Why isn't car AC cold anymore? How to fill air conditioner refrigerant

Why isn't car AC cold anymore? How to fill air conditioner refrigerant
By Brian Gillespie
It's summer and here in Arizona it is h-o-t. This is not a great time to drive without a good running air conditioner. We already know that we're wrestling with an electrical issue messing with our turn signal, but our 2012 Honda Fit now has a weak AC. An AC not blowing cold air when it's hot out can only be for a couple of reasons. Once we ruled out the fans not kicking on we decide to try refilling the R134A refrigerant to see if that fixes things.
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VTEC Academy videos are for educational and entertainment purposes. We can not guarantee the modifications performed in the video are legal in your locality. Do not do any modifications to your vehicle that will void your warranty or in any way violate your local laws. We assume no liability for property damage or injury as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use the information provided at your own risk.
#summerdriving #hondafit #airconditioning

[@Poorschedriver]

Don't forget to change the cabin air filter! It takes much more airflow to move "cold" air and if the filter is dirty it can cause the evaporator to ice up and shut down the system. They get dirty really fast!

[@tunanocrustgarage]

This is #facts! #ASECertified ;)

[@VTECAcademy]

I think that calls for another 3 mount Thursday video.

[@franciscocamacho2666]

Thank you for this is saved my life

[@chuckkoehler9526]

I have a 2013 Honda Fit Sport and the A/C can't keep up once it is 90F+ outside in Austin lately, so I will try to change the cabin air filter first to see if matters (been 17000 miles 2 1/2 years since I bought it with new filters). It was somewhat dirty as well as the engine air filter. There was a little more air pressure from vents after the cabin filter change. However, my refrigerant pressure was only 30 psi and needed to be 50-55 psi (at 100F ambient temp) and boy what a difference.

[@VTECAcademy]

Sounds more like your condenser fan isn’t coming on. Turn the AC on, and make sure both fans are turning on.

[@chuckkoehler9526]

@@VTECAcademy condenser fan was working and cutting on. Once I went from 30psi to 52psi and took a 8 mile spin in Austin at 101F it was blowing much colder air than before. Thanks for video!

[@trevorcrowe2705]

Never use stop leak.

[@tarnos4153]

Check the relay!

[@DIYAUTOCAR]

When my ep3 had this issue of the compressor clutch not engaging when it was warm but would work when it wasn't that warm such as in the morning, it ended up being the thermal switch on the compressor itself.

[@fortunesk89]

Had the same issue, ended up bypassing the switch since it’s discontinued

[@DIYAUTOCAR]

@@fortunesk89 I think I actually bought the last one. I had to order it from New York. My local Honda dealer looked and they were the only dealer left that had it. That was like 2 years ago at this point.

[@VTECAcademy]

You'd think it'd be a switch that was used in other models too.

[@DIYAUTOCAR]

@@VTECAcademy yeah there was an Acura part number for the rsx that worked but apparently the rest were different which I found odd. Rsx one was also discontinued and not available.

[@uploadmeful]

@@fortunesk89 how do you bypass, does that mean AC is on all the time?

[@joshuam.6404]

Wait, why didn't we see the actual adding of the refrigerant? Like, is it short bursts just to add a little more? Longer bursts? Etc? Kinda weird to leave that out.

[@VTECAcademy]

Brian is adding it at around 3:08. A few short bursts to see if the gauge moves either way.

[@Savage_D_508]

Was the gauge giving a very high false reading? Mine did so i got my own gauge and it was completely wrong,so i loaded up the refrigerant or refrigerator as it now is. Ty i enjoy your educational vlogs & bloopers.

[@VTECAcademy]

Yeah, it was incorrect.

[@jesselee4405]

I need to do this, well when it gets warm again anyway

[@tunanocrustgarage]

Looks like the airbox is missing a few mounting bolts ;)

[@VTECAcademy]

LOL It's rough in areas.

[@fortunesk89]

Haha love the shirt, showing the Midwest some love

[@VTECAcademy]

Oh yeah!

[@Frank_Zappa_Cat55]

Ugh…. I just paid 485.. to get the die put in my 2019 fit and to have my A/C and EVAC replaced… for probably no reason at all… I had a warranty. My car is still under warranty and apparently it’s not going to cover that. How ridiculous is that?

[@calvinlim9485]

Might need to swap out the relays. It can get lazy

[@VTECAcademy]

If the recharge didn't work that would have been next.

[@jlogue751]

Question. What if the fans are going compressor is kicking on I can hear the hiss when it comes on inside but it's blowing hot and it happened overnight..was working last night ??

