2018 Ram Air Conditioning Recharge

Matty Patty · Jul 11, 2018

Has anyone else had an issue or know why I am unable to attach an A/C R-134a recharging hose fitting to the low pressure port on my new 2018 Ram 3.6L V6? I bought it new and noticed this summer that the A/C is not performing as well as it should be - the output air is barely cooler than the outside ambient air temperature, even on MAX A/C. I have hooked up and recharged numerous systems on other vehicles so am relatively confident on locating the low pressure port, but on this new 2018, the low pressure port is nearly the same size as the high pressure port, and I cannot get the fitting attached to the port to even check to see if the pressure is at an acceptable level. I have plenty of spare cans of R-134a and hoses to just add more freon without making a big deal about it, or so I thought.
Is this a change from previous years and the appropriate hose fitting isn't on the shelf at stores yet since it is so new? I haven't found anywhere online that talks about this issue, so I'm wondering if I am the only one with this problem. Is this something I should just go to the dealership with and see if they know anything about it?
When I was under the hood trying to hook up the hose for the first time, I did notice what looked to be residue around the low pressure port. It looked more like someone tried to attach an fitting to the port the same way I did and released some of the freon rather than residue from a crack around the port or anything damage-related.
Any info or suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

AFMoulton · Jul 11, 2018

If you bought it new why not take it back to the dealer and make them service it. It would be under warranty

2018 2500 6.4 4x4 4.10 Amsoil SS 0w-40
2016 Durango 5.7 AWD 3.07 Amsoil SS 5W-30
1996 Nissan Altima 2.4 Amsoil SS 5W-30

crash68 · Jul 11, 2018

Your 2018 Ram uses 1234yf refrigerant, the fittings are different.
If the truck is that new, let the dealer fix the AC. You would get sticker shock if you wanted to buy a canister of 1234yf to try to charge the system.

bassheadhemi · Jul 11, 2018

1234yf stand for 1234 you're ****

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misfit77 · Jul 11, 2018

I swear my ac is starting to seem weak. I realized I couldnt hook up my 134a manifold so I took it in. Dealer says it's all to spec.

I am sure that ram just sucks.

alpinegreenneon · Jul 11, 2018

R1234yf does not cool as efficiently as R134a. I don't think there is anything that can be retrofitted without great expense. It eventually gets cool, just take longer.

Lconnally · Jul 11, 2018

What year did they start using that?

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crash68 · Jul 12, 2018

alpinegreenneon said:
R1234yf does not cool as efficiently as R134a. I don't think there is anything that can be retrofitted without great expense.

Your correct about 1234yf not being as efficient.
As far as retrofitting it will probably come down to ones refrigeration skills. One of the big hurdles is the oil, 134a is compatible with the oil used for 1234yf(this wasn't the case with R12 & 134a). Given the AC system uses a variable compressor and utilizes a suction line heat exchanger, getting the refrigerant charge correct so the system works and does so without destroying itself will take some serious precision.

meedom · Jul 13, 2018

Lconnally said:
What year did they start using that?

Anybody know what year they started using the R1234yf??
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Wild one · Jul 13, 2018

Lconnally said:
What year did they start using that?

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Somewhere around mid year on the 14's. My buddies early built 14 uses 134,while my later Sept 2014 built 2014 RCSB 4X4 uses R1234YF,so somewhere between then,lol

Rocketjam · May 27, 2019

Does anyone know if the newer AC can be recharged with 134? Spending 3-5K to have AC repaired on $70000 less than five year old truck is just blowing my mind, I've contacted Ram but no response.

Tach_tech · May 27, 2019

If you retrofit the fittings back to 134a you could. Someone on here has done it, can’t remember their name though.

What does your truck need that it’s going to cost 3-5K, to fix the A/C?

indept · May 29, 2019

misfit77 said:
I swear my ac is starting to seem weak. I realized I couldnt hook up my 134a manifold so I took it in. Dealer says it's all to spec.

I am sure that ram just sucks.

My Ram uses 1234 yf & its cold as any vehicle I've owned.

misfit77 · May 29, 2019

I've asked ram other Mopar owners....all agree it sucks.

Keep in mind we live in Tucson.

88ROOK · May 30, 2019

mine was cold as heck last year now it just seems like its blowing in the outside air............something not right

James OBrien · May 30, 2019

I had a post a couple of weeks ago about the 1234 coolant and my expensive lesson when I had to break down the system to do a cam swap and headers/head upgrade. Here's one of the posts that listed how one of our members (rader) retrofitted his truck. Post one is for adaptor fittings. post 2 from Tach_tech is the part number for the new line you can install in place of the old one with 1234 fittings and have the R134a fittings instead:

Post 1:
A much simpler way to switch from 1234Y to 134A is to simply buy 1234 charging port connectors that have a fitting that adapts the 1234 ports on the stock lines to 134A hoses. The adapters are just over $20.00 a pair.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2Pcs-Refri...258757?hash=item4b4bfa8e05:g:ZvAAAOSwkO5bcOvQ

First hand experience....my AC compressor self destructed. I purchased one off car-part.com dirt cheap, emptied out my old compressor oil and refilled the replacement with like amount of 1234Y compatible oil. I purchased a set of adapters to fit my stock charging ports off ebay. Borrowed a set of 134A gauges and vacuum pump, purchased Walmart Super Tech 134A at less than $5.00 a can.

Post 2 from Tach_tech:

Part number
68447796AA

pwjouster · May 31, 2019

so your telling me i should go into the dealer and mention in 20k miles and 1.5 years that my ac is not nearly as cold as it was?

i really hope a recharge is not nearly that much.

buddy guy · May 31, 2019

misfit77 said:
I've asked ram other Mopar owners....all agree it sucks.

Keep in mind we live in Tucson.

i live in a mixed climate environment so we've really only had hotter weather the last week and a chance to try ac in my new ram. on a 80 plus degree day, the ac at max is cold, but not too cold that I have to turn the temp down. I got used to 2 years of no a/c working in my 2003 tacoma so I'm just thrilled to have a working a/c again! My kids mom had a 2011 Murano until recently so the older ac refrigerant. THAT was a cold ac. i could not run that sucker on high except to get cool quickly. And it got there fast.

Wild one · May 31, 2019

buddy guy said:
i live in a mixed climate environment so we've really only had hotter weather the last week and a chance to try ac in my new ram. on a 80 plus degree day, the ac at max is cold, but not too cold that I have to turn the temp down. I got used to 2 years of no a/c working in my 2003 tacoma so I'm just thrilled to have a working a/c again! My kids mom had a 2011 Murano until recently so the older ac refrigerant. THAT was a cold ac. i could not run that sucker on high except to get cool quickly. And it got there fast.

If you ever need A/C work in Airdrie ,W&B across the street from DQ on Edmonton Trail is all set up to do the newer 1234 refrigerant now,and they're noticeably cheaper then the dealer.They just topped my 14 up for me,and the A/C is back to working like it did when the truck was new.

Tach_tech · May 31, 2019

Wild one said:
If you ever need A/C work in Airdrie ,W&B across the street from DQ on Edmonton Trail is all set up to do the newer 1234 refrigerant now,and they're noticeably cheaper then the dealer.They just topped my 14 up for me,and the A/C is back to working like it did when the truck was new.

Your A/C shouldn’t need to be topped up. If it was noticeably low it’s probably got a leak. Most likely that plug on the bottom of the condenser.

2018 Ram Air Conditioning Recharge

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