dont forget to rate this when your done not everyone would take the time to help someone out

you ever wonder why you cant ever seem to get your air conditioning as cold as the guys who get paid the big bucks?  well i'm one of the guys who makes the big bucks doing ac.  i've charged close to 1000 systems in the last 8 years.  and heres a few pointers to help you out thru the process.  first thing you need to do is always clean the conensor, its the radiator looking deal in front of the radiator.  if its dirty your system will not properly work.  second is confirm your fan is working good and you have the proper shrowd both for obviouse reasons.  if its a clutch fan spin it (with the car not running) if you give it a whirl and it makes one full revolution or more after you let it go replace it.  if you weren't overheating before you will running ac.  if your system is empty to start then take the time to find and remove the orrafice tube and clean it.  all trash that gets by the reciever dryer will collect there especially in ford systems.  also change the reciever dryer if the system sat open for any period of time as a precaution.  with everything in place its time to begin the charge process.  all orings for installed items are new dont waste your time and reistall the old.  a few bucks saved will cost you hundreds down the road.  ok we all know your supposed to vacume the system down but not many people know why.  when you vacume the system down it causes all the moisture inside to boil and turn to vapor.  then it leaves your system completely.  moisture is the 2nd biggest killer of an ac system.  mixed with refrigerants and the extremem presure it creates an acid.  that acid then eats alive your system from the inside out.  causing major failures.  to accomplish this process without the machine is simple just connect your charge line with a shut off in between to your vacume booster line on your car and let it sit and idol for no less then 20 minutes.  shut your valve and wait 5 minuts watching your guage.  if all of your connections are good it should maintain that vacume.  if not you will want to add a die to the oil to find the leak especially if its small.  alway insert your oil first.  you dont want to attempt to have to inject it in under presure 2 ozs will usually do most cars 4 for big trucks check your sticker.  if this was an r12 system and your retrofitting make sure you use 75% of r134a to what normally it used r12.  r134 is synthetic and expands at a higher rate.  also keep in mind not to flex your high presure lines too much if there used.  the will burst apon operation.  always charge from the low side which is always the larger of the two lines but the fitting is smaller.  start with the car not running and turn your can upsidedown. put in as much as it will take then turn it right side up and start the vehical turn your ac on if all fuses are ok it should start cycling.  you will notice it cycle on then off, thats normal until the system is full.  feel the can it will get ice cold find a safe warm place around the motor to set it so it will stay upright.  untill the low side guage drops to an even level when the compressor is running.  you wont get every last drop in but it helps to operate the car at 1800 rpm, you will be able to get more of the can and less wasted.  if your system requires 2.5 lbs you will more then likely need three full cans. with about a 10% loss per can and line loss that will give you 2.5.  the best indicator that all is good is your hand or a temp guage.  a properly calibrated temp guage will show you a temp of 43 degreese average temp on the outpute vents.  i've gotten r134 alot colder but the system has to be optimal.  a friend drives 300 miles round trip for me to do his every year.  from here you should be all set.  i'm always willing to answer any questions and if i dont know the answer i'll find someone who does.  good luck

i wanted to add a little something about fords.  if your having problems with extreme high side presure and super low to no low side.pull the line going into the evaporator on the fire wall and remove your orafice tube if you can see it thru all the sand and junk built up causing it to plug up there.  officially 5 fords have been like that and for the life of me i cannot figure out where the sand is coming from.  but i live in az, and it apparently has a way in.  cleaned it all up and whallah ice cold ac.