Can you recharge ac by yourself or not?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Higgins909, Jul 29, 2020.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,653
    3,493
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yep, but only one word. :whistle: Not whole sentences, 8 or 9 times in the novel.
    So you can't figure out what it means....



     
  2. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    261
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Yes I have noticed many things are beyond your understanding.
    I am studying how to teach gifted children so I could write it in a simpler fashion for you.
    So far I’m a failure you and your brother from another mother or a difficult case
     
  3. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    261
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two

    I see you changed your wording I see you changed your wording(Your argument with Your brother from another mother Sam ) “ May be legal in some states“ . To fill a leaking system. Relationships from the people of the Appalachian Mountains gets a little confusing Relationships from the people of the Appalachian Mountains gets a little confusing lol

    And yes working in a shop with a piece of shit for a boss who lies and cheats to customers is a crummy feeling as soon as you find that out just like I did when I was young you quit you fire your boss. And like I did when I was young I waited until the office and waiting room were filled with customers. And you yell at the top of your lungs how you’re sick of your boss ripping off customers and sell them parts they don’t need and screwing over the younger technicians. You could hear a pin drop after I said that.

    I get called into shops to redo air-conditioning work in mechanical shops and I can tell from the owner whether they’re a legitimate repair shop or a slimy sleazy scumbag.
    And believe me in automotive business now more than there was before there’s a lot of owners of Shop who don’t know how to work on cars they only do it for the money. If we got rid of all the shops where the owner of the shop cannot wrench on a car cannot repair or diagnose anything we would’ve gotten rid of 90% of the low life scum bags out of the automotive industry and customers would be safer.
     
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,653
    3,493
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    ?????? "I see you changed your wording I see you changed your wording(Your argument with Your brother from another mother Sam ) “ May be legal in some states“ . To fill a leaking system. Relationships from the people of the Appalachian Mountains gets a little confusing Relationships from the people of the Appalachian Mountains gets a little confusing"

    Do you understand the words that are typing out of your fingers??
    "you quit you fire your boss" ????? HUH?????

    "And you yell at the top of your lungs how you’re sick of your boss ripping off customers and sell them parts they don’t need and screwing over the younger technicians." Yea, extremely childish.... Maybe one day you'll be wise enough to grow up.

    I didn't "change" my working. I corrected my spelling.
     
  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    You were doing good until you got here.

    The Federal laws about releasing "Freon" only applies to some of the older varieties that contain reactive chlorine.
    No such rules about the new formulations.

    And if you look up the Florida law, I think you will find that IT only applies to using or releasing the old formulations too.......OR it is so old that there was no alternative at the time and the situation has now changed.

    But this IS Florida and the State government is about as organized as a cage full of monkeys.
    Oops.....sorry......didn't intend to insult the monkeys.
     
  6. 2012 Prius v wagon 3

    2012 Prius v wagon 3 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2019
    281
    277
    0
    Location:
    Redwood City, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    From the EPA website (USA federal gov't):
    EPA Regulatory Requirements for MVAC System Servicing | Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) System Servicing | US EPA

    "Venting Prohibition
    Section 608 of the Clean Air Act prohibits the intentional release (venting) of any refrigerant when maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of air conditioning or refrigeration equipment, including MVAC systems.

    *Of the SNAP-approved alternatives only one refrigerant, carbon dioxide (also known as R-744 or CO2), is exempt from the venting prohibition under section 608. Although CO2 can be released to the environment under section 608, it is not exempt from the section 609 requirements below."

    Took me about 25 seconds to find that. Of course you cannot intentionally release refrigerant. Not saying it does not sometime happen, or may be common bad practice, but it is definitely not legal.

    Now whether FL gov't is more or less organized than a cage full of monkeys ... that might take some time.
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,048
    16,267
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'll lock this thread if you guys can't have a civil discussion. If there's nothing nice to say, bite your tongue (or I guess stiffen your fingers) and don't type it.
     
    AzWxGuy, Raytheeagle and ASRDogman like this.
  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,220
    4,092
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Leave this thread open, I’m gathering quotes to add onto my signature.
     
  9. wsham64

    wsham64 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2020
    25
    37
    0
    Location:
    Hawthorne, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Follow instructions very easy to do. Image%20(1).jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  10. wsham64

    wsham64 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2020
    25
    37
    0
    Location:
    Hawthorne, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Very easy Image%20(3).jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  11. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    We can get off track arguing with each other.
    But as far as an answer for the OP?
    I think I agree with this:

    And this is no knock on the OP or their skills, but that many questions, uncertainties, I think you're probably just better served having someone else do it for you.
     
