DIY Testing, Fixing, & Recharging A/C 

R134a has a ODP of 0.000015..... virtually nothing but still not zero

All this is is a bunch of crap with the government. The ozone layer Freon is environmentally safe. It states it on a bottle and if you use common sense think on your own, you will see it. The chemicals that are used it’s been proven is just a money racket for the government to screw the people that work with it you gotta have a license for this you got to have a license for that yes I agree you should re-cover it because it can be reused unless it is contaminated every person should be license to use it, this is a bunch of crap that if you mess with a 12 ounce can you don’t have to be license but if you mess with a 30 pound bottle you have to be license it’s all rocket people that don’t know what they’re doing shouldn’t be touching it. You should be made to have a license to buy any type of Freon whatsoever. The reason is because people don’t know how to charger systems. They overcharge them, lock them up and just blow the Freon off or the system blows up in their face because they think, it’s not cold enough shoot more into it no you can’t. You have to diagnosed the systems and people don’t know how to do that anymore. They just want to throw parts at their systems anymore just like automotive they don’t wanna diagnose nothing no more they don’t know how to read a scanner and what I mean by that is you don’t know how to read data reading scanner is easy, the scanner point you in the direction, the problems that and then you got a figure it out and it converts computer language into English so we can understand it. You have to know the numbers people don’t understand that and for the simple fact of AutoZone advance. I think they should be made to stop scanning vehicles because they’re making people believe that that is the problem just because they hook the scanner up people don’t realize they’re there just to sell parts they didn’t diagnose it but they get pissed off when they take it to the shop AutoZone said put this part on when you put it on and then it doesn’t fix it. Well it’s not our problem we didn’t diagnose it go back to AutoZone saw and they would stop it dislike war forks. I don’t know what the reason for us, but they no longer can charge for air because they were suit. That’s why they’re not charge for air. People just need to learn to idle down take a breather and take a step back and learn you must troubleshoot system if you can’t have your magic, eight ball and throw parts at it because it can’t be a broken wire a loose connection I spread pin peoples in is such a big hurry nowadays they got time to troubleshoot or look at the simple fax the simple things that staring them in the face they think technicians are out to rip them off because they want to diagnose it. No, we want to cover our ass and that’s with all technicians even HVAC, I know HVAC people of seeing this problem people just want to shoot them or throw the part Adam and it always doesn’t work out. That way you have to diagnose things but this fast electronic world is not going to work it’s killing everything people need to learn how to take a breather, slow down think about the situation and take a double look at the whole picture and yes there is a lot of places HVAC automotive shops plumbers that won’t troubleshoot nothing and just throw parts at it all day. Oh I’ve seen that problem. This is what it is. Yes you seen a problem but you need to verify that that is the issue because you could have a defective part but you could have a wiring problem to you need to make sure but people don’t want to hear this. They don’t have time for this they think troubleshooting is a rip off. No it’s not. It’s to confirm that that is the actual problem, or do you have multiple problems and this is one that pisses me off to no end when they call automotive technicians mechanics we are not mechanics technicians figure out the problem for the mechanics to put parts on. We completed the puzzle we went through the system diagnostic mechanics don’t know how to do that. There’s a big difference in the two and a lot of people don’t understand that and they don’t know there is a difference and there is a big difference and I hate people that can’t comprehend and get that correct and another one that bothers me is people that say probably they’re not sure of their own selves that that is the issue learn how to speak. I can go on and on about this, but I’m going to cut it from here, but the main concern was talking about this global warming crap people just need to learn to use common sense. That’s all face the facts we could do all this work to try to save the world. It’s good. Going to do my lash one. It wants to mother nature you’re not gonna stop it you’re not gonna control it it’s gonna do what it wants and what it wants and nobody’s gonna stop it. I don’t care how much you do so you people just need to face the facts. Human beings are not gonna be around forever that’s the bottom one.

And as far as the hole in the ozone layer, we just now got technology to see it it’s always been there people don’t believe it but it’s been there. It’s a chimney, so suck it up deal with it. Nobody’s going to change it nobody’s going to fix the problem in the story. Humans won’t be around forever grandkids their time is limited on this earth face the fax people

world will end cause from a global warming perspective its 1400 times more potent than CO2

Yeah its just greenwashing BS a little bit of gwp... Ill still recover my r134a though but thats only because of how expensive it is and its not exactly legal to buy either so its worth its weight in gold.

