i have a 2000 nissan frontier. my a/c compressor is turning on and off like every 2 seconds. my air wasn't cold enough so i went to the parts store and bought an 13oz can 134a to top off or add to the system. it ate the whole can. it didn't come with a gauge so i figured that it was ok. not so. the a/c was fine until i put this can into it. what the hell is going on?

 

your vehicle is 5 years old now, and there is a chance that you could have a system leak somewhere...they diagnose that by inserting a dye into the system, then using a special light to find it, but i would not recommend this as freon is a controlled substance, and depending on where you live, you could face a HUGE fine if you make a mistake and release it into the atmosphere...if the added 134a didnt help any, i would suggest finding a good AC shop. where do you live?

 

i found the leak. it was on the high side hose around or under the crimp. went and got a hose for it and going today to rent a vac. i'v never have done this before but it looks stright forward enough for me to try to vacume the system and recharge it. been reading up on this hard and heavy. the system can only take 1lb 5.2oz at 0.6kg so with the gauges in place maybe i'll get lucky and fit this system.they say that134a systems are bad and leaks happen all the time because it is thinner than the r12 system, whatever that means. before i start you have any advice?[sm=smiley34.gif]

 

i know that while working at a dealership, they use a special machine which vacuums then refills the system. have you figured out an estimated cost of you doing this yourself?

 

ah at last the problem is fixed! i was worried that it would cost an arm. here is the break down.

hose cost $237.00
freon 20.00
rental of gauges and vac. 300.00 but i get the money back so it was free.
time it took hour and a half.

a very good web page to get basic info on a/c is polar bear inc. just google that.
i used a postal scale to put in the right amount. i used a12oz can and a13oz can.
after puting in the 12oz can i weighed out the 13oz can. easy stuff. and i was so worried.

in my car it took 1lb 3.2 oz. give or take .1oz.

i'm a furniture refinisher and this was easier than stripping a table. ha.

 

haha...well, good work saving yourself the cost of labor! and its nice and cool now?

 

that baby is ice cold. temp outside was 87, inside temp was 37-8. nice and cold. but will last for about 8 months or so and the temp will start to increase, but hey that is 134a system for you. i hear in the next couple of years washinton will change it again. the question is, do we want cold a/c for our comute to and from work? or do we want to save the polar ice caps? hmmm....[sm=teetertooter.gif]

 

i dont care much about the polar ice caps...i guess im in the wrong.

 

I've done a few conversions from 12 to 134 and from 12 to freeze 12 and prefer the freeze 12 my temp at the vent is usually 40. The key to charging with 134 is to know the low pressure amount usually around 40 will get any of them without weighing the can... Sounds like you did get it right tho...