Automobiles were originally manufactured to meet the basic transportation needs of the automobile consumer. Generally, comfort features were not available. In the 1930's refrigeration became more commonplace, so Packard introduced the first "air conditioning" system on the 1939 model year. Today, comfort features for the motoring public have become as important as a vehicle's reliability and performance. Adding or "charging" a vehicle's air conditioning system can be performed with basic automotive repair knowledge.
Locate the air conditioning compressor on the front of the engine block. It is located on the top left of the engine compartment. There will be two hoses coming out of the back side of the compressor. One hose is the "high" pressure side and the other hose is the "low" pressure side of the air conditioning system. R 134 will be added to the "low" pressure side of the air conditioning system.
Follow each hose from the compressor until the "low" side fitting is reached. The fitting looks like the valve stem used to add air to a tire. There will be one fitting on each hose coming from the compressor. The "low" side fitting is larger than the "high" side fitting.
Remove the cap from the "low" side fitting by turning it counterclockwise by hand.
Attach the connector on the R 134 container hose to the "low" side compressor hose fitting. R 134 refrigerant containers can be purchased with a disposable hose, connector and pressure gauge.
Start the vehicle engine and turn the air conditioner on "max" and the blower on "high."
Puncture the top of the R 134 refrigerant container by turning the valve on top of the container clockwise until the valve is fully seated, then turn the valve counterclockwise to start the flow of R 134 refrigerant. Hold the R 134 refrigerant container upright during the charging process.
Watch the refrigerant pressure gauge on the refrigerant container. Continue adding R 134 until the needle on the pressure gauge is in the "green" range. Turn the valve on the top of the container clockwise by hand until the valve is fully seated to stop the flow of R 134 refrigerant.
Remove the refrigerant container hose connector from the "low" side fitting on the compressor hose. Install the cap on the "low" side of the compressor hose fitting. Make sure the cap is fully seated.
