How to Recharge Air Conditioning Honda Accord

Air Conditioning System Refrigerant Leaks

How to recharge air conditioning Honda Accord: Refrigerant leaks on Honda Accord Air Conditioning lines or condenser will reduce refrigerant pressure and air conditioning in your car will stop working.

Air conditioning compressor will be damaged if it operates with lower than optimal refrigerant levels. To prevent damage, air conditioning system is equipped with a pressure switch which will disconnect AC compressor if system pressure is too low or too high.

Recharging Air Conditioning without diagnosing and repairing leaks is only a temporary measure. If you have a small leak, recharging it will help can hold for long while.

However, if you have a large leak then recharging will not help you and refrigerant will leak soon after recharging. Large AC leak will need to be diagnosed and repaired professionally.

2011 Honda Accord, 4 cylinder 2,4 liter engine. Recharging procedure is very similar or identical for 2008 to 2018 Honda Accord. Location of low pressure recharging port is also the same for 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder engine Honda Accord.

Safety First When Recharging AC

While recharging procedure in itself is easy, you will be working close to a running hot engine with pulleys and belts rotating at high speeds. All ingredients are there for a bad day if you dont keep your eyes open:

1- Stay clear of engine pulleys and belts, watch where you out your hands.

2- Stay clear of engine, it will be hot dont burn yourself.

3- Do not wear lose clothes, same goes for lose bracelet and necklaces. Engine pulleys and serpentine belt have a habit of catching things.

4- Refrigerant is poisonous if inhaled and dangerous to your eyes. Wear gloves and safety glasses.

5- Read safety label on refrigerant bottle or manual on recharge kit.

6- Identify and use Only Low pressure port for recharging. Stay away from high pressure port.

1. Buy a AC Recharge Kit

AC recharging kits cost about $50 and can be purchased almost everywhere, Walmart, Amazon and local automotive stores. Ac recharging kit includes a recharging hose with pressure gauge and two refrigerant bottles.

To make it clear, recharging air conditioning yourself is a temporary measure in most cases. If your AC system is low on refrigerant it means there is a leak somewhere and will leak again. How long it will work after recharging depends on leak size. Hopefully you a have small leak and recharging might hold for few months.

2. Locate Air Conditioning Recharge Low Pressure Port Honda Accord

Air Conditioning low pressure port (and high pressure port) is located under the hood on right had side of engine, close to strut mount. Low pressure port and high pressure ports are marked on protective caps with L for low pressure and H for high pressure.

Use only Low Pressure Port when recharging AC. Do not touch or try to work on high pressure port. Air conditioning pressure on low side is about 50psi while pressure on high side is five times higher at 250 psi.

Image above shows low pressure port with cap removed. Low pressure valve is very similar to air valve in your tires.

3. Preparation of Air Conditioning Recharge Kit

Recharge kits include two refrigerant bottles in case on is not enough ti fill the system. Open recharging kit valve fully.

Install a refrigerant bottle and tighten it firmly. Close recharging hose valve. Recharging valve pin will puncture refrigerant bottle allowing refrigerant to flow. As long as valve stays closed, it will not leak, nothing to worry about.

4. Connect Recharging Hose to Low Pressure Port

Engine off. Connector on recharge hose is a lock type, same as connector used on air tools. It has an outer ring which locks it when installed on low pressure port.

Remove low pressure port protective cap, unscrew it. Pull back on connector outer lock and press it firmly on low pressure port. Make sure is fitted properly and is secure in place (image below)

5. Check Air Conditioning System Pressure

Use gauge and check pressure with engine off. If you have some pressure left in the system then recharging should work and hold for while.

Otherwise, if gauge shows zero pressure, then a large leak is likely and refrigerant will leak soon after refilling, In any case, worth a try since you already there.

6. Recharge Air Conditioning 2011 Honda Accord

A fully charged system is about 40psi when compressor is working. Do not Overcharge.

Start your car and set air conditioning on minimum temperature and fan at full blast. Open valve and recharge system. You should be able to hear compressor engage when pressure reaches about 20psi.

Check pressure only with compressor working. Do not look at pressure when compressor is not engaged, you will get a high false reading.

Check pressure frequently and stop recharging when pressure hits 40psi or thereabouts with compressor engaged.

Do not let pressure go over 45psi.

If one refrigerant bottle is not enough, turn off engine and replace bottle. Close valve and disconnect connector from low pressure port. Remove empty bottle slowly, careful as its not 100% empty and you will get some refrigerant leak. Install and tighten new bottle.

Connect recharge hose connector to low pressure port again, start the car and repeat recharging procedure.

Stop recharging when you reach 40psi with compressor engaged. Do not overcharge AC system.

8. Disconnect AC Recharging Kit Hose

Stop recharging at 40psi and turn off engine. Close recharging hose valve and disconnect connector for low pressure port. Pull on connector locking ring to disconnect it.

If you hear any hissing noise, thats a bad sign. It means you have large leak and refrigerant is leaking, it will empty the system very fast. Large leaks need to be diagnosed and repaired by a professional repaired facility. Send your car to your mechanic.

9. Do Not Overcharge Air Conditioning System

If you overcharge it, air conditioning will not work and in some cases your engine will not idle properly either. Do not pass 45psi pressure.

Pressure sensor will stop compressor form engaging if pressure is lower or higher than optimal levels. Also, higher than normal pressure or overcharging can damage internal compressor seals.

As we said earlier, low pressure valve is similar to air valve in your tires. If you overcharge AC system, do not try to release pressure from low pressure port with engine off using a small screwdriver.

Releasing refrigerant in atmosphere is illegal in some jurisdictions around the world and damaging to environment. Also refrigerant is under pressure and will forcibly spray out if you press low pressure valve center pin.

AC system need to be vacuumed and recharged by a repair facility if you overcharge it. You can drive your car normally as long as you dont engage air conditioning.

10. Check Operation Of Air Conditioning

After removing recharging hose and installing protective cap on low pressure port, start your car and check AC operation with engine idling. Take the car for a short drive to check how air conditioning is working while driving.

More details on How to Recharge Air Conditioning.

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