A/C recharge

Do those kits from the autoparts store actually work? The A/C in my new to me Element just started blowing hot and the extent of my A/C knoweldge is pulling them out of cars. 

They absolutely work, I've used them for years

In reply to 93EXCivic :

So first off, yes, they work.

Second, how long they work for depends on how severe of a leak you've got. If you're lucky, you blow a can in there every couple of years and call it a day. If you're unlucky, you've got a bigger problem to fix. Either way, it's worth one of the cans first since they're pretty cheap.

In reply to Dave M (Forum Supporter) :

Yeah. I am hoping it will at least last until fall. 

Just do this? https://itstillruns.com/put-freon-honda-element-7767619.html

93EXCivic said:

In reply to Dave M (Forum Supporter) :

Yeah. I am hoping it will at least last until fall. 

Just do this? https://itstillruns.com/put-freon-honda-element-7767619.html

For the most part, that looks correct.

I hate AC cans. Having bought probably 10 of them and never actually had a low freon issue.

Have to fix my Sclade's AC sometime as it just pegs red on pressure. AC system is voodoo compared to any other mechanical equipment system.

If the reason that it is blowing hot is that it is low on freon, they work great. If you hook it up to recharge it and the gauge shows full, then charging probably won't fix it. My neighbor just asked me to charge his Element a couple months ago and it was already charged, so something else was wrong.

They can work of the issue is just low Freon, but .. the stop leak in them can really gum stuff up... and if you take it somewhere do have it properly fixed, it'll gum up their AC machines too. 

In reply to Saron81 :

I don't have any personal experience with A/C stop-leak, but I know an indy around here who not only uses it, but runs it through one of those hideously expensive fully automatic A/C evac/recharge machines. He claims to have runs hundreds, if not thousands, of cans through there with no ill effects and good results. He views it as a viable alternative for customers who don't want to spring for major work like replacing evaporator cores.

You can get stop leak free cans at Walmart, and it is easy.

Personally dislike the cans with gauges and hoses preinstalled. They are grossly overpriced, inaccurate and only show one side of the ACsystem. 

Watch some youtube video's on A/C service then go to Vatozone, rent the manifold gauge set and vac pump. Buy a can tap.  Then go to tractor supply and buy a couple cans of R134 for 3 dollars each. 

The gauges will give you the most complete information about what the A/C system is doing,  accuracy of the gauges helps avoid  overcharging or under charging of the system. If it's empty, or close, hook up the vac pump and see if it pulls a vac.  If it does, and close the valves and shut off the pump. If vacc. holds it for a little bit, charge it and find the leak later, cause it's small and 134a is cheap. 

Return the tools, and enjoy the fact you now understand A/C systems and how to service them, while getting your car charged  and A/C running for 6 bucks. 

One of the best investments I made was a cheap $60 HF A/C manifold set.

As long as the rest of the system is tip-top, the cans work, but the gauge only shows you one side of the equation.  A manifold and a thermometer can pretty much diagnose the entire system.

Think of it like a compression test vs a leakdown test.  The second one shows you SO much more.

$60 and a youtube video and you can be an A/C repair wizard.

IIRC the common failure point in most newer Honda AC systems is the compressor. If it worked perfectly and then just didn't one day your issue almost definitely isn't low refrigerant (unless you managed to puncture the system in which case you probably have other issues).

I bought my EP3 with non-working AC, hooked up gauges, pulled a vacuum, and charged it. Felt like a dum-dum when I then realized that the compressor was shot and I wasted all that time and effort for nothing.

Hondas put the compressor so low... which is good for lube return, but that lube also keeps bringing back all the gunk with it.  At least that was the theory in the past.  Hondas typically use Sanden compressors, so that was the theory that explained why Hondas have the A/C failures while other Sanden-equipped cars didn't.