A/C Recharge
Now if you have open the the system for any reason you need to recharge in this fashion. You'll need a vacuum pump, manifold gauges, oil charge (PAG oil), and freon (3 or 4 - 12 ozs cans).
Now setup up your vacuum pump and manifold gauges.
Take notice of the colored hoses. Blue is low pressure, Red is high pressure, yellow is vacuum or freon. Turn on the vacuum pump and the low side valve on the manifold. Let the vacuum pump run for 15-20 minutes to draw out all the moisture. Then shut the low side valve and shut down the vacuum pump. Now watch the vacuum gauge for 30 minutes.
Now after 30 minutes you still go the same amount of vacuum then you good to start charging. Other than that you must go back and find your leak.
At this point attached a can of PAG oil charge before you open the low side valve make sure to purge your yellow hose at the manifold to remove any air. Then I allowed the vacuum in the system suck in the oil charge. Yes you can hold the can up-side-down to get the oil charge in quick. Now at this point find a small bucket and fill with hot tap water (Not boiling hot!). This will be used to aid the freon flow. Now hook up your can of freon and purge your hose again. Now you open your low side valve again and allow the first can to be charged into the system use the hot water to excite the freon can to push the freon into the system.
 DANGER |
| Never open the high valve while the A/C compressor is running and while there is a freon can attached to the manifold. Pressure will exceed the burst point of the freon can and personal injury will result! |
At this point you should have enough to start the engine and select MAX A/C with the blower on high. The compressor may or may not be running at this point if it is running I'm sure it will be cycling on and off as the pressure dips low on the low pressure gauge.
Now continue to add freon to the system. Up to the rated amount on the sticker on the radiator support. Now just because the pressure doesn't meet the scale listed below there is no need to panic. Even when I did my re-charge i only got to 24 PSI.
But checking inside in the center vent I was plenty cold...
Now a few other pictures to help you all out...
Low side fitting...
High side fitting...
Here is the typical pressure chart.
Here is typical vent temperatures with A/C on MAX A/C and blower on high.
