Why Doesn’t My Refrigerant Hose Fit? What To Do?

You might have planned to use a do-it-yourself AC recharge kit, only to find out that the recharge hose would not latch onto your car's port. Don't worry! We have done the research to provide you with all everything you need to know.

If the refrigerant hose would not fit into your car's port, it could be because you brought an AC recharge kit compatible with a different AC system.

Before R-134a, the majority of cars use a different AC system called R-12. R-12 has different adapters that are not cross-compatible with R-134a.

To fix this, you can choose to buy an AC recharge kit that is compatible with your car's AC system. You can also buy an R-12 to R-134a adapter. The adapter will allow you to connect the R-134a hose to the R-12 port.

Changing your car's AC system can be easily done at home. However, a lot of old cars have adapters that are not cross-compatible with the newer R-134a AC system, which is the AC system that a lot of AC recharge kits are designed to fit. Continue reading as we discuss this topic in depth. 

Technician is checking air conditioner ,measuring equipment for filling air conditioners. - Why Doesn't My Refrigerant Hose Fit? What To Do?

Why Wouldn't My AC Recharge/Refrigerant Hose Fit?

Automotive refrigerant hoses, more commonly known as AC recharge hose, is the tube that connects to your car's low-pressure port in order to transport new refrigerant into your car's AC system.

Tools for air conditioning repair and maintenance.

AC systems need to be changed from time to time, with some cars needing more frequent change than others.

The majority of the cars that need more frequent refrigerant change would be vehicles that were released before 1994. In 1994, cars transitioned from using R-12 which uses Freon, to R-134a, which uses Puron refrigerant.

However, the change did not allow a design where cars with R-12 AC systems can use products compatible with R-134a. 

If the AC recharge hose you brought would not fit into your car's low-pressure compressor adapter, it could be because your car is an older model that still utilizes R-12 instead of newer AC systems.

R-12 refrigerants have already been phased out in the United States, although using and selling decades-old products are not illegal. However, even if using freon is not illegal, using it in your car would require more effort than using newer refrigerants. 

In order to keep using freon on your car, you would have to specifically look for refrigerants that are decades old because the production of this freon has already been banned due to environmental reasons.

Another option is to carefully change your refrigerant oil with polyalkaline glycol (PAG). There are R-134a refrigerants with stabilizers that make them compatible with the old refrigerant oil in an R-12 system. 

What To Do If AC Recharge/Refrigerant Hose Would Not Fit?

Since newer AC systems have port adapters that are not cross-compatible with the R-12 system, you would have to search for an AC recharge kit that is specifically designed for the specs of your car.

If you do not know the specs of your car's engine, you can figure out what type of adapters your car has through the sticker under the car's hood. If you can not locate a sticker, you can always check the owner's manual or even online. 

If you do not want to toss the AC refrigerant recharge kit you already have, you can purchase an adapter. These adapters can connect your car's low-pressure compressor to the refrigerant hose.

They are retrofitted to allow cars with older AC systems to connect to a refrigerant hose designed for systems later than R-12.

 

Click here to shop for a retrofit adapter kit on Amazon.

Why Wouldn't Refrigerant Hose Fit On A Compatible Port?

Gauges on an Air Conditioning Compressor

If you are certain that you have purchased a compatible AC recharge hose for your car, then the opening of the hose should be the same size as the low-pressure compressor adapter.

There is a specific method to follow when attaching a refrigerant hose to the low port. This is because the refrigerant hose should be tightly secure and unable to budge when moved.

When connecting the refrigerant hose, make sure you are thoroughly following the instructions provided on the recharge kit you have purchased. Below is a simple step-by-step guide you can follow to connect a recharge refrigerant hose to your car's low port.

  1. Locate the locking ring at the bottom.
  2. Simultaneously, pull the locking ring back while pushing the connector down.
  3. Insert the connector into the low-pressure compressor adapter.
  4. Release the locking ring into the coupler.
  5. Allow the locking ring to click and lock into place.

How Do I Use An AC Recharge Kit?

AC recharge kits are generally easy to use. These products include instructions that the car owner can follow in order to recharge their car's AC system without bringing their cars to a service center.

Below is a simple step-by-step guide you can follow to safely use an AC recharge kit at home.

  1. Start the car engine and bring the temperature down to maximum cooling. 
  2. Shake the can well before connecting the hose to the can's dispenser. 
  3. Attach the recharge hose to the low port. (Refer to the instructions above.)
  4. Tilting the can, allow the refrigerant to flow into the car's AC system.
  5. Slightly tilt the can from 0 to 45 degrees every two to three seconds while continuously shaking it.
  6. Once the desired amount of refrigerant is in the AC system, remove the refrigerant hose from the port.
  7. If you need all the contents of the can, wait for another full minute before removing the hose. This will ensure that all the refrigerant has been emptied into the  AC system.

Click here to shop for an AC recharge kit on Amazon.

How Can I Tell If My Car Needs An AC Recharge?

Car air conditioner check service, leak detection, fill refrigerant, Manometer being used to gauge

Unfortunately, when it comes to AC damage, the symptoms are not that distinct from each other. One surefire sign that there is something wrong with your car's AC is if it starts to blow warm air during start-up.

However, warm air during the ignition could also indicate a leak or mechanical failure. Also, newer cars that were released after R-12 do not need to be recharged as much as their older counterparts.

If you are not confident that your car only needs an AC recharge, you should bring the vehicle to a service center. Avoid overcharging your car's AC system because this can cause more damage and expense.

Below are other symptoms you should look out for if you are suspecting that your car needs an AC recharge.

Your Car Smells Of Mildew

If you noticed that your car's AC has been releasing a smell of mildew, it could be because there is a presence of a liquid leak in your car's system.

Mold or mildew in your car's AC can be a hint that there has been a leak under the hood. This could be your AC's refrigerant. 

When you notice that your car's AC vents have been releasing a weird smell for quite some time, it is best to check the level of your refrigerant. If not, then you should bring your car to a service center for a more thorough inspection.

Mold and mildew from your AC vents is not an issue that should be ignored. Mold and mildew can be detrimental to your health when inhaled for extended periods.

You Can't Hear The AC Clutch Clicking

If your car has a refrigerant leak, you will end up with a low refrigerant supply without realizing it. One way to identify if your car has a leak is to notice if you can hear the clicking sound when engaging the AC clutch.

The AC clutch relies on the low-pressure compressor to activate. If there is a leak and you have very little refrigerant left, then it will not engage. Because of this, you will not hear the clicking sound. This will also result in your car's AC vents not releasing any cool air even if they are turned on.

To Wrap Up

Tool for air conditioner maintenance in house or build

Refrigerant hoses have various port sizes for AC systems that require different refrigerants. A lot of the older cars produced before the refrigerant transition in 1994 would not be compatible with an AC recharge kit meant for newer cars.

In this article, we discussed the possible reason why the refrigerant hose on your AC recharge kit would not fit in your car's low-pressure compressor adapter.

We also discussed how you can connect the hose using the compatible refrigerant hose for an R-12, or using an adapter for an R-12. Make sure to get the correct size adapter so that you can connect the refrigerant hose to your car properly.

Made it to the end? Check out some of our other related posts!

How To Use R134A Refrigerant

Does Freon Affect The Heat In A Car?

 

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