Easy and cheap way to charge your car's A/C

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of A/C Pro for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.


It’s summer, it’s hot, and nothing is worse in these moments than a car with an A/C that blows warm air in your face. In fact, it’s downright enough to ruin every drive. To help you fix this, I'm going to tell you how to recharge your car’s A/C system with the easy-to-use A/C Pro all in one Kit.

Buying the A/C Pro Recharge kit can help you avoid paying a certified technician for an A/C recharge. Although if you have a major system issue a professional repair may be necessary.
The A/C Pro recharge kit is very easy to use. It’s the top seller for a reason at all auto parts stores. All you have to do is remove the shipping disc and connect the can of refrigerant to the supplied gauge and hose. Next, locate your low side A/C port. The hose will only connect to the low side, so you cannot perform this step wrong.  If you have any doubts, you can look up the location of the low side port for your vehicle online on A/C Pro’s Port Finder.

After you have found and connected the quick connect coupler to the port, adjust the gauge to the ambient temperature outside to have the proper reading. Now it’s time to start the vehicle and turn on the HVAC switch to max A/C and blower fan on a high setting.
After you have done this, if the gauge is in the white or low, just squeeze the trigger until it is in the green section of your gauge. If it’s in the red, do not use the refrigerant. The high pressure in the A/C system can cause damage and further repairs will be needed.

Once it’s in the green, disconnect, set the can aside,  and check for the #1 coldest air A/C coming from your vents. Using this DIY system is a fraction of the cost of bringing the car in for repair. Now you have a simple tool that can refill any vehicle that uses R-134a refrigerant. An additional bottle of refrigerant can be purchased and attached to the gauge so the cost is even lower for future use.  It’s a system you just cannot beat for the money, and I’ve used it on my 2500HD to get cold air back in my A/C for these hot Minnesota days.

Get your tools organized - sockets

Obviously Organization is a beautiful thing. Sockets are the main thing we reach for as a Mechanic tool trade. so of course i have many of them.
Keeping them organized means less time in your repair and looking for the right tool when needed. I have moved my home shop to another garage. and there has been some downsizing. but a quick blurb was using these harbor freight organizer sockets to redo the top drawer of the tool box to make it easier to find and put away the most common tool i use.
i think this can be done cheaply and does not need to cost you 80 dollars or more to organize. harbor freight has pretty good deals when it comes down to organizing solutions of sockets and i tried these out to see how well they fit together and i truly like the main result

Some other choices on budget but a little more expensive are these ( i use or have used) im not going to recommend crap that i wouldn't use myself
Ernst Manufacturing 8450 Socket Boss 3-Rail Universal Twist Lock Socket Tray, Multi-Drive, 19-Inch, Red
http://amzn.to/2iBpJiK
i love the twist and lock feature of these makes sure they dont wiggle loose Great for tool carts

Hansen socket tray 6 piece set
http://amzn.to/2jmQxo1
this is a very common set you see with people that use tools one of the best selling on the market.
love them but the deep well stems tend to get broken easily on the 1/4 inch set

1999-2007 gm truck 2wd front wheel hub bearing replacement

If your looking for a bearing find it here i love timkin as a brand they make affordable higher end bearings that last. Timken SP450301 Axle Bearing and Hub Assembly

So you hearing a growl in your front end or its very loose when checking your front end out. you may have a bearing that has passed its prime and needs to be replaced . in the case of mine i let it get to far because puting it off can cause more damage. it honestly was horrible o drive the noise made passengers uneasy i as a mechanic told myself i didn't drive it enough to afford doing it right away.
Well this was needed and one side was a major pain.
tools needed
are as follows
A hammer( a big one)
3/8ths ratchet and socket set 3inch extension and 15mm shallow socket specifically
and a 18mm socket with a breaker bar is ideal
and the tools to remove your wheel , 22mm/7/8ths socket , jack and jack stand.
a t-55 torx socket for the caliper guide pin bolts
the full how to video is up now

buying and selling cars for profit.

