So, lately it has been over 100+ degrees for the past few weeks now and it feels like my AC can't really keep up. It blows cold, but not like my 2010 camry cold. I guess you could say it blows "cool." This is my first actual car that has AC, so i'm not too familiar with all of it's components. I know that other members live in hotter climates, but I'm originally from Hawaii where it's always 70-80 degrees and this humid Kansas heat is kinda rough.

My question is, should i just buy a can of R134a and load it in there? Or would it seem like to be a better idea to take it to a shop specializing in automotive air conditioning units and have them remove all of the old refrigerant and replace it with new goodness; since the car is a '96.
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Here is what the temperature was at, about 4 PM stopped at a red light.

 

I would have it done at a shop, its cheap enough and you will be sure to get your pressures right. I would ask them to put in some uv dye so that if it starts to not cool again you will be able to find the leak.

 

Alrighty, thank you. As a ballpark reference, what would something like that cost? Most local shops here are closed for the holiday weekend for me to inquire about any prices.

 

I paid $120 at a chevy dealership to get the refrigerant and oil changed in the STS last year. You can probably get it done a little cheaper but due to the dual zone climate control in the STS no small shop would do it. I would pay the extra few bucks to get the oil changed also, its been in there since 96 and if you have a leak you have lost some too.

 

i tired to fill mines with 134 and my car almost blew up

i got a blockage somewhere

it was taking the freon as the car vents did seem to be pushing cooler air

then the bypass went off sound like a space ship about to take off

so pissed as i dont know where the blockage is at

anyone with any ideas?

 

I just bought the redtek r12a kit, comes with just over 1kg or 2.2lbs of refridgerant. and the hose/guage to fill the lines up with via the Low pressure Connector.

It is recommended to get it done properly via a shop, but you can look that up and see about learning to fill it up yourself.
Mine was.. cool, but not by any means cool enough to help with 100' humid weather.. i filled it with one can of the 2 it came with, and its as cold as can be.. my system however was almost all emptied years ago, so i didnt have to worry about that part of it.

 

yeah, I think I'll try and find a shop on tuesday or so. I'd rather not have something asplode in my hand or make something something worse. I won't mind as long as the shop charges less than $300.

 

One thing you can do is use a water hose and spray through the front of the car to clear any debris in the fins of the condensor. You don't need a high pressure stream as to not damage the fins.

Unlike the old freon R-12, the new stuff R134 needs airflow to actually start cooling well so if the fins are clogged, it won't be blowing cold at all.

The radiator benefits from having the debris sprayed out as well so spray it out first to see if it makes a difference in the temps, then take it to a shop if it doesnt.