ac refill kits??

May 24th, 2019 1:32 am

#1

techjedi [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 22, 2017; 1346 posts; 435 upvotes

May 24th, 2019 1:32 am

hey,

my 2017 kia forte isn't blowing any cool ac anymore.
been looking online at some ac refill kits on youtube.
wanted everyones thoughts on them and if anyone has ever used them.
any tips?? also wondering where the best and cheapest place to obtain them is.

thanks in advance.

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May 24th, 2019 1:47 am

#2

Silver1234: Banned; Jul 8, 2017; 628 posts; 698 upvotes; NA

May 24th, 2019 1:47 am

There could be a leak somewhere so refilling it is not going to help. Bring it back to your dealership to get it fix, a 2017 vehicle should still be under warranty.

+7

May 24th, 2019 1:54 am

#3

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 16048 posts; 8919 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

May 24th, 2019 1:54 am

+1

But if you are set on buying a kit, you will need to know what type of refrigerant your car uses. Most new cars use R-134a... unfortunately, consumers can't buy it in Canada... only available in the US.

+2

May 24th, 2019 2:05 am

#4

techjedi [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 22, 2017; 1346 posts; 435 upvotes

May 24th, 2019 2:05 am

totally forgot i got 5 year warranty on the car.
thanks i will go to the dealership tomorrow.

Silver1234 wrote: ↑There could be a leak somewhere so refilling it is not going to help. Bring it back to your dealership to get it fix, a 2017 vehicle should still be under warranty.

what do you mean? you can buy the r134 kits on amazon canada.
also 12a is a perfectly fine replacement for r134.

craftsman wrote: ↑ +1

But if you are set on buying a kit, you will need to know what type of refrigerant your car uses. Most new cars use R-134a... unfortunately, consumers can't buy it in Canada... only available in the US.

May 24th, 2019 2:16 am

#5

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 16048 posts; 8919 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

May 24th, 2019 2:16 am

techjedi wrote: ↑
what do you mean? you can buy the r134 kits on amazon canada.

Those are sold in the Amazon marketplace by US sellers. You'll notice that all of those prices are either inflated or they charge a lot for shipping.

techjedi wrote: ↑ also 12a is a perfectly fine replacement for r134.

R12a can only be used as a replacement if all of the R-134 is removed from the system first. You shouldn't be mixing R-12 with R-134.

May 24th, 2019 2:27 am

#6

tmkf_patryk: Deal Addict; Dec 27, 2007; 3427 posts; 1004 upvotes; Edmonton

May 24th, 2019 2:27 am

I have used the kits. Very diy friendly

First step is to find the leak, so I use nitrogen and fill it up to 175psi or so. Leave it on and check the gauges. Then if that's successful pull a vacuum. Once you fix the leak the put the evacuator onto reverse so it will put back anything you had left and then top up as needed.

warming up the earth 1 gas fill-up at a time...
You only live once, get a v8

May 24th, 2019 8:17 am

#7

denti72: Sr. Member; Apr 8, 2010; 779 posts; 430 upvotes; toronto

May 24th, 2019 8:17 am

careful with the R12a. In a nutshell it's propane/ butane so be careful with that stuff.

+2

May 24th, 2019 8:57 am

#8

eclone: Deal Addict; Jun 20, 2010; 1915 posts; 1123 upvotes

May 24th, 2019 8:57 am

Last time I was in the US, the ready cans with built in gauge and hose was pretty expensive from Autozone/walmart. I think it worked out to $50C a can or something. Not to mention, you're only adding freon, no vacuum or oil which will damage your system down the road.

I have a leak somewhere in my system and going to a shop to get it filled with dye, finding the problem and fixing it myself and recharging again, the 2x charging will cost around $140-150.

I priced out on amazon the *proper* way to recharge with a gauge set with pump, PAG100 with dye, 6x Dupont 134a (3 charges for my car), and can adapter valves will cost $215.53U.

Edit - forgot to add UV light. Add another $8.00U

Images

May 24th, 2019 11:40 pm

#9

techjedi [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 22, 2017; 1346 posts; 435 upvotes

May 24th, 2019 11:40 pm

took it to kia.
under warranty they just refilled the freon.
no charge and they said the leak was minor if it took 2 years to deplete.

May 24th, 2019 11:46 pm

#10

derass: Deal Addict; Sep 8, 2017; 4027 posts; 4158 upvotes; GTA

May 24th, 2019 11:46 pm

lol talk about the dealer cheaping out. There are 10-20 year old cars on the road without leaking A/C. Yours leaking out in 2 years is not normal. But of course, it would have cost the dealer more to properly diagnose and repair the leak. So a quick, cheap top-up and off you go.

+9

May 25th, 2019 12:04 am

#11

vaportech: Deal Fanatic; Jun 26, 2007; 5954 posts; 1430 upvotes; ???

