AC recharge

[bouncytruck]

I need to recharge the AC in my '94 Suburban. Should I do it at home with the cans or take it to a shop?

[sntrym95]

That depends. Are you willing/going to fix the leak when you find it?

You can get dye, usually in 2 oz cans, to pinpoint the leak. Recharging the system is fairly easy, but if you have a leak it will need to recharged frequently.

[harricanfloyd]

Aaaaaannnd, you'll never get it as cold/efficient as it can be by charging it without putting a vaccuum on it

[Jeepwm69]

Charge it with the dye type R134
Get a black light

Amazon.com: Spot's Light UV Blacklight...


Find the leak and fix it. Flush the lines out while you have it apart.

Go to Autozone, tell them you want their rental vacuum pump.

Put the pump on the system for several hours and let it put a vacuum on the system.

Add freon and oil.

[bouncytruck]

Does the refrigerant route to the rear AC unit or are they separate systems that need to be filled separately.

[sntrym95]

IIRC, the system is all connected. You should have two A/C lines on the passenger side frame rail. There is a separate fan for the condenser in the rear, but the entire system is charged by the engine-mounted compressor.