I have the shop manual for my 94 voyager that says the suction(low side) is beside the drier (where the sight glass is) near the passenger fender in front of the engine (3.0L) but everyone I ask says it is by the 'H' valve at the firewall (bigger tube) which is where I should refill. I bought the refill hose with the gauge on it and it does not fit on the port by the sight glass but will fit on the port by the H valve at the firewall. I want to recharge the system and I know the hose is made to fit on the proper port but I need to make sure. It is an R134a system. Is it possible the manual is wrong?

As you know, the system has the high pressure side and the low pressure side. The dryer is always on the high pressure side. The high pressure side is the tube between the compressor and condenser-radiator and the tube between the condenser-radiator and the firewall. It is usually smaller and uninsulated. When the system is running, the high side tube and hoses are hot to the touch. The low pressure side is the tube that runs between the firewall and the compressor. It is usually bigger and sometimes insulated. When the system is running, the low side tubes and hoses are cold to the touch. If in doubt, follow the routing of the tubes and hoses to figure out which is which. Always refill the system from the low pressure side only. Once you have the refill can connected properly and open, run the engine around 2000 rpm to drop the low side pressure and fill the system quicker.

One more thing, ...let's be careful out there!

Thank you KManiac!!

One little additional tip. Before you connect the filler hose from the can to the refill port on the van, open the valve on the can so you can hear positive flow out the hose, then connect it to the refill port. This will prevent any air and moisture/humidity in your filler hose from entering your system.

I have the shop manual for my 94 voyager that says the suction(low side) is beside the drier (where the sight glass is) near the passenger fender in front of the engine (3.0L) but everyone I ask says it is by the 'H' valve at the firewall (bigger tube) which is where I should refill. I bought the refill hose with the gauge on it and it does not fit on the port by the sight glass but will fit on the port by the H valve at the firewall. I want to recharge the system and I know the hose is made to fit on the proper port but I need to make sure. It is an R134a system. Is it possible the manual is wrong?


I sure hope that refill kit is not one of the ones with the leak sealer crap and hard telling what kind of oil in it.

Wal Mart DEATH KITS

You cannot properly and safely recharge an air condition system with them.

The one side stop and go gauge does not tell you what your system is doing or is over charged or undercharged.
A overcharged or malfunction air condition system can reach over 500 lbs of pressure.
Enough to blow up that can or system and freeze you at first and the burn you or blind you and if any propane /butane in there blow and light you up.

The stop leak crap and who knows what kind of oil in the kits there will stop your system for sure.
Just like pouring super glue in it.
And some kits even contain freon with a butane mixer.
Good for a big blast.

If you are going to do it do it right and safe.
Here is what you need to start with.
http://www.ackits.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AMA&Product_Code=66773

In the older days you could just throw in a can and go.
But over the years just adding freon is getting harder to do.
Newer systems have to have the correct amount of freon down to the ounces.
Most will need pumped down and vacuumed down and the right and amount of oil and a set amount freon charge installed to get the air to cool right and the system to last.
If an air condition is low there is usually a leak that needs fixed and also a lose of lubricating oil from system.
Also air and moisture enters a low system
If you are going to try to do it get the proper type air condition gauge set with the low and high side gauges.
Hook up the gauges and get a reading with compressor running at idle and at 2000 rpm on the high and low side.
Post back pressure reading and we can help you.
MT

I sure hope that refill kit is not one of the ones with the leak sealer crap and hard telling what kind of oil in it.

Wal Mart DEATH KITS

You cannot properly and safely recharge an air condition system with them.

The one side stop and go gauge does not tell you what your system is doing or is over charged or undercharged.
A overcharged or malfunction air condition system can reach over 500 lbs of pressure.
Enough to blow up that can or system and freeze you at first and the burn you or blind you and if any propane /butane in there blow and light you up.

The stop leak crap and who knows what kind of oil in the kits there will stop your system for sure.
Just like pouring super glue in it.
And some kits even contain freon with a butane mixer.
Good for a big blast.

If you are going to do it do it right and safe.
Here is what you need to start with.
http://www.ackits.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AMA&Product_Code=66773

In the older days you could just throw in a can and go.
But over the years just adding freon is getting harder to do.
Newer systems have to have the correct amount of freon down to the ounces.
Most will need pumped down and vacuumed down and the right and amount of oil and a set amount freon charge installed to get the air to cool right and the system to last.
If an air condition is low there is usually a leak that needs fixed and also a lose of lubricating oil from system.
Also air and moisture enters a low system
If you are going to try to do it get the proper type air condition gauge set with the low and high side gauges.
Hook up the gauges and get a reading with compressor running at idle and at 2000 rpm on the high and low side.
Post back pressure reading and we can help you.
MT
Hi MT. I agree and was looking at a guage set from Napa for $100 CDN. I ended up putting in the stop leak stuff (maybe a mistake) and a can of Redtek 12A. The guage on the little hose I bought did not seem accurate or maybe not functioning properly but read 40psi after one can of refrigerant so I did not go any further. The A/C is working again but does not seem as cold as it should be. This is the first time ever that the A/C has stopped working and it's a 94 which is amazing for these vans. I will end up buying a manifold set to take proper readings.
Thanks for all the tips and help!!

Hi MT. I agree and was looking at a guage set from Napa for $100 CDN. I ended up putting in the stop leak stuff (maybe a mistake) and a can of Redtek 12A. The guage on the little hose I bought did not seem accurate or maybe not functioning properly but read 40psi after one can of refrigerant so I did not go any further. The A/C is working again but does not seem as cold as it should be. This is the first time ever that the A/C has stopped working and it's a 94 which is amazing for these vans. I will end up buying a manifold set to take proper readings.
Thanks for all the tips and help!!

You are welcome
If you have close to 40 lbs on low side better quit while you are ahead.
The stop may be your worst problem now.
It is just like putting super glue in a system.
If you even try to open system now it will kick in ans glue up everything.
http://www.autoacforum.com/messageview.cfm?catid=2&threadid=15719
If that can of Redtek 12A has a propane /butane mixer be carefull.
That stuff will blow up like a big bomb if it hits a flame or spark.
Here is a link to a good gauge set.
http://www.ackits.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AMA&Product_Code=66773

Another tip...the cool air coming out of the A/C on a warm day should be 30-40 degrees below the outside air temp. Mine has always hovered around 30 even with the rear A/C on. Could be they under powered the A/C on these vans. I've got a Camry that will freeze you in a heartbeat.

BTW- I can't argue with MT. He's spot on about the dangers involved. All I can say is the shortest possesion I've had on any of the cars I own is 8 years. I have a pretty good idea of how they react to an A/C malfunction, servicing, etc. so that gives me a better feeling when I service freon on them (and I've done all 4). That may not give some a warm fuzzy where safety is concerned but, we all have choices to make. I do take precautions. I always wear gloves and safety glasses. I even rigged up a piece of plywood to act as a shield the first dozen or so times I serviced freon. My point, if anyone wants to jump in and service freon and they aren't comfy with it heed MTs advice.