As our Trailblazers/Envoys and their cousins are getting older, we're seeing a lot more A/C threads pop up. I have a feeling that this trend will only get bigger as time goes on.
I've made a few posts about the CONTROL side of A/C diagnostics, but not the CHARGE side. I'm hesitant to post anything that involves charging the A/C systems for several reasons:
1) Most DIYers don't have A/C gauges. The cans with a built in gauge that you can find in every auto parts store aren't reliable, and don't tell you the whole picture as to what's going on with an A/C system. When I read posts that state "the gauge is in the yellow", I don't know what that means. Is it 60psi or 160psi? Outside of an A/C machine, an A/C manifold gauge set is the correct way to read the A/C head pressures and is crucial for DIY A/C diagnosis and repairs.
2) R134A can hurt you. Maybe your cousin told you about the time that he got it in his face and he wasn't phased, but the reality is that stuff is dangerous. And your cousin is stupid for suggesting that it's not a big deal. It is. Ask me why I wear welding gloves when I charge A/C systems at home. Yeah.
3) Auto parts stores push r134a cans with stop leak. Some manufacturers list the "stop leak" in super small print and sometimes on the back of the can. Stop leak does more harm then good. If you've ever cut up a condenser from a modern vehicle, you know the passages are as small a decimal. This can lead to poor A/C performance as the passages clog up. And that's just the condenser. The evaporator has them too. At my work, I have to test for stop leak. If a vehicle is found to have stop leak, my work won't touch it.
4) More tools. For my at home "DIY" setup, I also have a tool to inject UV dye into an A/C system, an A/C sniffer, a vacuum pump, and other odds and ends necessities and there are still some things that I can't do, the biggest being recycle/weigh evacuated r134a.
I'm a DIY advocate, but this is a gray area for me. Especially when scumbags like my work charge $139.95 just to hook up gauges and stick a thermometer in the dash. Yeah, no diagnosis. That costs more. That $139.95 can buy a set of gauges that can last you years.
So, I'm interested in hearing fellow members thoughts about DIY A/C repairs related to charging A/C systems. Good idea? Bad idea? Leave it to the pros? Throw it out there. Also no A/C questions, we're in the SUV/Truck chat section. Thanks!
I've made a few posts about the CONTROL side of A/C diagnostics, but not the CHARGE side. I'm hesitant to post anything that involves charging the A/C systems for several reasons:
1) Most DIYers don't have A/C gauges. The cans with a built in gauge that you can find in every auto parts store aren't reliable, and don't tell you the whole picture as to what's going on with an A/C system. When I read posts that state "the gauge is in the yellow", I don't know what that means. Is it 60psi or 160psi? Outside of an A/C machine, an A/C manifold gauge set is the correct way to read the A/C head pressures and is crucial for DIY A/C diagnosis and repairs.
2) R134A can hurt you. Maybe your cousin told you about the time that he got it in his face and he wasn't phased, but the reality is that stuff is dangerous. And your cousin is stupid for suggesting that it's not a big deal. It is. Ask me why I wear welding gloves when I charge A/C systems at home. Yeah.
3) Auto parts stores push r134a cans with stop leak. Some manufacturers list the "stop leak" in super small print and sometimes on the back of the can. Stop leak does more harm then good. If you've ever cut up a condenser from a modern vehicle, you know the passages are as small a decimal. This can lead to poor A/C performance as the passages clog up. And that's just the condenser. The evaporator has them too. At my work, I have to test for stop leak. If a vehicle is found to have stop leak, my work won't touch it.
4) More tools. For my at home "DIY" setup, I also have a tool to inject UV dye into an A/C system, an A/C sniffer, a vacuum pump, and other odds and ends necessities and there are still some things that I can't do, the biggest being recycle/weigh evacuated r134a.
I'm a DIY advocate, but this is a gray area for me. Especially when scumbags like my work charge $139.95 just to hook up gauges and stick a thermometer in the dash. Yeah, no diagnosis. That costs more. That $139.95 can buy a set of gauges that can last you years.
So, I'm interested in hearing fellow members thoughts about DIY A/C repairs related to charging A/C systems. Good idea? Bad idea? Leave it to the pros? Throw it out there. Also no A/C questions, we're in the SUV/Truck chat section. Thanks!