The low side service valve is located in the line that runs from the compressor through the evaporator (firewall) and up to the condenser on the low pressure (suction) side of the system. R-134a recharge hoses will only fit on the low side service port on all R-134a vehicles and R-12 vehicles that have been converted to R-134a, and R-1234yf recharge hoses will only fit on the low side service port on R-1234yf vehicles. If you don’t know where your low side port is, you can try using our low side port finder.
The only fitting that the standard recharge equipment will fit is the low side service port.
The EPA requires that ANY replacement refrigerant MUST have unique fittings, charging devices and label. Therefore, the EPA states that “drop in” refrigerants are illegal. Furthermore, only R-134a has been tested and approved by the original equipment manufacturers.
No. Federal law prohibits topping off an R12 system with a different refrigerant. Your options are to locate some R12, however you must be certified to purchase, and add it with an R-12 recharge hose. Or you can convert the system using one of our R-134a retrofit kits that will allow you to now add 134a refrigerant to your automotive air conditioning system. You will have to make sure that you remove any residual R12 by having it evacuated prior to retrofitting your vehicle.
The answer here is twofold. It is possible that the system has a small leak, and now is low on refrigerant. This will allow the system to blow cold, but just not as cold as it used to. In this case, check the low-side pressure and verify if the system is low on refrigerant.
If it is low, add refrigerant or a refrigerant with a stop leak to the correct pressure. If your pressure is correct adding additional refrigerant will not make the system blow out colder air, but will in fact cause the system to become overcharged. This causes the system to work less efficiently and will result in warmer air blowing from the vents.
IDQ’s top off products contain the proper ratio of replacement oil.
We recommend using a pressure gauge to determine an accurate fill. A/C Pro’scolor-coded gauges indicate whether you should continue filling (charging) or not.
No.Your car’s A/C refrigerant never goes bad. Nor do you “use up” the refrigerant that is in your system. If your vehicle’s A/C system pressure is low, your vehicle has a refrigerant leak and that leak will need to be repaired in order for your system to hold refrigerant.
If your vehicle is able to maintain a charge for a period of two weeks or longer, then it is possible to seal the leak with sealant such as Super Seal. If your system will not hold a charge for at least a two-week period, then it is advisable to seek professional assistance to find and repair the leak.
No. Not only is it harmful to the environment to vent refrigerant into the atmosphere, it is also illegal. Violation of this Federal Law may carry a fine of up to $25,000. If you need to recover refrigerant from your system, please seek the help of a qualified service technician.
- Turn the valve handle of the charging kit counterclockwise until the piercing stem is in the up position. This will prevent accidentally piercing the can. Screw the charging kit onto the can.
- Attach the quick connect fitting to the low side service port.
- Start engine and put A/C settings on maximum cool with the fan settings on high.
- Turn the valve handle clockwise until the piercing stem has punctured the can.
- Turn the valve counterclockwise until you feel the refrigerant leaving the can. See packaging for complete details. Always wear protective gloves and eyewear.
YES! This is one of the easiest jobs that you can do yourself on your vehicle. Please click through the following FAQs to learn more on using our products to recharge your car’s air conditioning.
Please feel free to call our technical support line for further help at 888-318-5454
In order to properly charge your automotive A/C system the ambient temperature should be above 65ºF. Anything below that does not allow the system to build up enough pressure for a proper reading on your A/C Pro pressure gauge. Because of this, adding refrigerant to your vehicle is not recommended when the ambient temperature is under65ºF.
R-134a refrigerant and the additives that accompany our products do no expire or “go bad”. You can purchase an older generation can with confidence that its contents are just as capable as a newly packaged product.
