How to Recharge Air Conditioning Ford Escape
Air Conditioning System Refrigerant Leaks
How to recharge air conditioning 2017 Ford Escape: Leaks on air conditioning system reduce amount of refrigerant and cause air conditioning in your car to stop operating. While there are a lot of other problems which can cause air conditioning system to malfunction, low refrigerant level is the most common one.
Bear in mind, if your AC has a leak, recharging is only a temporary measure. Refrigerant will most certainly leak again. How long will work after recharging depends on leak size.
If you have a very small leak then it will hold for while, weeks or months. If you have a large leak then it will leak soon after recharging. In this case, air conditioning leak need to be diagnosed and repaired by a professional repair facility.
2017 Ford Escape 4 cylinder engine. This procedure is identical for 2012-2019 Ford Escape models.
Safety First
Take extra care when recharging air conditioning as you will be close to a hot running engine with spinning pulleys and belts:
- Do not wear any lose clothes, bracelets or necklaces. If one is caught by an engine pulley or belt, it will be very bad day.
- Wear gloves and safety glasses.
- Stay away form engine.
- Keep your hands way for engine pulleys and belts.
- Do not come in contact with refrigerant and do not inhale it.
- Locate and use Only low pressure recharging port for recharging. Stay away from high pressure port.
- Read safety label on refrigerant bottle or manual on recharging kit.
Step 1: Buy an AC Recharging Kit
Air conditioning recharging kits are for sale almost everywhere. Cost is about $50 depending on where you buy and brand. Refrigerant kit included two bottles of refrigerant and recharging hose.
A/C recharging kits are available for sale everywhere, you can buy one online at Amazon or any store Walmart, Canadian Tire, Part Source, etc.
Step 2: Locate AC Low Pressure Recharge Port on Ford Escape
Air conditioning system has two ports, Low pressure port and High pressure port. Recharging ports are clearly marked on ports caps, L for low pressure and H for high pressure.
Use only Low pressure port to recharge air conditioning. Do Not try to fit connector into high pressure port.
Low pressure port on 2017 Ford Escape is located on right hand side of engine bay close to serpentine belt tensioner, (image above).
Image below shows Low Pressure Port with protective cap removed.
High pressure port has a bigger size valve and recharging kit connector will not fit. Anyways, there is a good reason that as high pressure side has 250 psi pressure while low pressure side has only 50psi. Things will explode if you fit recharging kit on high pressure port.
Step 3: Prepare Air Conditioning Recharge Kit
Recharging kits usually have two refrigerant bottle, in case one bottle is not enough to fully recharge system.
Open valve on recharging kit fully. Insert a refrigerant bottle and thread it on recharge kit valve, tighten it firmly. Close recharging kit valve.
Recharging hose valve has a pin which punctures refrigerant bottle allowing refrigerant to flow. Don’t worry, wont leak as long as valve stays closed.
Step 4: Connect Recharge Kit Connector on Low Pressure Port
Recharging kit connector is a lock type connector, same as fittings on air tools. Connector has a movable outer ring which locks on low pressure port valve.
Do not start your car. Engine should be off until recharging kit is fully set up and you are ready to recharge AC.
Unscrew low pressure port protective cap. Pull back on recharging kit connector outer ring and press it firmly on low pressure port. Release lock ring.
Pull on connector to make sure is secure. If not, then try again until is firmly seated on low pressure valve (image above).
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Step 5: Check Air Conditioning System Pressure
Engine off. Look at recharging kit pressure gauge. If you still have pressure on AC system then recharging will work for a long while. If you have zero pressure then you have a large leak and might leak again soon after recharging it. Anyways, still worth a try to recharge it since you already set up.
Step 6: Recharge Air Conditioning 2017 Ford Escape
Low pressure port on Ford Escape is very close to engine serpentine belt and tensioner pulley. Keep your eyes open at all times and do not come close to serpentine belt while recharging AC. Stay clear of spinning pulley and belt, its very easy to lose a finger or worse.
Start engine and set air conditioning on max with fan at full blast. Open recharging kit hose valve and shake bottle. Again, stay clear of tensioner pulley and serpentine belt while doing this.
Usually compressor will engage when air conditioning pressure reaches about 20psi. You will hear compressor engaging. Look at recharging gauge while recharging and keep track of pressure. Do not overcharge AC.
Step 7: Check Air Conditioning Pressure
Fully charged air conditioning system pressure is around 40psi. Pressure should be checked only when air conditioning compressor is engaged and running. Confirm compressor is running when checking pressure. If compressor is not running, you will get a false high reading, 80 psi or so.
Keep recharging until you hit 40psi pressure. Stop recharging at 40psi and do not go over 45psi.
One refrigerant bottle should be enough to fully charge AC system. If one bottle is not enough, turn off engine and remove connector from low pressure port.
Unscrew bottle from recharging kit valve, do it slowly as there will be some pressure left and refrigerant will leak. Install a new bottle, connect recharging hose connector to low pressure port, start engine and continue recharging until 40psi is reached.
Step 8: Disconnect Recharging Kit Hose
Turn off engine when pressure with compressor running is at or about 40psi. Close valve and disconnect recharging hose connector from low pressure port. Pull connector locking ring backwards and remove connector from AC low pressure port. Screw in low pressure port protective cap.
Listen for any hissing noises. If you hear a hissing noise then you have a large leak and refrigerant is escaping. In this case, air conditioning system leak have to be diagnosed and repaired professionally.
Step 9: Do Not Overcharge Air Conditioning System
More is not better, is actually worse. Do not pass 45psi when recharging air conditioning system. AC system has a pressure switch and will disengage air conditioning compressor when refrigerant pressure is lower or higher than normal specifications.
High pressure is worse as it can cause your engine to turn off and not able to idle. Also, seals inside AC compressor can fail due to higher than normal pressure. Make sure to not overcharge air conditioning system.
If you accidentally overcharge it, do not attempt to release pressure using a small screwdriver from low pressure port with engine off. Voluntarily releasing refrigerant into atmosphere is harmful to environment and illegal in most jurisdictions around the world.
Overcharged AC system has to be vacuumed and recharged by a professional repair facility. You can drive your car as long as you do not turn AC on.
Air conditioning refrigerant is poisonous if inhaled and dangerous if it comes in contact with your eyes.
Step 10: Check Air Conditioning Operation
Leave you car idling for few minutes with AC on and check compressor operation. If compressor engages periodically and you get cold air inside, then your good. Take it for drive to double check everything is working properly.
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