where can I find out what is involved in recharging (just refilling, nothing more) my '99 outback wagon's a/c? Which refrigerant does it use? My dealer wants 129.99, I'm thinking kit from Pep Boys. Opinions?

 

I tried searching Pep boys site, albeit inconclusively.

Please post your question in the New Generation forum.

your dealer will end up charging way more than that quoted price. they wont' charge it without testing for leaks and fixing the leak that caused it to be low. that will add up.

 

i've fixed a TON of a/c systems for under $30 and they've last years...here's some advice from experience:

 

cans are available at any auto parts stores. get the kind with a sealant in it.

 

the most likely place for leaks is the oring right where the hose bolts to the compressor. it only requires removing ONE bolt to replace each oring. very simple. i highly recommend replacing both and then recharging. it's kind of silly not too. although sizing the oring is annoying since you sort of need to remove it first to match it up. but, being one bolt you can literally do it in the parking lot of the store. remove, take inside, put back together.

 

look very carefully (good flashlight) at the base of each schrader valve. if they're wet that means it's leaking. do this before trying any charging or they'll get wet from charging. if they're wet that's your leak and they need replaced.

 

what is hysterical is that the most likely place for leaks (which i've fixed a bunch of times) are these 50 cent orings and $1 schrader valves. yet i've never met someone that took their car in for a/c work that didn't get charged hundreds of dollars. they see the majority of movement, heating and contraction and it just makes sense that they would be most likely to leak...and that is my experience.