hi guys,
a lot of people ask what i do to afford the tools i need to work on cars and the truth is i work hard . the things i have dont come cheap. but they can be done. i use what extra cash i have to buy and sell cars when i can and its a steep business

one thing is i actually read this book many years ago Click Here! and im sure its changed a little but it has granted me certain freedoms in my life.
il be honest its not a walk in the park but if you learn sweet deals and when to stay away you can make a profit doing so.
first thing is taxes are a big thing to understand what you can do to get some deductions on the income you earn as i have made this my business ive learned a few things from tax classes . but i am no expert at the business side of things if you need help consult a professional.

again the book Click Here! is very helpful. It opened my eyes to possibilities on how one day i will be working for myself.

there are auction sites all over the internet. a few things you should know is there are auction fees so expect to pay more than your bid by a couple hundred and make sure its still a profit margin for you. i have ahead  few pitfalls such as a ford contour that i thought was the same old problem as i have fixed before but ended up  selling at a major loss to recuperate what i could. so things can be great but it is a major learning curve. so some of my next upcoming videos in the future will be inspecting used cars and how to avoid pitfalls. so stay tuned




\there are a couple places ive checked out on how to do this and they are here clicking these links will bring you to another page but they are trusted and will teach you something if you let the information set in

 top secret sellin cars(good info on this one)
Click Here!
and this is the link that i mentioned earlier  Click Here!

Front brake pad replacement chevrolet malibu

hey guys,
my latest video is how to replace the front brake pad and rotor on a 2008-2012 Chevrolet Malibu . its a straight forward job and can easily be accomplished with basic tools . n the video i use power tools but still basic tools will do.

Toyota highlander front brake job

hey guy i shot a new video on replacing the front brakes on  2008 TO 2013 Toyota highlander.
the process is straight forward with a 14mm head bolts holding the caliper on and 17mm head bolts holding on the caliper bracket. . i shot this video using the headstrap mount and i have to say i think it turned out very well, Let me know what you think

the Mr2 gets a huge update

so this is a long time coming. Joetheautoguy was originally developed around the idea of focusing primarily around my project car. however plans and finances were not there and parts were getting harder to come by. All this being said i finally have made up some ground and made a action plan on the build . so to high light some updates are all in this video

testing fuel pressure on a gm truck 1999-2013

a question i get time and time again, "my truck is running rough and dies do i need a fuel pump" this is most certainly a usually easy diagnosis but to start that diagnosis i always consider fuel pressure to be a very liable culprit. from the days of fuel pressure regulators to the more modern fuel pressure control modules in the gm trucks you need that reliable 55-62 psi of fuel pressure to run properly. if its not there than your going to have issues, along with to high of fuel pressure can also cause issues so to check your engine you can follow this video on test port and how to to check if fuel is your issue

1999-2005 pontiac oldmobile alero grand am battery service

replacing the battery in this car is simple with hand tools
you can use a 8mm wrench and a 3.8ths drive ratchet and extension with  13mm
the battery is a group 75 on this vehicle.
the video is below and will be easy to follow on the screen for your how to

how to change oil on a pontiac grand am

hey all, this is a video i did on a complete guide on changing your oil on the Pontiac Grand Am with the 3.4 liter v6.  this video will take you through the steps of how to do this.
oil is a 5w30 on this particular one as mentioned in the video the amount has varied through the years for whatever reason so oil capacity is usually 4.5 quarts but start with 4 and fill as needed

1999 - 2007 chevrolet truck and suv blower motor resistor

So your blower motor only works on high now? any lower speed you feel nothing , youve checked fuses? well then it is a good assumption your blower motor resistor is the culprit. there are a few ways to check and see if this is your issue . so lets talk about it!

