Do I Need an Adapter to Charge AC?

The last time I drove my Foxbody Mustang the AC worked great, flash forward to today and it blows hot.

The compressor is brand new but it doesn't even engage.

My usual lazy mechanic thing to do is see if it needs freon.

Well it appears I need an adapter of some sort (the car uses R134a).

Here is the picture of the valve.

Anybody???

Usually the kit comes with the hose plus a couple adapters.

That one looks like the same quick connect my 89 Ford truck uses. Hose should snap right on.

There is a high and low pressure port, for checking the system.  You want to charge via the low end which is the smaller diameter one.  So if your can hose doesn't fit look for another one.

In reply to Tom1200 :

Yes, R134a system fittings on cars use a special access fitting.  I bought a cheap manifold to service the cars as it was as much money to buy the adapters for my commercial gauge manifolds and hoses.  It's been a while but I think it was from the hammer store and roughly 25 bucks.

Get ya one of these...any auto parts store

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/ez-chill-r-134a-refrigerant-kit-includes-hose-with-gauge-refills-system-seals-leaks-16.8-oz.-ez004/50158823-P?selectedStore=6259&selectedFulfillment=store_pickup

If it becomes a recurrence, you can reuse the hose/gauge with just a new can of R134A.  Most of the new individual cans are now self-sealing and use an adapter to work with the older style guages.  That's when you need one of these...

https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Conditioner-Refrigerant-Self-Sealing-InterDynamics/dp/B004NL2XM0?th=1

I'm currently at this point with my venerable CX9 tire hauler...needs filled once or twice a year.  Wal-mart carries individual cans of refrigerant for cheap, but they need the self-sealing adapter.

There was a recent thread on here that went into all of this in-depth, including best technique for fill (rotate can up/down)

In reply to Andy Hollis :

I've got some of the parts store 134A freon refill and they won't fit.

Is the low side port not on or near the accumulator over by the firewall ? It's been a few years since I worked on one of those cars, but typically all Fords of that era had a port over there somewhere.

In reply to Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) :

I will check.

In reply to Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) :

The only fittings are the one on the compressor and the one on the high pressure line.

Is it possible that fitting is a R1234 or R12?

The R134 parts bottle won't seat all the way.

R12 fittings are screw on. They'll have external threads visible.

Looks like you're on the right track there.

Are you sure you're pulling back the collar on the service fitting when you're trying to install it ? It's very much like a shop air hose. You have to slide it back to get it onto the receiving fitting.

Edited for clarity.... you need to unscrew the knob on your fitting. Counterclockwise all the way. Then pull the collar back and clip it down onto the car fitting. Now release the collar and turn the knob clockwise all the way.

In reply to Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) :

I tried both collars (pulled them back) and they don't fit.

Unused the same bottle to charge up my Outback last month and it popped right back on.