How-to recharge the air conditioning on a 2000 focus:
R 134A freon is added into the "quick connect type" fiiting, located on top of the AC accumulator, which is located underneath the front of the driver side wheel-arch. You may want to raise the car with your jack placed behind the front tire, although with over-the counter a/c recharging kits such as those bought from Halfords, it isn't necessary as long as you have slender hands. Those with fat hands will have to remove the three screws that secure the black plastic wheel-arch cover. One screw has a torx head and is located at the front lower edge of the wheel-arch. The other two are phillips head plastic screws located in front of the strut. With the three cover screws removed, pull down the front portion of the black plastic cover. This will expose the AC accumulator, which looks like a half-pint sized (~300ml) aluminum can. Now, unscrew the valve cover from the quick connect fitting, which is located at the top of the aluminium cannister, and connect your AC recharging hose to the fitting. By the way, it pushes on and snaps onto the fitting. Now, follow the instructions that came with your AC recharge kit, for the dtermining the correct amount of freon to add. Finally, replace the fitting valve cover, the fenderwell cover/screws and you're done.
kingsize566, July 2008
