Charging the A/C system

H_civic66 · #1 05-01-2010, 10:26 AM

Ok I have a 2000 silhouette but same as the venture etc. I want to charge the a/c but which line is what. I have one up on the drivers side by the air intake box and one lower down by the fans. which one am wanting to use. Sorry if its a dumb ? but ive never messed with a/c and willing to give it a shot. Thanks

brcidd · #2 05-01-2010, 05:19 PM

the only fitting your charge kit will fit is down by the fans....

lesterl · #3 05-02-2010, 06:29 PM

Is it still cycling, or does it not come on at all? Leak? Have you had any testing done?

jimslaid · #4 05-04-2010, 12:26 PM

STOP! Try to pull a vacuum on the system first, take it to someone with a vacuum pump and pay them a few dollars, at least then you will remove the moisture from the system. The local corner shop will not charge that much to do it and you will find leaks from them doing their vacuum and see if you ac compressor is broken. They will tell you where you are leaking so you don't waste money on freon or inhale it in when it comes out of the system on you. If you chose to fix it yourself they will have taken out all of the freon and shown you what needs fixing.

The high side service port is under the cruse control module. The low side (suction) port is in front of the exhaust manifold so be careful and don't burn your knuckles.

FYI the system takes about 3 pounds of freon.

lesterl · #5 05-04-2010, 10:50 PM

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...gory=&q=vacume

vacume pump is $15 if you want to suck it down yourself....

dewaynep · #6 05-05-2010, 02:12 PM

I think Jimslaid hit the nail on the head. Yes, the vacuum pump is $15 but the compressor to run the thing is hundreds, plus the guage set you would need to hook up the pump to the A/C system, you'd be better off to spend the money and have someone with the tools test it for you. Especially if you haven't worked on A/C systems before.

lesterl · #7 05-05-2010, 06:32 PM

4.2cfm at 90 psi isnt a hundreds of dollars investment, how do you know he doesnt have one or have access to a decent compressor? Guages at HF are $40, there is no information as to if the guy is even capable of the work, other than a topoff (which I dont recommend either. It leaked out somewhere, it will again.

Also, they have a self contained pump for $70.....

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-hp-4-...sor-95498.html

4.4cfm @90 Compressor $100

dewaynep · #8 05-06-2010, 07:57 AM

I have one of those venturi pumps (not really a pump). They suck up much more than 4.2 CFM. I have a 60 gallon 13.2CFM compressor and running the "pump" for the required 30 minutes to evacuate and boil off the moisture will have the compressor kicking on every minute or so. I don't think a small compressor will work with that pump. That's my opinion and I would hate to see someone spend wasted money. He stated in his first post that he has never done this kind of work before so to invest hundreds of dollars in equipment that he doesn't know how to use properly won't get him anywhere. If he had a friend (or perhaps AZ will "rent" the tools?) that had the pump and guages I would say go for it. But to go and buy them for what could be a one time use just doesn't make sense to me. I have the pump (venturi style and actual vacuum pump), guages, die injector, refrigerant, etc... I have a small repair shop I own and still haven't paid for the investment. I'm just saying it may not be financially prudent to spend money on something that may get used once and then forgotten about. I think we went a little off topic here.

brcidd · #9 05-06-2010, 09:38 PM

The venturi style pumps are not good enough for a/c work-- you might as well plumb your a/c hose into your intake manifold and let the engine pull down to 20 in hg in your system-- that's about all you'll get out of a venturi pump. I'd rent a real vacuum pump from a tool rental shop- before I'd buy a venturi style..

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