Well, it's 90 degrees here and looks to be the start of summer. I turned on the A/C in my XJ and it was warmer than the air outside. My guess is it needs to be recharged. I have a few questions on how to do it because this is my first time recharging refrigerant.

The first question I have is, do the '96s use R134A?

Also, What is the refrigerant capacity of the A/C system / how many cans will it take?

And, do I just hook a can up to one of the fittings on the metal A/C tubes in the engine bay? It looks too easy..

 

very simple to do read thishttp://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_press..._Jeep_Cherokee

 

I just did this in my '98 xj.I bought the 22 oz. can with hose at walmart..35 bucks.With the engine running and A/C on hook the hose to the smaller port and shake can while opening trigger.My sticker on the rad. support says 1.25 lbs.which is 20 oz.I used the whole can and it has been working great so far.I bought a rebuilt compressor and new drier kit on ebay for $200 cause mine was empty for so long and was corroded.It came with oil and all new o-rings too..just an FYI

 

Fix the leak before recharging the system.

 

There should be a sticker that tells you what refrigerent to use. But I have a 95 and it uses R134A.

 

all A/C systems must use or be converted to R134A now. R12 is not longer available / illegal to use

 

Get a cheap kit from Walmart that has a gauge on the filler hose. If you overcharge it won't cool any better than an undercharged system.

 

all systems do not need to be converted search freeze 12

 

it's still a conversion - Freeze 12 is 80% R134A, 20% HCFC 142B

 

its more of a evac and fill no fitting no changing any hard parts

 

Alright doesn't sound like too hard of a job...
I'm still surprised that my 96 XJ with only 76k on the odometer needs a recharge, while my 92 XJ with 110k on the odometer still has ice cold A/C.

I guess the R12 was some pretty good stuff compared to the R134A that my 96 came with haha

 

19 yrs old and still cold a/c......that's one in a bazillion....you're jinxed now for bragging on it. LOL

 

R12 is still available, it's just too expensive to put into a leaky system. You don't have to convert all systems to R134A, you can fix the leak and put R12 back in. The only reason most people convert to 134 is because they think they're saving money and it gives them the warm and fuzzy "green" feeling. There will soon be a ban on R134A once Dow Chemical loses the patent on R134A and invent a new and more environmently friendly refridgerant.

 

i heard a rumor about this

 

i would REALLY like to know where you can buy R12 still. AFAIK it's not produced anymore and the only way to buy it is to find someone with some old stock