first of all the blower motor resistor slows down voltage or current to the 12-14volt blower motor thats why high setting has no resistance so it wants full voltage and amps. to get a lower setting of speed the resistor forces voltage lower by turning  excess of the demand into heat. this is why they dont last forever but are usually cooled down by the air stream in the hvac assembly. So if your blower motor works on high only or you have some lower speeds that dont work its safe to assume that the resistor is the issue.
to test this you can use a DVOM(digital variable ohm multi-meter) to measure the volts DC to see if your getting voltage at all settings from the power connector that connects to the blower directly. one is a positive connection the other the negative connection as long as you dont put your leads for the meter in the same one your good , if the polarity is reversed you will see -12v if you flip it you should see 12 volts or +12v , start with the highest setting to see if power is there. this will confirm you have a direct power source from the switch (with ignition on of course) then go to your lowest setting your values on a good resistor will range from 1v-12v as you go through the settings if you have variable voltage readings on the resistor that slowly rise with the selector its operating properly.
If no its time to replace the resistor because it has failed. on the chevrolet trucks and full size suvs its a very simple process. if you would like a video demonstration on this your in luck Joe The Auto Guy has uploaded on on this issue and its very easy to follow directions so here is the video
Dont Forget to subscribe to the channel for more helpful tips and repairs on vehicles!!!
the main channel is www.youtube.com/Joetheautoguy

Bleeding the coolant system on a gm 3.1 or 3.4 revised

alright this is a video i have had up for awhile but i didn't cover the expansion tank version , most of the same principles still apply . im going to explain how to bleed this one using the expansion tank . for now here is the radiator cap video (and yes i didnt have a spill free funnel during this film )
this video if following the instructions i give is a full proof way to bleed the system if there are no other restrictions and or issues with the cooling system.
To reiterate the steps i will list them here

 bleed the system by opening the radiator cap (when its cold) and top off coolant, if you have the expansion tank just remove the cap and set it aside but still have easy access to it .
 run the car at a accelerated idle about 1000-1400 rpm as the car heats up the antifreeze level will rise.
Some may spill and overflow a little bit but this is ok. If using the lisle spill free funnel you just need to leave it hooked up to the cap and or expansion tank . and when it gets to operating temperature or close shut the radiator cap if no bubbles. and only if then open the bleed valve(driver side above thermostat) small turn if it continues to run hot to get the stubborn air out. If you have the expansion tank then this bleeder is open to the tank and there is nothing to turn )

 when it runs in the normal range then wait for it ( engine off) to cool down then open the cap (COLD) and top off coolant , if you touch the other bleeder it could blow off so only and I repeat only open that if its below 100 degrees Fahrenheit

 this bleeder can be opened when the first initial fill is happening after a major service.

After these steps close all bleeders and cap and run car normally and check for proper operation

Repeat the process if the car overheats or runs hot

and i stress if any part of the coolant system was opened thermostat, water pump , intake gaskets and so on any hoses removed, anything besides simply opening up the cap you need ABSOLUTELY  need to perform this process 

Chevy truck window regulater replacement

hey guys whats going on? finally have another vid out and this one is popular as it takes place in a wide selection of vehicles from gm. 1999-2007 gm trucks and suvs full size. but the process is pretty easy to tackle in an hour or so for a novice approach. the video is of the window regulator front door replacement. Tools you will need are a
10mm socket,
7mm socket ,
3 inch extension or driver.
trim tool helps but a wide flat head screw driver works as well
and a ratchet for sockets
regulators are found on the internet from 40-150 dollars U.S. plus shipping and or your local parts dealer this includes the window motor
heres the vid hope it helps ya

