Not an A/C expert by any means, but using the cans with the hose/gauge puts air into the system as there is no way to bleed the air out between the can and hose. It is not much, but.....
When proper gauges are used, this air can be bleed-out. A technique my father always did. He did refrigeration most of his life, so I learned a bit being his helper.

Also the Harbor Freight gauges and vacuum pump are ok for a DIY'er....they will get the A/C working, just not at peak level.

 

Excellent point. I know there was a reason that that I liked my gauges more than those cans.

Just found out that Walmart has R134a for $8.88 a can. Best price I've found anywhere. parts stores are usually around $20. Tractor Supply had them for $9.99, but they ran out. The manager ordered some more for me. I'm going to stock up for my cars that use R134a. My other cars use R152a, aka Dust Off, and I have a supply of that. It's about half that price. Works great for old systems that used to use R-12.

 

Thanks Man!
I shouldn't have been so lazy and looked it up myself. From this (and having spent WAY to much time under and behind my dash on the 04) maybe it's not that that bad a job...

Thankfully, lucky stars, I haven't had to KNOW where this bit is,,, yet... I found these two pictures. The diagram is the 98 drawing but I think it may hold true for all cars based on the second photo,,, which is advertised as for 98-06.

 

The process is simple too.

1. Remove everything within 5 feet of the expansion valve.
2. Remove expansion valve.

Installation is the reverse of the removal process.

 

To a degree,,, 5 feet is about right! Learned this the hard way trying to take shortcuts and being lazy when I had to replace EVERY doggone servo motor for all the doors and flaps in the 04 HVAC system. Talk about cursing and swearing,,, with feet up in the air no less. Holy bologna!