For the air conditioner (AC), 1997 Chevrolet Silverado's low pressure connection port is located inside the engine. The port is on a large diameter, metal tubing connecting the compressor to the drier and receiver.
A 1997 Chevrolet Silverado's low pressure connection is meant for recharging the air conditioning's Freon levels. Over time, the vehicle's refrigerant levels will deplete. This is a natural occurence, although the need for recharging the system depends on how often the system is used. The system runs on R13a Freon and the connection is prefigured to fit any R134a recharging kit.
The Silverado's air conditioner also features a high side connection. It looks very similar to the low side connection, but is located in a different spot. The high side connection is intended for maintaining and servicing the pressure within the system. It is not meant for recharging Freon levels. Adding R134a refrigerant through this connection damages the air conditioner.
All 1997 Chevrolets use R134a Freon. R12 is not eco-friendly, and as a result, it was phased out of use by the Environmental Protection Agency. R134a systems are not prefigured to accept or accommodate R12 freon. Adding R12 to a R134a system damages the air conditioner.
