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Recharging car ac

Posted on 11/6/24 at 2:01 pm
Posted by The Dunder Mifflin
Member since Mar 2018
882 posts
Posted on 11/6/24 at 2:01 pm
2018 vw atlas that isn’t blowing cold air. What’s the estimated price of a mechanic recharging the ac system? Obviously the car dealership will be stupid high.


From watching videos on it, it does t seem too hard but people say it’s easy to screw it up.
Posted by Major Dutch Schaefer
Location: Classified
Member since Nov 2011
38238 posts
Posted on 11/6/24 at 2:01 pm to
I have an auto place near me that advertises $100
Posted by BilbeauTBaggins
probably stuck in traffic
Member since May 2021
7664 posts
Posted on 11/6/24 at 2:18 pm to
Watch the video and do it as instructed. You can buy the required freon bottle between $40-$50. If it's an Atlas probably closer to $50. You'll pay no more than $150 for an AC recharge if you do it at a shop or dealer.
Posted by Commander Rabb
Member since Feb 2020
1233 posts
Posted on 11/6/24 at 2:45 pm to
I just recharged my CRV. Super easy. Damn near idiot proof. Search YouTube for your model on how to do it. I had never done it before. It’s a 10 minute job. You literally don’t need any tools. Auto Zone or O’reilly’s has the freon for about $50.00.
This post was edited on 11/6/24 at 2:47 pm
Posted by Turnblad85
Member since Sep 2022
4628 posts
Posted on 11/6/24 at 3:12 pm to
if you're going to diy then DO NOT get the "stop leak" version of freon unless like the idea of replacing the entire ac system.


You have a leak, (if being low is why its not cooling) its just a matter of how bad of a leak. Might be able to recharge and it will last for a year or two or month or less.

But not blowing cold air isn't always because of a low charge....just usually.
Posted by The Dunder Mifflin
Member since Mar 2018
882 posts
Posted on 11/6/24 at 6:57 pm to
The car is 6ish years old, and it is the first time the ac isn’t blowing cold. So I think it shouldn’t be a leak
Posted by Fat Batman
Gotham City, NJ
Member since Oct 2019
1601 posts
Posted on 11/6/24 at 7:18 pm to
you dont just lose it, if you have to add more that means you lost some and the only way to lose it is if you have a leak.
Posted by lsuwins3
Member since Nov 2008
1874 posts
Posted on 11/6/24 at 10:33 pm to
Go to Autozone like others said. Buy the kit. They wanted $800 to fix a leak on my daughter’s car. I add a few cans in the warmer months for $15-20 . Usually you can tell if Freon is low. Passenger side vents will blow warmer than driver side.
Posted by chrome1007
Toledo Bend
Member since Dec 2023
584 posts
Posted on 11/7/24 at 6:41 am to
Just make sure you are putting the correct variant of Freon in your system. Should be a sticker on the hood of your vehicle telling you what Freon is used in your vehicle.
Like other posters have said, pretty easy.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
23419 posts
Posted on 11/7/24 at 7:42 am to
quote:

you dont just lose it, if you have to add more that means you lost some and the only way to lose it is if you have a leak.


This. Auto Ac’s in my limited experience usually leak in a few common areas, the compressor, the dryer, and maybe one or two other spots. The dryers, at least on my older cars in the past, had desiccant balls and if those leaked they went through out the AC system. If you recharge it they will eventually cause the hvac to fail because those balls go into the system and jam it up.

I’ve replaced 2-3 auto hvac systems myself it’s not a terribly hard job. But the parts were $300-400 plus 3-4 hours of labor.
This post was edited on 11/7/24 at 7:43 am
Posted by southern686
Narnia
Member since Nov 2015
1022 posts
Posted on 11/7/24 at 7:49 am to
Just keep in mind there could be a few things causing it not to blow cold aside from having a leak thus a low/no charge of refrigerant. (its not Freon anymore)
If you do decide to try to add some, like others said, make sure you use the correct refrigerant which is most likely R-134A.

I have a cheap work car that requires to be topped off maybe twice a summer. I have a set of cheap automotive AC gauges for this reason.
They've came in handy many times over the years and i think i only paid maybe 30-40 bucks for them.
Posted by Dolphinepride
Member since Oct 2024
138 posts
Posted on 11/7/24 at 9:13 am to
might not be a leak easiest way to test it is by pressing down on the Schrader valve and see if you have any refrigerant in the system. You'll need a dual manifold gauge to recharge it the "correct" way. You can use a single low gauge cans but you should really test with a high side so you can see if you have any blockage or issues on the hightide.

Id say 6 years is about the life of the compressor too but you could just need to shim it.
Posted by The Dunder Mifflin
Member since Mar 2018
882 posts
Posted on 11/9/24 at 9:55 pm to
Update:

The refrigerant is actually R-1234yf. Put the gauge on it and it was barely under the charged area. Charged it for 10 seconds and it was right in the middle of the charged section on the gauge. Unfortunately it is not much colder than it was before.

Guess I will send it to a shop to get it checked out
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
19205 posts
Posted on 11/10/24 at 9:36 am to
quote:

The refrigerant is actually R-1234yf. Put the gauge on it and it was barely under the charged area. Charged it for 10 seconds and it was right in the middle of the charged section on the gauge. Unfortunately it is not much colder than it was before.


Sounds like a dying compressor.
Make sure you have the AC on max and recirculate while charging and let it cycle for a few minutes.
Posted by Gorilla Ball
Az
Member since Feb 2006
12857 posts
Posted on 11/10/24 at 8:43 pm to
These units are leak proof - if you are Adding Freon or recharging you have a leak
Posted by The Dunder Mifflin
Member since Mar 2018
882 posts
Posted on 11/12/24 at 11:35 am to
Update: drove the car last night and is stupid cold now!
Posted by Dolphinepride
Member since Oct 2024
138 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 11:14 am to
Did you replace anything?
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