A/C Freon add, simple? read my story.
07-10-2011, 12:23 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
A/C Freon add, simple? read my story.
I've had plenty of years being a mechanic and done enough A/C work charging systems.
My story started a few days ago when I decided to add a can of freon. I went to get my A/C guages and as usual they weren't where they should have been. I'm thinking when the last time they were used and called that Son of mine and told him I needed them back. Well of course he doesn't know about them and looks for about 15 seconds and confirms he doesn't have them. I call the next Son and ask him if he has them? Same story he didn't know nothing about A/C gauges.
Well I've had decades of experience with Sons who misplace/lose/give away tools they "borrow" so it's not anything I'm losing my mind over. So off to Wally world I go to get one of those cheap one can freon set-ups with the plastic trigger and Schader valve attached. I get back to the shop and hook it up to the lowside and start the car to recharge it. As soon as it starts I pull the trigger on the Wally world can and then hear and see freon being hosed all over the engine compartment/me/shop. Not only is the stuff blowing all over, the A/C is ALSO shooting it's load and depleteing what was in the car. The Schader valve on the can had a crack which I didn't see so that's what caused the "blow out". I'm pretty angry at me and the mess I made, and felt really cheated.
So I went back to town that afternoon and dropped by Harbour Freight to get a real set of A/C gauges to replace the ones I had but couldn't find. The package said it had everything needed and I bought it and went home to complete the job. Once I opened it and assembled all the brass fittings and hoses I noticed there was NO FREON CAN TAP! I'm getting stressed once more, but decided to go AutoZone and buy one. Of course the story doesn't end there, cause the hose that came with the Freon tap kit doesn't match up with the A/C manifold gauges. I ended up going back to town and trying to get an adapter at the hardware store to fit, which they didn't have. So I bought a handful of various brass fittings and used my bench grinder and vise to "make" one work. FINALLY I got it worked out and spent the next 10 minutes getting the A/C charged? It's cooling like a new system should.
Spent 2 days and about a $100 plus alot of anger and trips to town while burning up lots of gas!
For a 10 minute job!
My story started a few days ago when I decided to add a can of freon. I went to get my A/C guages and as usual they weren't where they should have been. I'm thinking when the last time they were used and called that Son of mine and told him I needed them back. Well of course he doesn't know about them and looks for about 15 seconds and confirms he doesn't have them. I call the next Son and ask him if he has them? Same story he didn't know nothing about A/C gauges.
Well I've had decades of experience with Sons who misplace/lose/give away tools they "borrow" so it's not anything I'm losing my mind over. So off to Wally world I go to get one of those cheap one can freon set-ups with the plastic trigger and Schader valve attached. I get back to the shop and hook it up to the lowside and start the car to recharge it. As soon as it starts I pull the trigger on the Wally world can and then hear and see freon being hosed all over the engine compartment/me/shop. Not only is the stuff blowing all over, the A/C is ALSO shooting it's load and depleteing what was in the car. The Schader valve on the can had a crack which I didn't see so that's what caused the "blow out". I'm pretty angry at me and the mess I made, and felt really cheated.
So I went back to town that afternoon and dropped by Harbour Freight to get a real set of A/C gauges to replace the ones I had but couldn't find. The package said it had everything needed and I bought it and went home to complete the job. Once I opened it and assembled all the brass fittings and hoses I noticed there was NO FREON CAN TAP! I'm getting stressed once more, but decided to go AutoZone and buy one. Of course the story doesn't end there, cause the hose that came with the Freon tap kit doesn't match up with the A/C manifold gauges. I ended up going back to town and trying to get an adapter at the hardware store to fit, which they didn't have. So I bought a handful of various brass fittings and used my bench grinder and vise to "make" one work. FINALLY I got it worked out and spent the next 10 minutes getting the A/C charged? It's cooling like a new system should.
Spent 2 days and about a $100 plus alot of anger and trips to town while burning up lots of gas!
For a 10 minute job!
07-10-2011, 09:00 PM
#4
Race Director
.....That's why I pay Pep Boys to charge mine up. One trip to town, done.
07-11-2011, 01:54 AM
#6
07-11-2011, 02:36 AM
#7
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Aug 2010
Location: Motorsports Capital of the World..Indianapolis Indiana
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Congratulations on fighting the long battle and not giving up, sounds like me when I have any one of many simple tasks to do, almost always a far more compicated task then expected.