  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    25,094
    16,363
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    That wasn't in response to #26, was it? That seemed like a pretty straightforward correction to an earlier post that misstated what's prohibited under section 608, where without correction, future readers of the thread would be getting incorrect information.

    It's probably preferable to add a correction to the post with the incorrect information, but a followup post that links to the right information is the next best thing.
     
  13. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    261
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    You got it the latest rules each and every last drop of any refrigerant whether it be a SNAP or other refrigerant are not allowed to be purposely vented to the atmosphere.
    Like you stated CO2 they also include hydrocarbons are OK to vent to the atmosphere HC Example R290 or R600 propane or butane.

    Two weeks before the coronavirus shut down of the whole United States in the air travel I was in Tennessee at the MACSW convention EXPO. Where are the EPA was giving their speech on the latest and greatest of rules laws and regulations governing the release of refrigerants.

    We were also blessed with the graciousness of the Bureau of Automotive repair to show up at some of these expos and give their input upon the rules Laws and regulations on performing Automotive repairs regarding refrigerant air conditioning on customers cars.

    Apparently some members who want to argue the fact just happen not to be there. I wonder who that could be ?
     
  14. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,653
    3,493
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    MM I wonder who want to start trouble? Again?
    Some people just refuse to learn.
     
  15. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Thank you for that update.

    None of that, however, addresses the claim that it is illegal to ADD to a working system.
    And it doesn't address a small inadvertent "leak" either.
     
    2012 Prius v wagon 3 likes this.
  16. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2006
    804
    114
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    My 2010 still cools like new.
     
    ASRDogman likes this.
  17. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
    268
    59
    2
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    So what I was getting from you video is that psi doesn't matter and it's all about the weight? I kinda wish I knew that before I tried. I thought there was some sort of standard or vehicle specific AC pressures that only dealers know of and that's why they have the high and low gauges. I'm thinking my AC was a little low on refrigerant but I added who knows how much more I put in, than needed. I thought it was actually working on Friday and I just went for a drive to an Amazon locker. It was cooling down the car, I stuck my meat probe in the vent and it was blowing like 40 or 50 after a minute or two into the drive and I thought it was going to be cool in no time.

    After a bit more into the drive I thought it was getting hotter and the prop said something like 78F. Turned car off, used locker, turned car and AC back on. Could hear it turning on and off again. I discovered I could use the AC on LOW, dash only or dash and feet (all I ever use) and recirculate, with a max blower speed of 5 bars. Any speed over 5 bars would cause it to cut out. I get home and I put the one gauge I still had and it's in the green, but it seems the pressure varies depending on compressor speed. I was trying to get it to cut out again and it wouldn't, so I figured I'd go for a drive and see. Put gauge away and closed garage and walked out front door and restarted my car and it was doing it again. Then I was trying to catch it on camera for a while until I actually got it after restarting my car again.

    I've never seen anything in the sight glass to this day. In the video I'm mumbling or had my hand over the mic or something. Starts off with, Alright it's been a minute now (car has been off for a minute) 54F probe, I'm going to go max AC right away, button spam even though it does nothing because it was already max. 00:22 seconds, there it is. 00:29 did that thing move? checks... nope. 00:38 cuts out again, 00:45 AC revs and cuts out with fans 00:53 does it again and showing sight glass is empty. I think it was originally longer but may have ran out of storage and it cut off there and I didn't notice.

     
  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,220
    4,092
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Post #5 was the post you wanted to follow; concise explanation and right to the point. Not sure how you didn't know the information when he provided it.
     
  19. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
    268
    59
    2
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    It must have not clicked with my thick skull when I was thinking I could do it myself with a can and the right pressure.
     
  20. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,220
    4,092
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Chalk it up as a learning experience (y)

    The pros has a machine that will evacuate the existing freon safely out of the compressor. Once the compressor is empty, a propane tank like unit with the correct freon inside will be put on a scale that measure in grams. If the freon tank weights 100g, and the compressor needs 30g, the tank will fill the compressor and be stopped when the scale reads 70g. That's one way how the pro does it.
     
    #40 Grit, Aug 1, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2020
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.