The air conditioning system in your 1993 Honda Accord will lose small amounts of refrigerant over time. As the system sits dormant and unused over the winter months, the rubber seals and hoses can shrink and small leaks will occur. Adding refrigerant to the system to replace the lost refrigerant and restore proper cooling performance for the hot summer months can be done in a few minutes by most knowledgeable home mechanics. A standard air conditioning gauge set, equipped with a shut-off valve on each hose, is required to meet EPA regulations. This equipment is available at most auto parts stores.
Screw the high-pressure adapter to the high-pressure service port on the small-diameter line located near the passenger-side strut tower in the engine compartment. Screw the fitting on the red hose of the A/C gauge set to the adapter. Screw the fitting on the blue hose to the low-side service port on the large diameter line near near the high-pressure service port.
Close both valves on the front of the gauge set. Screw the remaining, yellow-colored hose to the can tap. Insert a can into the tap and open the can with the tap.
Start the engine and set the A/C controls for maximum cooling. Allow the engine to run for a few minutes for the pressures in the system to stabilize. Observe the pressures displayed on the gauges. Add refrigerant only if the low-pressure gauge is below 35 psi, and the high pressure gauge is below 250 psi while the compressor is on.
Open the blue valve on the front of the gauge set to allow refrigerant to flow into the system. Add refrigerant a little at a time until the pressures are correct by closing the blue valve every 30 seconds to observe the pressure. Stop adding refrigerant when the low-pressure gauge reads 35 psi +/- 5 psi and the high-pressure gauge reads 200 psi +/- 25 psi.
Close the blue valve. Turn off the engine. Wait a few seconds for the pressures in the system to drop and unscrew the hoses from the service ports. Remove the high-pressure adapter.
