Caution must be used with filling the refrigerant in your car. Check the gauge - if it reads green, no maintenance is necessary. When summer comes around, you won't want to get stuck in the heat without your car's AC working right. Follow this guide on how to check and refill refrigerant.
Recognize the risk with this sort of upkeep. Auto maintenance isn't for beginners. Severe injuries can occur without due care. If improperly attached, the container of refrigerant can explode in your face. It is important to know the AC system as well, to prevent injury and properly check and refill your refrigerant.
Check the level of refrigerant in your car. If you are now confident of completing this job, then go ahead and find the high pressure line. You should notice the marking clearly as with most other vehicles. Attach the line with the gauge to the high pressure line. There is no need to fill up the refrigerant if you have a green gauge. Your system is going to need the coolant to be refilled if you have a red gauge. (Caution: if the pressure is too high, have a mechanic take a look at the problem to avoid explosions)
The refrigerant should only be filled if necessary. If you find it is necessary to refill the refrigerant, purchase a can or two and then follow the directions on the container to properly attach the can to the line. With the can in the right position, release the refrigerant. There are different methods of release; sometimes it is a pin on the top of the refrigerant can.
The next step is to turn up the air conditioning to high and unscrew the valve on the can of refrigerant. Release the refrigerant into your car's air conditioner lines. In order to encourage the flow of the liquid into the AC system of your vehicle, hold the can upside down. It is possible for the can to freeze during this so be cautious. The can may get really cold - even forming ice - so wearing gloves is compulsory. As the refrigerant refills into your air conditioner, the can will feel lighter, and once you think it is empty, shake the can just to be sure. If so, throw the can away.
You must recheck the gauge. A low reading may be the result of needing to pour another can of refrigerant into your system. Keep watching the gauge during the process. Your car will be at the recommended refrigerant levels when the needle shows the normal range or slightly higher. Don't put too much refrigerant in your air conditioner just to empty the can. Retain the remainder of the contents of the can for the next time you may need to check and refill your refrigerant.
