Just picked getting an AC recharge kit over a shop visit for my old F-150

Had a choice last weekend between a $40 DIY kit from Autozone or dropping $150 at the local shop, so I went cheap. Truck's blowing cold again and I didn't even mess up the low side port - anyone else gamble on these kits and come out ahead?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabethmason8d ago

Yeah I tried that on my old civic a couple years back, figured worst case I'm out forty bucks and the shop still fixes it anyway. It's kinda like when you try to reset your router before calling the ISP, half the time you're fine and the other half you just delayed the inevitable. People act like every little repair has to be a whole production, but sometimes cheap and fast wins.

wesleyb208d ago

Oh man, you nailed it. I did the same thing with my pickup's AC last summer. Spent fifteen bucks on a can of refrigerant from the auto parts store and figured if it didn't work, I'd just take it to the shop. Turned out that was all it needed, saved me a couple hundred easy. People get so wrapped up in thinking you have to go straight to a mechanic for everything. But honestly, a lot of these small car problems are just like swapping out a dead battery in a remote. A little common sense and a willingness to try something simple goes a long way. And worst case, like you said, you're out a few bucks and you just make the phone call anyway.

the_wendy7d ago

Be careful with AC refrigerant though, that stuff can damage the compressor if you overdo it.