How do you put freon in a 1988 Mazda 626?

Answer 1

Ok, 1988 Mazda 626. First you need to find out if it has been changed from R-12 to R-134A. Hopefully for you it has already been done because the cost for R-12 has skyrocketed in the past few years, and you can not buy it without a license. If it has not been changed over, I would recomend going to a service center (but not the dealership, they will charge an arm and a leg to do it) and have your a/c converted to 134A. The cost for this is normally around $150. It should include all freon and new fittings that they will install. Now if your system has been converted, it will be much easier. All you have to do is go to an auto parts store (I prefer AutoZone) and purchase a filler hose (get one with a pressure gauge on it so you know how much you have put in) and either one or two cans of R-143A. The hose and two cans should run you about ten to fifteen dollars. Then find the a/c fittings in your car. They should be on the passenger side of the engine. Locate the low pressure side nozzle. If you aren't sure if it is the right one, try to attach the hose to it, it will only fit onto the low pressure side. If you still are not sure, ask someone at the parts store to locate it for you. Once you have found it, screw the can onto the hose and open it. With your engine running and the A/C on high, attach the hose to the low pressure side and slowly release the freon into the system. You should start to see and hear the A/C compresser starting and stopping. Once you have added enough to properly pressurize the system, close the can and screw the cap back onto the nozzle on the A/C line. Your system should now be charged and ready to go! One more thing, to find out the proper pressure for your system, look on the sticker that should be either on the compresser, condenser, or on the core support. Hope this helps!