AC recharge
 

My ac works a little, the air is not very cold so I figure I need to recharge it. Do I really have to have someone clean all of the r12 out, or can I just get a can of 134a and an adapter and fill her up?
Anyone know where I could go to get a good price if I have to have it sucked out?

Re: AC recharge
 

When I lived in AZ, I got my talon converted over to a refrigerant called Freeze 12. The only thing they had to change was the fitting on the AC line, and then they removed the old stuff and put in the new. And the Freeze 12 is supposed to be real cheap. I haven't seen it up here though, so not sure how I'm going to recharge it when that time comes.

EDIT:
http://www.freeze-12.com/
http://www.sherco-auto.com/fr4012.htm

There's a link to what I am converted to. Supposed to actually be colder then R-134a, and a fairly easy conversion for older R-12 systems like ours.

Re: AC recharge
 

R134A is really cheap and is available at all parts stores and even Walmarts along with the retrofit kits.

Re: AC recharge
 

do I have to suck the old r12 out, or can I just get r134a and mix it with the r12?

Re: AC recharge
 

I just mixed it right in, no problemo.

Re: AC recharge
 

Someone told me your lines will corrode if you mix 12r and 134a? I was reading 134a is apparently the only approved stuff to mix with 12r I think, is that true? Now I gotta find someone with a hose and guage and converter to 134a. Can anyone help me out?

Re: AC recharge
 

Walmart, Autozone, Checker, O'Reillys, etc. The conversion kits are cheap and are usually boxed with everything you need including the cans of cold stuff.

Re: AC recharge
 

You may want to look into the reason it needs to be charged, such as a leak. Just so your not disappointed after the fact.

Re: AC recharge
 

Did the A/C become less affective slowly over time or all of a sudden over night? If slowly over time, considering its a '91, I wouldn't worry too much about a leak and just refill it whenever it needs it since the stuff is so cheap. If it happened very quickly you probably have a junk seal and should get some of the leak tracer dye.

Re: AC recharge
 

The car sat a few years before I got it and when I got it the ac was weak but it did and still does work a little so I don't think there is a leak. I already have 2 cans of 134a, I just wanted to make sure I could mix it. I put it in the lower input on the compressor housing right? Some one has to have a hose and adapter that I could use so I don't have to buy one, come on guys.

Re: AC recharge
 

I don't think you can just put the 134A stuff into a Freon system w/o the conversion kit. I am not entirely sure of what the conversion kit entails though so look into it.

Re: AC recharge
 

R134a and R12 are not compatable. It's been a couple years since we covered this in school so I don't remember exactly why, but I remember that they aren't compatable.

Re: AC recharge
 

You probably have a leak. And don't you need to put an accurate amount of freon into the system, not just hook up a few bottles and let 'er rip? I went to an A/C seminar, and said those little bottles are probably the worst thing ever.

Re: AC recharge
 

^^ They told us the same thing in school about those bottles, and yes, you have to put in a specific ammount. Also, plan on putting in compressor oil that is compatible with the R134a, the R12 compressor oil is different.

Re: AC recharge
 

You should not mix R12 and R134A

R12 is also a lubricant.

When I work on R134a systems I have to add Pag oil to the systems because R134a has no lubrication properties.

At the very least, I would recover what you have in the system, put a vacuum on the system to remove all the moisture, then maybe you can try adding R134a and pag oil.

Ive never worked on my 1g eclipses a/c since I removed a while ago before I knew anything about A/C, but on any cars A/C systems, there is a high and low pressure switch, one for when the high side pressure is at a peak, the front radiator fan kicks on to cool the condensor, thus lowering the high side pressure, the low pressure switch is to kill power to the a/c compressor clutch in order to save the compressor from lack of lubrication.

I wanted to share that last paragraph with you because these switches are set up on your car for R12 and not R134a. High and Low side pressures will be differant. It may or may not work.

I actually work on medium/heavy duty truck A/C :)

Re: AC recharge
 

I know there are a few people who have converted their 1g to 134a but I guess it would be a good idea to vacuum the R12 out so they can recycle it and resell it and then mix oil with the 134a and I should be fine. I am going to talk to my mechanic friend about a hose with a guage. When they vacuum the system can they check pressure?

So anyone have any suggestions on where to get the r12 sucked out at?

Re: AC recharge
 

Or just use Freeze 12.

Re: AC recharge
 

Alright. Instead of starting up another thread I'm just gonna steal this one since it's no longer in use ;)

Since the weather is getting so hot outside and the leather seats and untinted windows just add more heat inside my car .... and my back!, I thought I'd get the AC in my car working again. It worked really well when I bought the car so Im thinking it's just low on R12 (I have a '93 Tsi).
My question - is the conversion kit a DIY kind of job? I've never messed with AC ever in my life, so I've no clue. I just read that the 'cold' line is under the intake manifold by the condensor (woohoo, fun fun!). Since it's just new adapter plugs going on, it doesnt sound very hard and confusing. Now, anyone know of a good place where I can get my R12 taken out and replaced with R134? Or just have the R12 taken out and I'll add the R134 myself cause it doesnt seem hard. Plus, I'd rather have a machine check for leaks at the same time it takes out the R12 before I go on a waste a couple cans of R134.
Im hoping to do this within the next week or so. Thanks guys!

Re: AC recharge
 

Most chain shops offer free or cheap A/C inspections. Check out Firestone, Tires Plus, etc. for current offers/deals/coupons.

Re: AC recharge
 

cool. Thanks man. I'll check out a few shops tomorrow on my free time.

Re: AC recharge
 

I'll take onto this thread because I never dealt with AC much except adding a few cans here and there. I bought a full 20lb or so bottle and the proper high and low side AC charging lines. Trouble is, it didn't come with any directions and I couldn't find anything on the web. I went to charge my AC and it didn't do diddly, so I just used my good old trusty gauge and hose and put a can of freon in. Do one of you AC gurus have a link somewhere of the proper procedure for using the real system instead of the pep boyz cans?

Re: AC recharge
 

I just did the conversion. Its stupidly easy, all you do is screw a couple fittings on overtop of the existing low and high side fittings.

Re: AC recharge
 

Thanks. I should be doing it myself and saving some money.
So where exactly is the low side fitting? It's kinda hard to see when it's under the intake manifold so I was feeling around for it and couldnt find it. How far on the line, going away from the condensor would it be?

Re: AC recharge
 

Or what I was thinking also, is to keep the R12 and get some cans from ebay and recharge it that way. I hear R12 is colder. What's everyone's take on this? Stay R12 of convert over to R134?

Re: AC recharge
 

its ridiculously easy to convert to 134, we did it in a protege the other day and it took 10 min, i went to advanced they have the entire kit there for like 26 bucks, you screw on 2 new fittings over the old ones and fill it with 134, you just have to make sure all the r12 is out. You'll probably have to unhook the low pressure sensor though so your compressor will cycle it through at first as we had to since when its too low of pressure it won't cycle so id doesn't burn out the compressor.

Re: AC recharge
 

Stay with R12 if you can find it at a decent price since it is colder.

Re: AC recharge
 

Ebay prices - about $50 for two cans of R12 with hose adapter for can. I'll probably only need one can for now as from what i've seen. Most people dont need too much to just recharge their ac.

Re: AC recharge
 

Check with Derek Hennekens, I believe he had some cans of R12 he was trying to sell here about a year ago. Do a search on it.