May 25th, 2019 12:04 am

derass wrote: ↑ lol talk about the dealer cheaping out. There are 10-20 year old cars on the road without leaking A/C. Yours leaking out in 2 years is not normal. But of course, it would have cost the dealer more to properly diagnose and repair the leak. So a quick, cheap top-up and off you go.

This is basically the answer. Techs not paid for diag warranty work.

+2

May 25th, 2019 12:06 am

#12

trixstar: Deal Guru; Jun 11, 2005; 13126 posts; 1958 upvotes; Toronto

May 25th, 2019 12:06 am

There was a place on nugget Avenue in Scarborough that had r134a kits with the gauge for $25. Picked one up for my dad and filled up his car. Worked like a charm.

May 25th, 2019 1:57 pm

#13

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 16048 posts; 8919 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

May 25th, 2019 1:57 pm

derass wrote: ↑lol talk about the dealer cheaping out. There are 10-20 year old cars on the road without leaking A/C. Yours leaking out in 2 years is not normal. But of course, it would have cost the dealer more to properly diagnose and repair the leak. So a quick, cheap top-up and off you go.

vaportech wrote: ↑ This is basically the answer. Techs not paid for diag warranty work.

Time to talk to the Service Manager or even Kia Canada. It's like saying an oil leak is normal for a new car - just bring it in when you need a refill under warranty.... afterwards, don't call us as it won't be our problem anymore.

+1

May 25th, 2019 2:20 pm

#14

derass: Deal Addict; Sep 8, 2017; 4027 posts; 4158 upvotes; GTA

May 25th, 2019 2:20 pm

Yeah, that is sub-par service. The situation should be escalated.

May 25th, 2019 3:49 pm

#15

techjedi [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 22, 2017; 1346 posts; 435 upvotes

May 25th, 2019 3:49 pm

thanks guys.
just spoke to the service manager and he agreed with me.
they are keeping the car overnight to inspect.

derass wrote: ↑ Yeah, that is sub-par service. The situation should be escalated.

+1

May 25th, 2019 4:18 pm

#16

derass: Deal Addict; Sep 8, 2017; 4027 posts; 4158 upvotes; GTA

May 25th, 2019 4:18 pm

Good on you AND the service manager. I wasn't expecting that. Keep us posted.

May 25th, 2019 6:54 pm

#17

Bb0231: Deal Addict; Nov 8, 2017; 2193 posts; 676 upvotes

May 25th, 2019 6:54 pm

techjedi wrote: ↑ thanks guys.
just spoke to the service manager and he agreed with me.
they are keeping the car overnight to inspect.

Suggest you keep the receipt in case it leaks again in the future.

May 27th, 2019 4:50 pm

#18

cristianosham: Deal Addict; Sep 6, 2017; 3524 posts; 2181 upvotes

May 27th, 2019 4:50 pm

Walmart has some of these ac cool kits in the auto section.

May 27th, 2019 6:07 pm

#19

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 16048 posts; 8919 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

May 27th, 2019 6:07 pm

Kursor17 wrote: ↑ Got a 2017 Ford Focus Electric in October 2017 at East Court Ford in Scarborough.

Turned on the AC for the 1st time in May 2018 and it was blowing hot air. So I took it to Erinwood Ford in Mississauga, since it's closer to me. EF said the AC liquid was completely empty.

EF pointed the finger at the original dealer, East Court and that I should've really taken it back to EC to get it fixed under warranty. It's my understanding that I can take the car to any Ford dealership. But from my experience with Ford HQ and the Ford dealerships thus far, the attitude seems to be the same "not my problem attitude". Nevertheless, Erinwood Ford said they'd do me this favour and 'fixed it' under warranty by adding the AC liquid and it was ICE cold for the summer of 2018.

Now 2019 May, AC is blowing hot air again. Will see what EF says this time, around.

If you get any push back, you should take it up with the media and let them blast it all over the airwaves.

+1

Jun 14th, 2019 8:50 pm

#20

slickone19: Newbie; Jun 8, 2019; 73 posts; 15 upvotes; GTA

Jun 14th, 2019 8:50 pm

techjedi wrote: ↑ totally forgot i got 5 year warranty on the car.
thanks i will go to the dealership tomorrow.

what do you mean? you can buy the r134 kits on amazon canada.
also 12a is a perfectly fine replacement for r134.

I would be extra careful buying any do it yourself refill kit. The last time I looked there was an outfit selling 16oz cans of propane as "R12A". Sure this will work, but it will cause more friction in the moving parts of your compressor and undue stress on your rubber seals. Also, the warranty might work. However if they find a pin size hole in your condenser they will blame you for roadside debris causing the damage and refuse to honor the warranty. Good luck.