How to Recharge the Air Conditioning on a 1995 Ford Mustang
by Lee SallingsWhenever you remove components of a vehicle's air-conditioning system for repair, the refrigerant in the system is lost. To restore the system to full cooling capacity, you must evacuate the system (a process that removes air and moisture) and re-charge it with the proper amount of refrigerant. The air conditioning system in your 1995 Mustang uses R-134a, a type of refrigerant available at most major auto supply stores. Unlike older air conditioning systems that use R-12 (Freon), it is legal for the home mechanic to repair and service the A/C system on the 1995 Ford Mustang.
Step 1
Attach the gauge set hoses to the service ports in the engine compartment. On the 1995 Ford Mustang, the high-pressure service port is in the front of the engine compartment on the passenger side, between the air cleaner housing and the upper radiator hose. The low-pressure service port is located on the driver's side of the engine compartment between the intake manifold and the oil dipstick. Pull back the lock ring on the hose end and snap the end onto the port. Turn the knob on the hose end clockwise to open the port.
Step 2
Screw the service hose end (the center hose on the gauge set) to the vacuum pump's inlet. Plug the pump's electrical plug into a wall socket and turn the switch to the "On" position to start the pump. Open both valves on the front of the gauge set and allow the vacuum pump to run for one hour. This will remove all moisture from the system and provide the best cooling capacity.
Step 3
Close both valves on the front of the gauge set and turn off the vacuum pump. Unscrew the service hose from the pump and screw it onto the can tap. Screw a can of R-134a refrigerant onto the can tap and twist the thumbscrew on the tap all the way into the can. Unscrew the thumbscrew all the way and open the blue (low-pressure) valve on the gauge set, located below the low pressure gauge. Refrigerant will begin to flow into the system.
Step 4
Start the engine and set the A/C controls on the dash to maximum cooling and medium or low fan speed. Monitor the gauges while the refrigerant is being recharged. When the gauge pressures stabilize, close the service valve (the blue valve) and unscrew the empty can of refrigerant from the can tap. Inject additional cans of refrigerant in the same manner as the first can. The 1995 Ford Mustang holds 2.2 pounds (about three cans) of R-134a refrigerant.
Step 5
Turn off the engine and close the service valve on the gauge face. Unscrew the knobs on the hose ends and pull back on their locking rings to disconnect them from the ports. Close the hood and test drive the Mustang for about 10 minutes to verify that the air conditioning system is cooling properly.
References
- "Chilton 1994-98 Ford Mustang Repair Manual"; George B. Heinrich III, ASE, SAE; 1997
Things You'll Need
- A/C gauge set
- Vacuum pump
- Can tap
Warnings
- Wear safety glasses and work gloves when working around a running engine to prevent serious injuries.
- Never open the high-pressure (red) valve on the gauge set while the engine is running. The pressure in the system might easily cause the can of refrigerant to explode, causing serious injury.
Writer Bio
Lee Sallings is a freelance writer from Fort Worth, Texas. Specializing in website content and design for the automobile enthusiast, he also has many years of experience in the auto repair industry. He has written Web content for eHow, and designed the DIY-Auto-Repair.com website. He began his writing career developing and teaching automotive technical training programs.