Mechanics should study industrial engineering so they understand why things are done the way they are. Still it wouldn't hurt to spend time on it

Amen Engineers should do all first repairs

@@jerbear7952 No. When you design a bolt that holds an expected part that will need multiple replacings in the life of the engine (like an idler pulley); and that bolt can't be removed without lifting the engine; then that designer is a moron-arsehole with no mechanical or engineering skill. Sorry but that is a brute fact. Granted some may not be able to foresee everything; but there should be a knowledgeable mechanic somewhere on the design team with enough say-so to stop the stupidity before it is in a full production line.

Engineers are clueless. It works on paper or on the computer.

@@jerbear7952 Engineers don't know themselves, otherwise they wouldn't build something that you have to tear the car half apart to change a water pump or whatever, which in the past was pretty simple on other cars. Here's a good example of an idiot engineer, my lawnmower. He or she decided to have the pull start handle open, so it conveniently catches on ever shrub or bush in my yard. So then i can hear the pull start mechanism making a noise every time the handle catches. I always think to myself "that so and so never mowed a lawn in his/her life". Otherwise, they would have known that handle was an idiot design!

Some of my coworkers don't have that knowledge and their considered professional. Great job

I have a philosophy: "I can pay a professional to screw it up, or I can screw it up myself for free." And... I have been teaching shop since _before_ OBD2; I'm old.

Damned by faint praise;-))

I was this was not a serious repair but it looks like it is good.

@@GregWellwood Same motto, and when I mess up I know and try to fix it. Some mechanics hide mess up and give the car back with a hidden problem. As example, once I couldn't change a tire on the side of the road because the stud just spun. The Goodyear tire monkey who recently changed that tire likely didn't know about LH wheel studs so just kept turning up his wrench until he spun the stud in the hub, then just put the wheel back like that, not letting the owner (me) know his screw-up, and leaving a hole to step in.

After watching the video, giving due consideration of the amount of effort involved and factoring in that the entire project looks to be about as entertaining as masturbating with a cheese grater, I've arrived at a superior and much faster solution to the entire problem. A five gallon bucket of thermite. Don't need anywhere near that much, but a job well done is a job done thoroughly. This is an unusual solution that I'm recommending, as I usually recommend the judicious application of copious amounts of high explosives. But, the exception is for when one considers whether or not the world would benefit from any part of this turd entering into high earth orbit. As an aside, I've learned that this vehicle would never be allowed to be launched into orbit, as planetary protection protocols would consider its reentry a hazardous contamination event, as it obviously should've never been permitted to grace the surface of this earth in the first place.

Great idea, 'O'rings........

@@scottcrowley2061 O rings, worked great for the space shuttle and the Pershing missile... Not a >BOOM!?> problem...

Yeah. My dad was a journeyman lineman for 23 years then got an AA in HVAC, he was a radioman in Korea and he fixed tons of tvs and radios in our basement while I was growing up, and he was a world class auto mechanic. I could count on helping him fix all his co-worker's cars, holding the light for him, at 8 years old, on 20° St. Louis winter nights after one of their sons knocked the front ball joint off driving like a dick. Fortunately, I paid attention and pretty much picked up all the lessons he taught me, in addition to bodywork. I've had a classic Corvette restoration shop for 40 years and used all the plumbing, carpentry, roofing cement 😂 electronics repair he taught me years ago. I've also been an attorney for 20 years, but mechanical stuff will always be my thing. Take a kid to a car show or expose them to working on cars or stuff around the house. All many of them need is being exposed to working with their hands. If the gift is there, you'll never get them away from it.

Actually, it is the PAG oil which absorbs moisture to cause internal corrosion. Many people don't fix a failed AC over Winter since it lost refrigerant, then address it in Spring. By then, atmospheric air and moisture has gotten in to start corrosion. Best oil today is PAO 68 since doesn't absorb moisture and works with all refrigerants (R-12, R-134A, HC, I think even R-1234yc). The old mineral oil used with R-12 absorbs negligible moisture.

