Adding refrigerant (freon) to your Ford Taurus is a common home mechanic project. It is normal to lose a small amount of refrigerant when the weather is cold and the seals in the air-conditioning system shrink. Repairs of the air-conditioning system almost always require recharging the system. A good set of A/C gauges, a couple of cans of R-134a refrigerant and average mechanical ability are all that are required to service your A/C system and keep it running at peak performance.
Locate the high- and low-pressure service ports on the Taurus. The low-pressure port is on the accumulator, near the passenger side of the firewall. The high-pressure port is on a 6-inch extension from the high-pressure line near the passenger side of the radiator. The valves used on this system are quick-disconnect valves specifically used for R-134a refrigerant and require a gauge set that has the necessary quick-disconnect adapters installed. Attach the blue hose and adapter to the low-pressure side fitting, and the red hose and adapter to the high-pressure side. Turn the knob on the hose ends clockwise until they stop to open the service ports.
Attach the can tap to the yellow hose om the gauge set, and insert a can of refrigerant into the tap. Turn the thumb screw on the tap all the way in, then all the way out, to open the can. Start the engine, and set the A/C controls to maximum air and medium blower speed. Open the blue low-side valve on the gauge body to allow refrigerant to flow into the system. When the gauge readings reach 35-40 psi on the low side and 200-300 psi on the high side, the system is full.
Turn off the engine, and allow the pressure readings on the gauge set to stabilize. Turn the knobs on the hose adapters counter-clockwise, until they stop, to close the vehicle's service ports. Release the quick-disconnect adapters by pulling up on the outer ring on the hose adapter. Replace the dust covers on the service ports, and start the engine. Check for leaks, then test-drive to verify the system that is functioning properly.
