called evacuation.

Remove air from the system using a special pump.

Final inspection and troubleshooting

Now it remains to turn on the air conditioner and check its operation. Pay attention to the following points here:

• make sure that after a few seconds after turning on the air conditioner, cold air begins to flow into the passenger compartment;
• inspect the entire system for freon leaks;
• if a leak is suspected, you can re-check (we discussed the technology above);
• listen to the operation of the compressor, if there are extraneous noises, then this may indicate wear of parts or internal damage to the assembly. Often the cause of noise is a faulty bearing, as a result, this can lead to failure to;
• clean air should come out of the system, without any odor. Otherwise, replace the cabin filter.

Output

You must clearly understand that diagnostics, refueling, repair and - a very complex and responsible event.

But if you have all the necessary tools at hand and strictly follow the recommendations in the article, you will do the job perfectly.

Even the most expensive and reliable air conditioner in a car loses its power over time. The first thing that is noticed in this case is the time spent on changing the microclimate in the cabin. Finding information on how to refuel the car air conditioner with your own hands is usually not so easy. Therefore, most drivers solve this problem simply - they turn to a car service. But this is the most radical way to solve the problem. In this article, I will try to help motorists and tell you how to carry out such a necessary process on your own.

To charge the air conditioner, you need to understand the principle of its operation. It is very important to determine if the air conditioner really needs to be recharged. According to its purpose, the air conditioner can both cool the air and maintain a certain temperature in the cabin.

The fluid that circulates in the air conditioning system plays a key role in cooling. Despite the reliability of air conditioners, time takes its toll, and freon leakage may soon occur. The normal annual loss is 15%, but if this figure changes upwards, then something should be done with the air conditioner. The standard time for refueling the unit with freon is after three years of operation. But if the unit is old, refueling must be carried out more often. For any outcome, refueling is the same.

It makes no sense to charge the air conditioner if any part of the system is damaged and does not function properly. If the problem is not very serious, you can fix it yourself, but when serious damage or breakdown occurs, it is best to contact a specialized salon.

The cold air circulating in the passenger compartment is returned to the system. This is due to the fan. Refuel the air conditioner only when it ceases to function correctly, that is, ceases to cool the interior. But do not wait for a complete breakdown of the entire system or its failure. It is best to carry out preventive charging, which will extend the life of your system. This refueling takes place every two years. You should also check rubber seals, the life of which is also limited. Due to changes in temperature and vibration, they can change for the worse.

Freon replacement not only helps the system to cool. Since freon contains oil, replacing it allows you to keep all elements of the system in excellent condition. The service life of the device is significantly increased.

If refueling is carried out on your own, the instructions for the car can help in this like no other. To be more precise - instructions for refueling car air conditioners.

Finding and fixing freon leaks

A strong freon leak has its own reasons. You can define them, but in view of the most common you can meet:

1. Poor insulation of piping systems
2. Damage to pipes in the air conditioning system
3. Capacitor corrosion

Even if the car is equipped with climate control, this system will not help the driver find a freon leak. To find such a malfunction, equipment is needed completely different.
A leak detector is a device that can detect air with freon even with its minimal presence in it. The sensitivity of such a device is so great that it can lead you straight to the leak.

If it is not possible to use a leak detector, then other devices can be used. Having completely filled the system, an ultraviolet dye is added to the composition.
Refueling technology should not be changed. Several times, turning the air conditioning system on and off, all joints and places of its action are illuminated with an ultraviolet lamp. If there is a leak, the places of disappearance or weathering of freon will be highlighted in yellow-green or fog of the same color.

Strong leaks in the car are best repaired at the service. At the same time, there is a chance to pass the diagnosis of the climate control system. Minor damage can be repaired by yourself. If there is a hole or crack in the system, it is closed with a small piece of metal tubing. The diameter must correspond to the area being repaired. The tube is held with ties or clamps. The edges are cleaned with alcohol and cleaned with sandpaper. Alcohol degreases the edges of the joints. The halves of the coupling are fastened with ordinary electrical tape, and after applying the glue, they are fixed with clamps.

What freon to use

In order to fill the car air conditioner yourself, you need to decide on the type of freon.

The old R-12 was banned and replaced with the more modern R-134a. If your car was produced before 1992, then you need to look for old and “forbidden” freon for it. To find out what freon is required for a car that was produced between 1992 and 1993, a sticker on the inside of the hood will help. For more "advanced" drivers, it is not difficult to determine the type of freon for refueling simply by appearance filling nozzle. New freon is charged into air conditioners with a high fitting with a large diameter.

Ammonia is also used for refueling car air conditioners. The very first air conditioner, which was released in 1929, used ammonia for its work. The development of refrigeration technology was greatly hampered due to the fact that the substance was unsafe for human health. Freon was synthesized in 1931. It was completely safe and the problem was solved. Since then, up to four dozen freon of various types have been bred, which differ in properties and chemical composition. The cheapest options suited everyone for quite a long time. However, their properties were destructive, so over the past 15 years they have fallen out of love.

The evolution of coolants is very closely related to ecology. One period in the development of this type of industry was distinguished by the fact that at that time freon from cars was blamed even for the appearance of ozone holes. In 1987, a law was passed that prohibited the use of destructive substances. Therefore, the R-22 freon brand, which was the most popular, had to be replaced. Those refrigerants that are supplied from Europe now are less convenient, since they are mixtures of various freons. However, each of the refrigerants increases performance, eliminates fire, determines the pressure in the circuit.

Refueling instructions

The operation of an air conditioner is not much different from that of a refrigerator. Cooling system full special liquid- freon. The composition is dissolved by refrigeration oil, due to which it acquires consistency and density. It also lubricates the compressor. When the air conditioner is turned on, freon condenses, in a liquid state it passes into a dehumidifier, and after that it flows into a car dealership. In the evaporator, freon turns into a gas, which can be very cold.

To start the refueling process, you should find out how much fluid the system requires, and only then fill it. Discover this information You can on the same plate under the hood.
If there is no plate, you can find out the required quantities in the manual or from the dealer. The norm for cars in Russia is 750-1000 grams, but it is not necessary to try hard to calculate everything very accurately.

The next stage of preparation is the search for the necessary set of tools. What will we need?

1. Test connector, weather station
2. Hoses and adapters
3. Cranes and the freon cylinder itself

A weather station can help measure the pressure in the system. If you do not want to assemble a kit for refueling from parts, you can buy everything ready at a car dealership.

Charging the air conditioner takes place in several stages. Each of them should be considered independently.

• Initially, you need to find a line with low pressure, then we clean the space around it and remove the cover.
• We put on the fitting a cap from a cylinder with a filling hose.
• The motor turns on at 1500 rpm.
• The maximum allowable air circulation value is required for refueling. The low pressure valve opens, the cylinder is turned with the tap down, and the tap opens, but the engine must be running.
• The pressure counter during filling must not exceed 285 kPa.
• Refueling is considered complete if the air in the cabin reaches 5-8 degrees.
• If the liquid in the window of the dryer is clear and without bubbles, then the filling process is completely finished.

If at the end of the procedure the system does not work, then the cause should be sought in the climate control, that is, repair it.

Video “Refilling car air conditioners”

On the recording, an auto mechanic shows how to properly fill the car air conditioner with freon. Watch this video and you can easily repeat each replacement step yourself.