So today after sitting in the sun for like 8 hrs of 100+ degree, my ac no longer blows cold air. Yada yada yda recharge blah blah.

My question is, while researching the forum like a reaponsible adult, i came across this:
So should i not run out to autozone and buy a can of r134a and recharge my system myself? Im confuse.

Any help on ac recharging would be fantastic.

 

Get it done professionally. You spend the $40 on an R134 recharge kit does NOT identify where and why you lost freon in the first place.

$40 blown into the stmosphere.....

You need to identify why your car lost the charge and rectify the issue first.

 

I thought that with age this is just one of those maintainance thing.

 

Might be but you made it sound like it was a sudden loss..... Like it was working when you parked it.

 

Haha to be honest, i havent had the need to use the ac in almost a year now.

Should i just buy the recharge kit and see if it helps?

 

Depends, you have a/c pressure gauges? If so, sure, if you want to risk throwing out the cost of the freon in the event of a leak.

No gauges, no go. Overcharging is a veddy veddy bad thing.

FWIW... The one item I hated selling at the parts store was a/c recharge kits because they always came back for returns because they "didn't work".

Bul.... It was always a leak or just numbnut operators trying to charge the wrong side of the system.... Fehhhhh...

 

I was planning on buying the kit that came with the guage. And just to double check, i charge the low side right?

Just making just i dont pull the "it didnt work" card haha

 

Ok so a little updated.


I was messing around with the AC and i noticed an issue. When set at 60° the ac sets the air recirculates. However when set at 90 degrees, the ac still has it set to recirculate.

When testing with my other Z, i notice at 60° the ac sets to recirculate, however when set to 90, the ac switches to incoming air.

Im thinking i need a new cabin air sensor? If so, where is that located?

 

Arizona? Planning on swinging through Vegas any time soon? I have an A/C machine now.

 

8 hr drive one way just to recharge my ac. I think ill be ok for now haha.

Update, swap the interior tempt sensor and still the same problem. Noticed that its a bit cooler tonight and the ac blew a bit cooler, but still nowhere near what it should be.

Starting to think that i dont have a leak and just need to recharge. Is it ok to just buy the autozone recharge kit, the one with the gauge and just recharge it myself?

 

Because Vegas.

If you can't find another reason to come to Vegas, you may already be dead.

 

I will never use one of those home recharge kits. If I have A/C problems I always vacuum it out, see if it holds a vacuum and if not I find the leak. The only time I had issues with my 2004 350Z is when the orifice tube was plugged up with BS. Swapped that out, vacuumed it again and recharged with the proper amount of freon and it has worked fine since 2008.

I hate messing with A/C.

 

What leads me to believe it just needs a recharge is that the ac works. The temp is "cool" not cold. I would guess its around 75° when set to 60.

It seems theres are flowing, cool air, just not cold. im just not sure if recharging it at home is safe for the system.

 

It sounds like the compressor is working? If you are indeed low, the low pressure switch will prevent it from kicking on.

If it's working but just not doing too well, go ahead and try the kit since it sounds like you're pre-disposed to trying it. They work, when properly used. Make sure you mind the pressure. I don't recall exactly what that is but I'm guessing it's in the 200-225psi range, typical R134 pressures on the HIGH SIDE. And somewhere in the 30psi range on the low side.

IIRC.... check the manual.

I also don't recall if the "pressure gauge" on a PepperBoys/O'Really/Autozoom kit reads the high side.... I doubt it. You need proper gauges to do it right. (As well as an a/c evac system to do it completely and throughly.)



The auto store recharge kits are for "tuning by ear".

Try it and let us know how it works.

Oh, and yes, you charge via the LOW PRESSURE SIDE. And always wear eye protection!! Have fun.

 

im not sure whats going on with it and only assume it needs recharge since its blowing air, and its a bit cool, just not cold.

the clutch does enage when i turn the ac on. i can hear it kicking in. like i said, everything seems to be working right, just the air isnt as cold as it should be. which is why i think it simply needs a recharge.

but if anyone has any idea as any other problem it could possibly be, i would love to hear it. right now in pretty stump. and obviously diagnosing a problem over the computer isnt accurate. and i dont expect it to be, i just want to avoid dealers if possible since 99% of workers here are incompetent to doing even a simple oil change. and i would like to avoid driving 2 hours for a simple ac recharge haha

 

T'bo, there's LOTS of things that could be the problem....

- Obviously, just a simple case of low freon on one side or the other leading to....

- Imbalance in the ratio of high:low side pressures - bad or worn compressor

- Air flow across the condenser is inadequate; check your fans, clean the condenser with a brush. Could be that simple with your condenser trapped (sight unseen) between your rad and your FMIC.....? If applicable.

- Expansion valve is faulty or clogged

- Receiver/drier is leaking; causing water build up in the system or in the lines

So, net net.... this could also be titled "Why Mic don't do A/C and entrusts the pros - or at least someone with the proper equipment and knows their shid."

 

Mic also has plenty of pros readily availible, tbo is SOL. Haha

The fans are kicking in. And clutch is working. I could try and clean it since you know, az dust sucks haha.

Is there any ways to check freon level? I know i can check the pressure with a gauge, but what about freon level? I will most likely try and clean as much as i can today, then if that doesnt work, ill try recharging the system. If that doesnt work, i guess i have no choice but take the 2hr trip to a shop that can check it out.

 

A slightly low charge will cool much better than a full charge. But it can also freeze up and then you get no cooling.

The kits with a gauge only show low side pressure since that's where you charge it. And the pressures will vary with ambient temp.

 

Not really a "check freon" method but.... IF (meaning, not sure if Z has one or not, never looked and never incidentally seen one) the Z has a sight glass in the high side line (liquid line) from the condenser, this can tell you a few things but not that accurately.

With the car and a/c running, the movement of the fluid through the sight glass should be free and clear of any bubbles. If there are bubbles, system is definitely low (but again, that's all it says.... "low"; not "how low".)

However, even if the sight glass if free of bubbles, that doesn't mean the system is OK. It's just a thumbnail view of what's going on inside and it's more of a warning: "if there are bubbles, you have issues"

 

Just remove the ac to save weight and solve all your problems.... My work truck lost its ac and ive been sol. The company mechanic keeps saying he tried this and that and needs a new washer here and there etc etc etc meanwhile I get to drive around with swamp a$$ all day and wish they would just bring it into a real shop.