Guideline automotive A/C gauge sets are fruitful for troubleshooting air conditioning problems too as recharging the refrigerant when a repair is fictional. Armed with apart the A/C gauge locate and a working sensitive of how the transaction functions, you can diagnose Element failures with validity and save day and cash in the advance. Gauge sets are available from most excessive Car parts stores and Testament be a functional Appendix to your object party.
Instructions
Troubleshooting
1. Turn the engine off and allot the A\C controls to max cooling. Accelerated both of the overhaul valves on the front of the manifold below the gauges on the gauge locate.
2. Screw (R-12 systems) or snap (R-134a systems) on the cardinal hose becoming to the high-pressure work Harbour. The high-pressure Harbour is typically located on the high-pressure path (the smaller of the two A/C lines) near the front of the engine compartment.
3. Screw (R-12 systems) or snap (R-134a systems) on the woebegone hose becoming to the low-pressure assistance Harbour. The low-pressure Harbour is normally located near the passenger's side of the firewall on the accumulator, the capacious cylindrical Slogan attached to the evaporator.
6. Compare your readings to determine if there is a component failure. A "Normal to Low" low-pressure reading, accompanied by a "High" high-pressure reading, indicates a restricted orifice tube or expansion valve. A "High" low-pressure reading, accompanied by a "Low" high-pressure reading, indicates a failed compressor.
5. Compare your readings to determine if there is a problem with the amount of refrigerant in the system. Low pressure readings on both the high-pressure and low-pressure gauges indicate the system is low on refrigerant. High pressure readings on both gauges indicate an overcharged system.
4. Dawning the engine and remit the A/C transaction to gallop for a infrequent minutes to stabilize the gauge readings. In a normally functioning R-12 system, the low-pressure (blue) gauge has a normal range of 30 to 40 PSI, and the high-pressure (red) gauge has a normal range of 250 to 350 PSI, depending on the outside temperature. Gauges that display bouncing needles on the gauge also indicate a failed compressor. "Normal" low-pressure readings, accompanied by very "High" high-pressure readings, indicate a cooling fan problem.
Charging and Recharging
7. Turn the engine off. Attach the yellow service hose in the center of the gauge set to a vacuum pump and turn the vacuum pump on. Open both the red and blue service valves on the front of the gauge set. Allow the pump to run for one hour to remove moisture from the system, after a repair has been made, before attempting to charge the system.
8. Close both service valves and disconnect the vacuum pump. Attach a can tap to the yellow service hose in the center of the gauge set and screw a can of refrigerant onto the can tap.
9. Open the can with the tap and open the blue service valve only to allow refrigerant to be pulled into the system. Start the engine and monitor the gauges. When the gauge readings stabilize, the can of refrigerant is empty. Close the service valve. Additional cans of refrigerant can be added in the same manner until the gauge readings indicate the system is full.