Enough moisture can also freeze at the expansion devise and cause a high side restriction. I’ve seen this happen mostly in automotive due to improper service procedures. I’ve also seen it happen in walk in freezers and another instance in a manufacturing process cooler…

I am interested in the chemical redaction where water plus Freon will yield Hydrofluoric Acid. HF is one of the strongest most reactive of the acids. I don’t want to appear to like some on here, that like to argue and such. I am really interested. If you could site some info or a place to find the info I would appreciate it. You are the pro with 48 yrs of working A/C. I am just a guy who finds all this interesting. Thanks

Yes. I see that now. Hindsight is my super power.

That’s a good idea. I’ve always said if the engineers had to actually repair a car they would design them differently.

Somebody else watches Paul Cox @FabRats 😮😂🎉

@@IconicSpitters I have no idea who that is. I did hear that phrase on youtube for the first time quite a while ago, but I'm pretty sure it's a really common and old phrase, and wasn't coined by anyone in particular on youtube.

​@IconicSpitters I fix my own stuff , lately that's been my motto .. lol ..its good practice I guess .. Everyone is like , can you fix mine ? "He'll no , mine was hard enough ..

Sometimes it's easier, and maybe even FASTER to take half the vehicle apart than try to get at something without removing stuff.

I've seen people fill the system with propane just for testing a system to make sure everything works, then suck all the propane out and fill with real refrigerant.

You better oil your compressor!

Heck yeah dude my miter almost got my fingers, i and anyone using my tools betta use leather gloves n eye protection at the very least.

Repairing my cars and my classic cars is over! At a certain age 65 bought a new truck with warranty and an electric car because there are no oil changes, no exhaust system, no brake jobs, no transmission, no differential. The regular maintenance includes the cabin air filter and rotating the tires. When the stealership war replacing the cam phasers in the truck, I was collecting my $7000 rebate from you taxpayers and another $2000 from you state taxpayers. Thanks 😂

Hmmm. I don't know why I didn't. Those should be step #1 and #2 before pulling the compressor for sure!

It was R134a. I asked - I cannot get it. I used 12a, which apparently is not harmful to the ozone.

@@GregWellwood I learn something new every day! Turns out R12A is different from the R12 that I'm familiar with -- but it's all organic (maybe even free-range!) and safe to use or leak out as you please in place of R12 or R134a. Sounds like it works for you, so that's good enough for me! Fwiw, your videos remind me of my original Auto Shop teacher (Goodwin Hannaford, RIP) from way back when, when I was a kid. Keep up the awesome videos and teaching those kids! Thanks!

@@GregWellwood r134a is not harmful to the ozone. It has an ODP of 0.

@@musclecaraction Organic simply means its a Carbon Compound. In this case, a Hydrocarbon. R12a is an Alkane, a member of the same family as Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane, etc., you get the picture, HIGHLY FLAMMABLE!

My jack stands like that are orange.I bought them in about 1965 and still use them.

yeah i got some canned dry nitrogen in my back pocket.

@@markae0 I hope so because anyone with a clue as to what they're doing would acquire nitrogen and a regulator before a vacuum pump.

@@carrollprice1213 If you watch the video you can see he used two (off the shelf) cans of fluid, and started a third accidentally. So it was just a backyard-John for personal use, one time job. Yes, a non-amateur would use a dry nitrogen pressurized test. FIRST. But vacuum is nice to suck in those one time disposable cans.

You can use compressed air to pressure check for leaks - PROVIDED you run a vacuum afterwards to clean the system.

As a 20+ year ASE certified Auto Tech, I have never seen anyone use or heard of using nitrogen to pressurize an automotive or light/medium/heavy A/C system. To say that anyone with a clue would get a nitrogen and a regulator before a vacuum comes from a place of ignorance about actually servicing mobile automotive type A/C systems. Call a dozen local auto repair shops that work on A/C systems, including new car dealers, and see if you can find _one_ that has the capability to pressurize a system with nitrogen. I'll wait... I'm not saying it wouldn't be a good idea, it's just not standard practice. It's also possible that regionally things are done differently. I know this is true in the building trades but I haven't seen it nearly as much in auto repair. @carrollprice1213 9 days ago Always Check for system leaks with pressure (dry nitrogen) not vacuum. If you do have a leak, applying vacuum pulls moisture into the system which will have to be removed later. @carrollprice1213 8 days ago @markae0 I hope so because anyone with a clue as to what they're doing would acquire nitrogen and a regulator before a vacuum pump.