Has the price of R134a went up or what, I used to buy it at Autozone for like $4.99 2-3 years ago and now it is nearly $14.00, what a rip off. I got it ay Walmart for $9.27 but still what a bunch of crap.
I have a nice set of Mastercool gauges from Autozone, they were $75.00 about 5 years ago, (came with a tap too). Harbor Freight tries to nickel and dime people on some things.
Has the price of R134a went up or what, I used to buy it at Autozone for like $4.99 2-3 years ago and now it is nearly $14.00, what a rip off. I got it ay Walmart for $9.27 but still what a bunch of crap.
I have a nice set of Mastercool gauges from Autozone, they were $75.00 about 5 years ago, (came with a tap too). Harbor Freight tries to nickel and dime people on some things.
07-11-2011, 10:11 AM
#10
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Dec 2006
Location: Van Buren Arkansas
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 0
Received 26 Likes
on
25 Posts
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Hey sfc_rick, have to tell you mine from two days ago. I've got a BMW745i. The hood wouldn't open. Looking in a bmw forum, I get instructions on how to do it. Disassembling the entire bottom plastic covers from the bottom of the engine, reaching my arm all the way up to get to the first security latch, I'm leaving blood along the way and so on, but I get to it and pop one side. Then again, using a coat-hanger created tool, I manage to get to a steel cable that goes to the other side and pop it, so now I can open the hood. Come to find out, the cable stretched somehow so it needs to be replaced. Worse, the passenger side latch appears to be having issues. So, I go to remove it. Major malfunction on my part...in order to get it out, you have to remove the headlamp. In order to get it out, you have to remove the entire front bumper. I stopped for the night, came back yesterday morning, put it all together with my coat-hanger wire sitcking out of the front. Will have to suffer the consequences of taking it to a dealer. Then the lady of the house tells me her grand daughter decided to hang onto the automated suncreen on a rear side window...crap. $750 for that alone.
I thought Corvettes had issues fixing them...lol, not even remotely close to how bad a bmw is and even though the Corvette Tax on parts is high, it doesn't even come close to this car.
I thought Corvettes had issues fixing them...lol, not even remotely close to how bad a bmw is and even though the Corvette Tax on parts is high, it doesn't even come close to this car.
07-11-2011, 11:49 AM
#12
Tech Contributor
It might be a good idea to add a couple ounces of PAG oil, to make up for the loss.
07-11-2011, 01:31 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Hey sfc_rick, have to tell you mine from two days ago. I've got a BMW745i. The hood wouldn't open.... . $750 for that alone.
I thought Corvettes had issues fixing them...lol, not even remotely close to how bad a bmw is and even though the Corvette Tax on parts is high, it doesn't even come close to this car.
I thought Corvettes had issues fixing them...lol, not even remotely close to how bad a bmw is and even though the Corvette Tax on parts is high, it doesn't even come close to this car.
I feel your pain, My hands and arms have many scars, and that's the reason I designed vehicles for easy access and repairs.
07-11-2011, 02:00 PM
#15
Tech Contributor
I've had plenty of years being a mechanic and done enough A/C work charging systems.
My story started a few days ago when I decided to add a can of freon. I went to get my A/C guages and as usual they weren't where they should have been. I'm thinking when the last time they were used and called that Son of mine and told him I needed them back. Well of course he doesn't know about them and looks for about 15 seconds and confirms he doesn't have them. I call the next Son and ask him if he has them? Same story he didn't know nothing about A/C gauges.
Well I've had decades of experience with Sons who misplace/lose/give away tools they "borrow" so it's not anything I'm losing my mind over. So off to Wally world I go to get one of those cheap one can freon set-ups with the plastic trigger and Schader valve attached. I get back to the shop and hook it up to the lowside and start the car to recharge it. As soon as it starts I pull the trigger on the Wally world can and then hear and see freon being hosed all over the engine compartment/me/shop. Not only is the stuff blowing all over, the A/C is ALSO shooting it's load and depleteing what was in the car. The Schader valve on the can had a crack which I didn't see so that's what caused the "blow out". I'm pretty angry at me and the mess I made, and felt really cheated.