[@francisgabrielsalvador9805]

What is the setting of your AC thermostat sir? Mine is set at 12 o' clock but it feels slight not cool enough.

[@johntvmacapagal3857]

how about over hit signs

[@chadrose]

If it is leaking refrigerant then it will leak oil. Once the oil is low Your compressor is gonna go POOF and turn that into a BIG job. Just adding refrigerant is a temporary bandaid and not good to do for an extended period. It needs to be done right or not at all

[@DJV94022]

Same for those who add leak sealer

[@bgee461]

Leak sealer on anything is a bad idea. But to get back to the oil, no, you don't lose the oil unless you replace an entire component. The factory service manual tells you how much oil each component holds. You can drain the whole system and the oil still stays inside the components. At least that's according to the factory service manual. Otherwise, what, you just indiscriminately dump in oil??! How do you know how much you need to add?

[@chadrose]

@@bgee461 I am an ac technician and the oil flows through the system on a car Bud, if it leaks and you find the leak look around it and u will see oil. Or better yet hook some gauges up to it and see how much oil flows through the system. You have no clue what your talking about sir. If a car ac leaks the oil is leaking as well. And if you lose a few ounces day goodnight to that compressor. Wow just freaking Wow

[@chadrose]

@@bgee461 and you know how much oil if you read the service manual, it will tell you exactly how much refrigerant and oil, yes you put most in the compressor, some in the evap, some in the lines, condenser and the accumulator. But if a car leaks refrigerant it will leak oil and a cars charge of refrigerant is critically charged to an exact amount give or take an ounce or 2 at most.

[@VTECAcademy]

Yeah, this is just to get by.

[@aaronphx420]

Beautiful Brian! Thank you for your knowledge ♡

[@VTECAcademy]

Thanks for watching!

[@AntKardano]

where can you buy refrigerant like this?

[@bgee461]

Advance auto pepboys O'Reilly auto zone walmart and so on... any place you can buy oil generally sells r134a cans

[@VTECAcademy]

Yep!

[@BACcontrabass]

So uh.... when is the engine in that GE8 being removed, and is it finally going to be a K-series? I've got a supercharged GE8, but I'd love to drop in a K20 or K24...

[@VTECAcademy]

I think I am going to do a manual swap first.

[@Unfortunately3005]

I have 2008 Honda civic and my fans aren’t spinning when I have the ac on what’s wrong? Someone please replay

[@Hinapulan]

Fans on when AC is On is the norm. Check your fan motors and their electrical connections. Cheers 😊

[@julioalvarez9000]

I paid 1,022.00 to fix my air conditioner on my 2006 honda civic ex coupe 1.8l.... Did I pay to much? PLEASE LET ME KNOW..... THANK YOU SO MUCH....

[@applepoop10]

Should have done it yourself and save a ton of money bro.

[@bgee461]

Depends on what was done. Reman compressor dryer filter orifice plus vacuum and refill... that's not an unreasonable price

[@chadrose]

If they replaced the Compressor, condenser/accumulator and the txv then that was not a bad price. You could have done it, but to do properly you would have had to purchase gauges and a vacuum from to pull moisture from harbor freight to evacuate the system from moisture and you would have had to get some R-11 or cleaner to push through existing components if the compressor failed and blew all the crap through the system. All in all you would have paid half, but put in half a day or more labor never doing it before

[@VTECAcademy]

It really depends on what all they did.

[@tunanocrustgarage]

Not bad is they replaced the compressor which requires the accumulator at minimum to also be replaced. Its recommend to replace the TXV however is not required in all cases. If they just swapped compressors and refilled then there would questions to be raised on the service.

[@marklo4416]

I put the same refrigerant i bought from Walmart and put on my 2006 Honda Accord and kill my AC unit. I would take my car to a dealership next time and let the Honda Technician fix it. I try to save money but cost me more money.

[@9kb20vtec]

Why didn’t you correctly evacuate and recharge the AC unit?

[@VTECAcademy]

That would be beyond the skills of 98% of the viewers of this channel.

[@brooklyn7941]

Didn’t u say u done this many times ? How u didn’t know to take off that red peice before putting the hose on? Lol

[@VTECAcademy]

The red piece doesn't affect the gauge for the initial level check.

[@brooklyn7941]

@@VTECAcademy not level check Brody to pump your cold air my brotha

[@jsol2480]

I paid $70 cad for a can 😂

[@7sq]

Stop the annoying music ...