question about mk4 ac recharging

[strikeraj]

Hi

I just had my front end repaired on my golf, with the ac condenser replaced.
now do i just need to go buy a recharge kit from canadian tire and charge it?
or is there something else i need to do to test it?

Thanks

 

[Dodoma]

Whenever an ac system is opened for repair for any reason, you also need to replace the receiver-drier or accumulator. After that, you need to evacuate the system with vacuum pump. And then charge the system with r-134 freon. The pump and maniford gauges will easily cost you not less than $200. So unless you are in ac business, it would be prudent to take your car to ac shop or PepBoys for charging.

 

[craig01b]

Yup, it might work with a recharge and drier change, but it should be vacuumed out.

 

[deflux]

Take it to someone who has experience with AC

Pepboys is american

 

[strikeraj]

thanks for the info

is there any good shop in kitchener/waterloo area that is not expensive?

 

[Dodoma]

Strikeraj, if I were near you, I could lend you my vacuum pump and manifold gauges. The evacuation and refiling is not difficult as I have converted my old diesel Jetta from r-12 to r-134. In that process, I replaced the receiver/drier and the expansion valve (as I was told that was bad). I took it to a repair shop for conversion but the price was over $1,300. So I decided to do myself and the cost was not more that $400, including buying vacuum pump (around $150 from Harbor Tools) and manifold gauges from same store for around $45. Receiver/drier is not an expensive item (not more than $40). Prior to that, My 2002 TDI Jetta's ac failed. I took it to PepBoys and they stated that the compressor was bad. Replacing compressor and receiver dried and charging came to about $1,200.

 

[deflux]

Was the collision damage repaired by insurance? If so the car should be put back to the way it was before the accident so if your AC worked before, the collision shop should be the ones taking care of it for you.

 

[amacd]

U can try the recharge kit, but they r a waste of money. They are not 134a. You would be wise to replace your acumulator/dryer and have it charged with someone with a robinair machine so oil can be added to the system aswell.

Andrew

 

[steve6]

I have used those cans you can buy from any parts store, r134a. If you want a cheap solution just get those. 40/50$ you can buy a couple cans with the hose and a pressure gauge in the kit.

http://www.idmsvcs.com/2vmod/actuneup/r134arefill/PICT0305.jpg cans like that.

depends if you want to try it for $50 or spend $1000

 

[strikeraj]

thank you everyone for the reply
this is not a insurance covered repair so i need to figure it out myself.


so in my case, if i find that the shop doing it is costing too much, can someone provide me a detail list of things i need to replace and steps of doing it myself?
i was trying to find a how-to but failed miserably
i have no experience or idea as in what i need to do at this time

 

[imo000]

Since you never done this and have no idea what to do, leave it to someone that knows. Miss a step and you can damage the compressor and then it will start to get expensive. A shop shouldn't charge more than an hour labour for the fill. Changing the dryer will be about an hour plus parts, they need to make sure there is enough oil in there too or the compressor will lock up.

 

[Windex]

I'm in Cambridge, and can vacuum it out for you. Who did the condenser replacement? were the orings changed? did you get any oil out of the condenser?

The redtek kits at crappy tire are not that bad - they are a butane propane mix that works quite well, but you want to make sure that you charge with the right amount - they take less redtek than they would have taken in r134a (IE 800g 134a = ~500g redtek or thereabouts. also a good idea to replace the drier if the system was open for any length of time - if the system was only open for an hour or two during the replairs, then replacement is not neccessarily needed.

 

[strikeraj]

I'm in Cambridge, and can vacuum it out for you. Who did the condenser replacement? were the orings changed? did you get any oil out of the condenser?

The redtek kits at crappy tire are not that bad - they are a butane propane mix that works quite well, but you want to make sure that you charge with the right amount - they take less redtek than they would have taken in r134a (IE 800g 134a = ~500g redtek or thereabouts. also a good idea to replace the drier if the system was open for any length of time - if the system was only open for an hour or two during the replairs, then replacement is not neccessarily needed.

Thanks for the reply. Bosco kitchener did the condenser replacement for me.

Is there any specific tool i need to replace the drier? Do i need that evaporation valve? i dont think the oring is changed

 

[Windex]

If the AC was working well before the front end issue, then I would not worry about replacing it. The receiver is inside the right front bumper/fender. Why would your garage replace the condenser without checking the system and charging it?

 

[strikeraj]

If the AC was working well before the front end issue, then I would not worry about replacing it. The receiver is inside the right front bumper/fender. Why would your garage replace the condenser without checking the system and charging it?

yea they are just a body shop and i got a set of used front end and ask them to put on and paint for me.
he gave me a card to a mechanic he uses though

but i just want to see if i can do it myself.

 

[janemclean]

Seriously, you should take it to some professional or ac repair vero beach shop where they have experienced technician who can solve your problem easily.