Bingo! You got it!😊

Used to use just motor oil on spark plug threads back in my apprenticeship days.

Propane fridges are available here, often used in RVs and cabins and whatnot.

Duster can (like "compressed air" aerosol cans) used to be R134a, so it's complete BS that when used for air conditioning, it's "harmful to the ozone layer", but in "duster cans", the intended application is "spray it into the atmosphere". Regardless of whether it's actually bad for the ozone layer or the environment (aka greenhouse gas effect), which I'm sure it is, the f'ing laws make no sense. That said, a lot of propellants used in all aerosol cans are actually refrigerants too, propane, butane, etc etc. Commercial refrigeration also uses ammonia.

@@gorak9000 R12 was one of the"Ozone' effecting refrigerants that R-134a replaced. R134a/HFC134a is still sometimes used as a can propellant due it being mostly harmless, but it is being legislated out of usage in preference for other options. R134a was not the Ozone killer of the 60-70-80's AC ; that was the hairspray I used in the 80's ( All the blame on my hair metal friends).

@@donaldwrissler9059 But supposedly R134a has bad greehouse gas (global warming potential is the official term) effect - because it's phased out, and new automotive systems now are now R1234yf. I'm pretty sure they just keep phasing out refrigerants every few years so you have to keep replacing your AC system when the old refrigerant is now "illegal", or at the very least hard to get and thus too expensive. More so for residential AC's that cars - people don't keep cars very long anyway. Meanwhile tons of commercial AC still uses R22

Was looking into why the carburettor cleaner works well...prob cleans the inside of the heat transfer devices, and the NH3 . ... Ammonia works as the refrigerant, the contact cleaner and brake parts cleaner is probably R-141, a similar refrigerant to R-11.

@@randycraft3166 You're aware majority of refrigerants today require to be charged in a liquid state?

Using copper grease is fine mate, as long as there’s little moisture

Stainless into aluminum is the second worst situation. Aluminium is rapidly corroded. Now coat the stainless end to end with a high solids copper antiseize and that bolt will not react. I can not explain how the galvanic effect is disrupted but it is very effective.

@@billderby1527 only if the refrigerant is a tertiary blend. 134a is not. 410a most certainly is. I started working for a single man operation, owner/tech some years ago. The 3rd day I was charging a new install of a unitary system, 410a, tank inverted. He, who had been the sole installer for 1.5 years at that point, asked me-as if I was stupid- (a common occurence) WHY I had the tank upside down. O.M.G. . .And ME, the 'beginner' with 20 years of domestic refrigeration experience. The rest of the story is , well, self explanatory. A nightmare of incorrectly charged, newly installed mostly Rheem systems, with customers unhappy with the performance versus cost. I was able to rectify the situation, but it involved roughly 5 - 7 tanks of 410a, and about a years time.

What is copper based grease? Never heard of that, honestly.

Yet not alone I grew up so poor that xmas wasnt much of an option But a basic set of tools I got before I got my 1st car and learned how to do fixes myself since no way in hell I could afford to pay anyone else Thankfully I was smart and skipped american cars entirely since they were such utter crap by then, my 1sr Datsun sports car was dead reliable, quick and actually got slightly better then the commercials for it claimed at 40mpg I got it at almost 300k and sold it 3yrs later for more than I paid with then 480 on it.. I upgraded then to my 280zx with about 300 on it.. unkillable engine, easy to work on and same toolset slowly grew. (Frame finally was fubar in mine at 800+ on it only basic maintenance for it.. transplanted the engine and tranny to another 280 and last I checked with that owner it was 1.3million and going strong still with only basic maintenance.. and all with that same sort of basic toolkit he got much as indid and you did when we were quite young. Lesson buy a properly designed reliable car that you can actually work on and get your kids a basic toolset when they are young it can be a LIFESAVER!!!

The Sears Catalog was a gift in and of itself when I was younger. I remember standing in the tool department wishing that one day I could afford the tools. Things sure have changed.

Aussie Aussie

Canadians are the Australian's of the Northern hemisphere 😅

No, I just checked, they are still active.

