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2001 Chrysler Town and Country?
- Thread starter Harry C
- Start date
GTCturboII
New member
Go to AutoZone or Advance and buy one of those nifty cans of R134a refrigerant that has the gauge and hose built into the can. It might be more expensive than buying the basic cans, but unless you want to buy the kit with the valve, etc., it's the most convenient way to go.
DO NOT ATTEMPT if you don't know what I am talking about:
Find the suction schrader valve, with the black screw on cap. Remove the cap. Start engine, turn on A/C to MAX, both front and rear (if it has rear A/C). Let it run for a few minutes.
The end of the hose has a snap fitting on it that snaps onto the suction valve. You release it by squeezing the connector. Practice before doing.
Snap onto the suction valve (pull on it to test) and press button on the can, holding it as vertical as possible (follow instructions above all). Add until you are in the operating zone, at which time the compressor will run continuously (because you are on MAX). It might take more than one can.
Your compressor may not run (click and cycle on and off).at all until you put in a can if it's really low.
When you get good at it, buy a kit you can use with the cheap cans- It will save you money.
The bottom line is that you will need A/C service sooner or later. That is where I am at now with my 2001 T&C. It will prob get worse (needing more frequent recharging) until it doesn't even hold it for a few days. I am calling a friend to repair mine tomorrow. The Chrysler vans have a bad reputation on A/C issues.
Good luck, follow directions, and be safe. Things do get HOT around there, and if you are not a car person, do not attempt.
DO NOT ATTEMPT if you don't know what I am talking about:
Find the suction schrader valve, with the black screw on cap. Remove the cap. Start engine, turn on A/C to MAX, both front and rear (if it has rear A/C). Let it run for a few minutes.
The end of the hose has a snap fitting on it that snaps onto the suction valve. You release it by squeezing the connector. Practice before doing.
Snap onto the suction valve (pull on it to test) and press button on the can, holding it as vertical as possible (follow instructions above all). Add until you are in the operating zone, at which time the compressor will run continuously (because you are on MAX). It might take more than one can.
Your compressor may not run (click and cycle on and off).at all until you put in a can if it's really low.
When you get good at it, buy a kit you can use with the cheap cans- It will save you money.
The bottom line is that you will need A/C service sooner or later. That is where I am at now with my 2001 T&C. It will prob get worse (needing more frequent recharging) until it doesn't even hold it for a few days. I am calling a friend to repair mine tomorrow. The Chrysler vans have a bad reputation on A/C issues.
Good luck, follow directions, and be safe. Things do get HOT around there, and if you are not a car person, do not attempt.
helpful bob
New member
See the real key issue here is why is it low on freon in the first place.More then likely you'd refill it and it simply just run low again real quick and then you'd end up waisting the freon refill kit for nothing.
I'd go and look around , call around find a A/C shop that offers a low cost A/C system check and then have them fix the leak and refill it for you.That would vary in price but if right shop you might only end up spending 100 bucks instead well over 150 to 200 bucks.
Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way make sure if you do buy one of those kits buy the higher grade kits bec the seals on those hose valves end up going and leaking if you try to reuse it again next yr etc on those cheap kits.Always make sure you know the max amount of A/C pressure you can fill the system to and never try to add the freon to the high pressure side always the low side, plus some of these cans have a special additive that is blue in colour etc and if you see it showing up on the A/C lines etc that means it's leaking at that spot or close by it.
I'd go and look around , call around find a A/C shop that offers a low cost A/C system check and then have them fix the leak and refill it for you.That would vary in price but if right shop you might only end up spending 100 bucks instead well over 150 to 200 bucks.
Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way make sure if you do buy one of those kits buy the higher grade kits bec the seals on those hose valves end up going and leaking if you try to reuse it again next yr etc on those cheap kits.Always make sure you know the max amount of A/C pressure you can fill the system to and never try to add the freon to the high pressure side always the low side, plus some of these cans have a special additive that is blue in colour etc and if you see it showing up on the A/C lines etc that means it's leaking at that spot or close by it.