Hi everyone,

I have a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, 5.7L Hemi. 230,000km. The air conditioner has stopped blowing that crisp, cold air that we all crave on a hot day. Gives me a nice lukewarm breeze. Checked the HVAC fuses and they are both good. Compressor works as well.

Decided to pick up an AC recharge kit (RedTek for Automotive), when I went to connect to the low pressure port, the quick coupler refused to connect. It fits on the plug, but does not form an airtight seal. Tried adding an O-ring to form a better seal, didn't work. Ended up taking apart the coupler, thought I had fixed it by allowing a little more 'give' from the spring, thinking it would give some more room to click down onto the plug but it didn't work.

Any tips and/or suggestions!?

Thanks in advance

Ps. Had considered just replacing the coupler at this point, but the female end is 1/2" ID and that doesn't seem to be available at my local RONA.


Recharge Kit

 

Does your system actually use the R12a???? Should be a label under the hood that tells ya what refrigerant is in there.

 

My owner's manual says that the current refrigerant is R134a (which I'm unable to purchase). This RedTek kit of R12a is supposed to be compatible with the R134a. They do recommend evacuating the existing refrigerant in the system before recharging but they are interchangeable.

 

Why is 134a unavailable? I still see it on the shelf at Wal-Mart.....

I would expect that the R12a systems use different connectors...... and that's why it doesn't wanna go on there, and seal up properly.

 

Unfortunately it isn't available for sale in Canada.

 

Ah, ok, I can see how that might be a problem.

Does anyone offer conversion kits to a newer refrigerant, like they did the for the R12 to 134a conversion?

 

Order it online if possible or find the proper hose connection for your system. Or better yet, take to a local shop and let them find the leak and vac and charge.
That's a sealed system and if your system is low on freon you have a leak. Freon should never be low unless you have a leak.