My Epitaph will be: "Well, I didn't expect it to go wrong _that_ way."

You are hilarious. I wish you were my friend

Jerry if it makes you feel any better there is nothing that I've done that I haven't done twice...I have come to realize that I will never get anything done on the first go round! I can expect the worse every time on any project!

All refrigerates with an "A" after the number (such as 134A and most other refrigerates on the market today) is a blend of refrigerates and should always be added to a system as a liquid instead of a vapor. Which means that the container should be inverted (turned upside down) while adding refrigerate.

R12a is an Alkane, a member of the same family as Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane, etc., you get the picture, HIGHLY FLAMMABLE!

I had one that lasted 155,000 miles. I replaced the timing belt at 80k and put in a new clutch at about 105k. The brake pads and rear shoes were replaced once. The tie rod ends were replaced at about 95k. Of course there were some new tires and oil changes. I would say it was one of the best cars I have ever owned. My 16 year old kid totaled it. Sad ending for such a great car. I have a friend that had one for about ten years. It was his daily driver. He had a similar experience. Just regular maintenance.

Aas if the shittacular sohc ver or the far better (Mitsubishi design base) dohc version which did not suffer the same issues and were notnassy in the same plants The sohc was both a pos design but the QC for assy was abysmal much like gm for their pathetic spitfire with forced induction.. so bad of qc they had to have those built in germany instead of the states lol

Pt Cruiser with a 6.4 Hemi

The usual old "I nearly bought a PT but" bollocks... boring.

I never understood how these cars got such a bad reputation. I guess it's good. It keeps them cheap. I should get a couple more of them before they are gone.

That was my concern also. Never fill refrigerant in liquid form.

@@squirrelcovers6340 i have many times charged liquid to the high side. when you put it in on the high side, if the reed valves are leaky and you dont know it you are in the same outhouse

Very true. I'm working through the wiring harness of an LS Chevy right now, and I see that it's a pressure sensor in that system - three wires!

@@GregWellwood Found this out with a Mitsubishi Outlander. I just used a 1.5v AA Battery which gave a voltage within the correct range and the compressor clicked in.

It's my kid's first car, and he doesn't have much money; my labour is free.

The 12a cans have a different fitting than the R134a gauge set bottle adapter uses. I have since made an adapter to do so.

Each type of refrigerant for use in Mobile A/C systems has a different type of connector fitting to prevent cross-contamination.

I just worked on a buddies 3.6l Dodge. Engine was ticking hard. Pulled the valve covers off and a few of the rockers ate into the camshaft. Also VVT sprocket was bad along with some tensioner arms/guides. Anyways, he had little money for the repair. So pick your parts for the camshaft and a few rockers got the car going again.

I use enough of it that it rarely dries out before it's gone, but I have heard the same thing. Haven't tried it yet.

Mine dries out from the hot shop. Just sitting with the lid on. I use wd also.

Oh autozone has an ac pump loaner? I would just add a bottle every other ac fill for my tacoma but now i may just replace the leaking compressor.

Yes. I missed the can saying upside-down only for fill with engine off. Literacy: gets you every time. Works great, anyway!

Probably cool to the touch as well!

@@GregWellwood that was the thing, I could look through the window and watch it boil like on a hot fire and at same time feel the cool metal right under it. It really messed with your head.

Now then consider that it can get so cold under vacuum that it turns to ice and for a complete evacuation and removal of the moisture, the ice goes through sublimation… ice to vapor.

@@waggtech4883 yes, I suppose it could do that. But as I remember it was pretty big, dense tank and only about a pint or less of water. Were the tank small and not so much to ' chill ' Would it change to ice and would solid ice still change to gas ? I hear about ice in space all the time, if there is then how does it not just change to gas and totally dissipate? At my job I occasionally use a bunch of torches connected to single propane tank and after using a lot of propane rather fast it ' ices up ' and hardly comes out so I have to switch to another tank and let that one thaw to use the rest.

​@@waggtech4883...

I didn't think you should have to open the system

Yep

Correct. Sometimes I gamble and win. In the next video, I lose.

Or something as quick and easy to rectify as the air gap on the electromagnetic clutch.

Oh geez, that sucks. (grin)

On my last truck, the A/C was the windows (grin)