Doesn't feel as cool in my 2013. Haven't changed the ND11 (?) ever. How many years before one needs to typically?

I usually go to a local Japanese car shop for all service. How much did you pay for the 'AC re-gassing'? Thanks

 

I have read about some special non conductive freon used in those, due to AC compressor being high voltage device. Maybe check validity of that before taking to a shop.

 

Any one else to share when (at how many miles) did it need to be recharged and how much it cost?

 

It depends on the size of the leak. Tech should first establish that is a leak and then fixes the leak and then charges up the system. Along with the refrigerant there is oil and if the oil has been lost, then the right amount needs to be added [not just the refrigerant].

Salim

 

I don't think there is leak -will get it checked -Was curious how often typically (in how many miles) it is needed but looks like it would just depend on if it's needed.

 

I would think that a leak is a rare event. I have never had to top off any of my cars over 4 decades of driving.

EDIT: I should mention that I did lose cooling on a Mercury Mountaineer (like a Ford Explorer), but not because of the A/C system specifically. The car was parked at night under a tree and the fuzzy little seeds would work their way into the grille by the windshield wipers and get sucked into the little A/C heat exchanger, cutting off most of the airflow.

 

I've never recharged an A/C system ever, and all my cars since my first new car back in 86 have had A/C. My current 3 vehicles are 16 yrs old, 10 yrs, and 6 yrs and the A/C works like new in all of them.

 

ND11 is the oil used in the system and is not something that needs to be changed. The only time you would need to buy any is if you're replacing the compressor or dryer. It is used in hybrid AC systems because it is non-conductive, which you need because a short in the electric compressor could cause the entire AC system to become charged.

A properly working and sealed AC system should never need to be topped off with refrigerant. The refrigerant itself is just R-134a.

Where things get interesting is when you have a leak that can be dealt with by topping the system off, and have it work for a reasonable amount of time before having to do it again. How often you would do this would depend on how bad the leak is.

While the best approach is to find the leak and fix it, a valid argument can be made for just topping the thing off every now and then, especially when you start looking at the possible causes and their associated cost.

Since it sounds like you're going to take the thing to someone for this, and it is still working to a degree, I would start by asking whoever you take it to to just top off the system. They should hook up their gauges and fill it to the proper pressures on the high and low sides. This may work for years or only a few days, and depending on how long, you can make a decision on what to do next.

 

2010 450h with 80k miles. AC started blowing warm about 2 weeks ago. Regular local mechanic did not have the right machine for recharging hybrid compressor with refrigerant (?). Not for lack of trying, but they said to do it right they need a different machine, which they won't have until maybe next year. So go to the dealer.

Dealer was easy, but a bit expensive. $395 for full AC recharge with refrigerant. Said it was really low. No real way to know at this point if there is anything other than a normal small leak as the system dye didn't spill out. Mechanically the system is good. Instructed to return if the recharge doesn't hold. Everything working normally when I left the dealer yesterday and through today so far.

 

Follow-Up. Turns out it was the evaporator. Dealer is charging $2,100 parts and labor to replace.

 

same here. My gen 1 RX has 250K miles and the AC runs fine.