So I went back to town that afternoon and dropped by Harbour Freight to get a real set of A/C gauges to replace the ones I had but couldn't find. The package said it had everything needed and I bought it and went home to complete the job. Once I opened it and assembled all the brass fittings and hoses I noticed there was NO FREON CAN TAP! I'm getting stressed once more, but decided to go AutoZone and buy one. Of course the story doesn't end there, cause the hose that came with the Freon tap kit doesn't match up with the A/C manifold gauges. I ended up going back to town and trying to get an adapter at the hardware store to fit, which they didn't have. So I bought a handful of various brass fittings and used my bench grinder and vise to "make" one work. FINALLY I got it worked out and spent the next 10 minutes getting the A/C charged? It's cooling like a new system should.
Spent 2 days and about a $100 plus alot of anger and trips to town while burning up lots of gas!
For a 10 minute job!
My story started a few days ago when I decided to add a can of freon. I went to get my A/C guages and as usual they weren't where they should have been. I'm thinking when the last time they were used and called that Son of mine and told him I needed them back. Well of course he doesn't know about them and looks for about 15 seconds and confirms he doesn't have them. I call the next Son and ask him if he has them? Same story he didn't know nothing about A/C gauges.
Well I've had decades of experience with Sons who misplace/lose/give away tools they "borrow" so it's not anything I'm losing my mind over. So off to Wally world I go to get one of those cheap one can freon set-ups with the plastic trigger and Schader valve attached. I get back to the shop and hook it up to the lowside and start the car to recharge it. As soon as it starts I pull the trigger on the Wally world can and then hear and see freon being hosed all over the engine compartment/me/shop. Not only is the stuff blowing all over, the A/C is ALSO shooting it's load and depleteing what was in the car. The Schader valve on the can had a crack which I didn't see so that's what caused the "blow out". I'm pretty angry at me and the mess I made, and felt really cheated.
So I went back to town that afternoon and dropped by Harbour Freight to get a real set of A/C gauges to replace the ones I had but couldn't find. The package said it had everything needed and I bought it and went home to complete the job. Once I opened it and assembled all the brass fittings and hoses I noticed there was NO FREON CAN TAP! I'm getting stressed once more, but decided to go AutoZone and buy one. Of course the story doesn't end there, cause the hose that came with the Freon tap kit doesn't match up with the A/C manifold gauges. I ended up going back to town and trying to get an adapter at the hardware store to fit, which they didn't have. So I bought a handful of various brass fittings and used my bench grinder and vise to "make" one work. FINALLY I got it worked out and spent the next 10 minutes getting the A/C charged? It's cooling like a new system should.
Spent 2 days and about a $100 plus alot of anger and trips to town while burning up lots of gas!
For a 10 minute job!
07-11-2011, 07:21 PM
#16
Tech Contributor
07-12-2011, 09:12 AM
#17
Race Director
07-12-2011, 11:43 AM
#18
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2004
Location: Oklahoma City OK
Posts: 58,285
Received 1,685 Likes
on
1,306 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Sounds like a typical DIY project!
07-13-2011, 01:54 AM
#19
Safety Car
I bought a can which has the tube, gauge and all that into it. I bought it 3 yrs ago, and have not had the heart to use it still... Well, NOW my AC is shooting really Warm air. I still dont have the heart to use that can. Not sure if I'll mess it more than fixing it. So, I'm gonna be searching for a coupon and get it done professionally... 
Wonder what it costs to recharge Freon these days.. 
Wonder what it costs to recharge Freon these days..
07-13-2011, 03:41 AM
#20
Pro
Member Since: Mar 2011
Location: Tuscaloosa AL
Posts: 738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm thinking when the last time they were used and called that Son of mine and told him I needed them back. Well of course he doesn't know about them and looks for about 15 seconds and confirms he doesn't have them. I call the next Son and ask him if he has them? Same story he didn't know nothing about A/C gauges.
Well I've had decades of experience with Sons who misplace/lose/give away tools they "borrow"
Well I've had decades of experience with Sons who misplace/lose/give away tools they "borrow"
Man thats funny. I have been on both side of that fence. I was telling my dad a story much like that about my son. He reminded me of the many times he had the same story about me.