shooting the messanger

I read article on bangshift.com yesterday that explained a point that i deal with a lot.
i have a lot of respect for people in customer service as i have worked in it as well. and getting mad at a retail clerk or anybody behind a counter is just unreasonable to me. In the article i read it explains a customer called and cussed out a parts counter salesman, for not being able to order a fuel tank for a diesel pickup. The part wasnt available for order from thier store. the manager handled it by saying cussing out his employee was unacceptable and said,"consider your account closed and i will send your final bill, take your business elsewhere" .
I agree this was the correct course of action for a repeat rude customer account. its not nobodies direct fault that you cant get your part. None the less to make a person feel less of them selves when you talk to them. I have been on the other side of those conversations to. Ive been frustrated when i ordered the part and it didn't show up on time and ive wanted to get angry just for the sake its more of my time devoted to a project but i remember  not to take it out on the person behind the parts counter. its just unnecessary. How would you feel if this was you getting yelled at, on that note as well my relationships with parts stores are much better and managers know me by name and try hard to get me stuff on time , ive had a store bring me wiper blades 10 minutes before close because i needed them before the morning for the customer and was still working into the night on the vehicle. im about 15 minutes from the store and i know they would have to work late just to do that. its all in your relationships you build .
to read the article i read in full detail its located here at bangshift.com
http://bangshift.com/upcg/unknown-parts-counter-guy-shooting-messenger/

homemade car lifts

So ive been researching on how to wire up a garage. (im no electrician) so in all that im looking into the future of getting a lift and i want to run 220v wiring just for that. so in all that ive been needing quicker ways to do oil changes just as many of my customers have been coming to me more and more for that. along with other repairs but i use a floor jack and also have ramps but mine are built to lift trucks up higher.
so i have some ideas to make a rotating lift that you drive on and it rolls up flat and safely lifts it up higher for oil changes and inspections , again many ideas flowing around in my head so i decided to hit the net and see what people have come up with so i found this one and was wondering what people think

joetheautoguy thanks you

thanks guys for the support on the channel i love doing this and its very rewarding to help out the internet community for some cheap repair of vehicles. just thanks from the bottom of my heart.
just a side note my friend has a twitch account and plays video games consistently

http://www.twitch.tv/alucard9027 
here is the link , help him get some rank up in there and follow get some veiws . we will be playing some game together soon 

new videos on the way guys thanks again

never be afraid to check out the channel of mine
www.youtube.com/user/joemakinmoney

10 dollar mini bike lives and burnout carnage

hey guys so now i posted a little video on the mini bike today for a little friday randomness , so here is the first site of it since the pic on facebook also for a little more randomness is the carnage of a thirdgen camaro burnout

CHECK IT OUT

So in my other blog a new video is up and its just a little insight to how things are going. The work has started and your views help me keep my motivation up so like comment subscribe if you haven't on the mr2 channel and giveaways could be in the future as fan base grows. in the talks with some tuning companies that want the exposure.. Thanks guys for everything

The Silverado Vids

ok so i have a gmc sierra but the trucks are very similar and i posted awhile ago i believe in December that i would be doing videos around the gmc sierra 1500 platform and they have started and a bit more delayed then id hope but there on the way and first one up is the battery replacement and its very simple and can save you money with one of the most basic of jobs . usually a 25 dollar charge is what you pay on top of the battery already.
so here is the video for that one



To check your charging system with a simple multimeter you can find out how to do that here
 always be safe just know what your doing a well some aftermarket autostarts and remote starters will activate when exposed to a sudden charge

GM 3.4 LITER POWERSTEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT

 So last week i put up a video of the power steering pump remove and replacement. this is a video that for the most part transfers over to the 3.1 liter engines as well just the Alero and Grand Ams have the motor mount on the side that needs to be removed so id say the other ones are actually easier for the most part.
so for the gm pumps many people report noise after bleeding just continue the bleed process until the noise stops and sometimes they have to sit over night or a couple hours just to settle the fluid and evacuate the air. There is a gm Technical Service Bulletin for the reducer in the return line being clogged or to small on the 99 model years causing some unnecessary resistance and Argo noise from the pump. This reducer is found with in the rubber connector to the pump itself  about 2 inches back from the end clamp this could be a small source of an issue and usually unlikely but in some cases yes this is the issue.
So for the video is a great explanation in my opinion as to the process and i hope you enjoy the video and feel free to leave me any comments on the video and il help you out as soon as i read them




                     So for more of the channel check out the main channel
JoeTheAutoGuy youtube channel