How to Recharge Air Conditioning with Freon in a Dodge Ram

Keeping cool during the hot summer months is hard when the air conditioner in your Dodge Ram is blowing warm air. If your Ram was made after 1995, you can recharge the system yourself. Models made in 1995 or prior to that may still use R12 refrigerant and must be retrofitted to use R134 before you can recharge the system by yourself.

Instructions

1

Inspect your air conditioning lines for damage. Most auto parts stores have leak detection kits. Some of these will seal small leaks. If you see any other visible damage, take your Ram to a professional to fix the problem areas before you recharge the air conditioning system with refrigerant. It is a federal crime to discharge refrigerant into the air. This law includes knowingly recharging a system that is leaking.

2

Remove the cap from the Low Pressure Side service port. Look at the connectors on the air conditioner lines of your Ram. If you see screw type connectors on the both the High Pressure Side and Low Pressure Side lines, your truck uses R12 refrigerant. If you see quick connect valves on at least the Low Pressure Side, your truck uses R134. Models made before 1995 may use the old R12 refrigerant. If this is the case, you must have the air conditioning system of your Dodge Ram retrofitted to use R134 refrigerant.

3

Read the directions for the automotive air conditioner pressure gauge and the automotive recharge kit. Make sure that you understand all of the directions before you try to recharge the system.

4

Check your air conditioning system pressure using an automotive air conditioning pressure gauge. Keep in mind that in order to get an accurate reading, the air conditioner has to be turned on the coldest setting with maximum blowing power.

5

Connect the refill hose to the connector on the Low Pressure Side of the air conditioning system. The Low Pressure Side connector will be smaller than the High Pressure Side connector so the refill hose will fit properly only on the Low Pressure Side.

6

Open the valve on the refill hose to allow the refrigerant to enter the air conditioning system. Make sure that you hold the can according to the manufacturer's directions. In most cases, you will have to hold the can upright.

7

Close the valve on the refill hose. Disconnect the hose and recap the Low Pressure Side port.