A/C Problems!!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Alexandria Virginia
A/C Problems!!
Okay so most of you know I am new here and have been looking to buy a used Vette as I have been a postaholic for the last week. LOL
Anyway, I had a question that I was hoping someone could answer. I have been looking at C3's and C4's only and whenever I read the ad either on Ebay or on various Craigslist sites, they always always ALWAYS say the A/C is not working! When there is no mention of any A/C issues, and the rest of the car looks interesting, I will email the owner and ask "Is the A/C running strong and cold?" And they will always always ALWAYS answer back "The A/C is not working." or "It is blowing but not cold, probably just needs a charge." Yeah, right.
So I was just curious as to why the A/C is such an issue on these Vette's. Has anyone else had this experience or is it just me?
Thanks!
Anyway, I had a question that I was hoping someone could answer. I have been looking at C3's and C4's only and whenever I read the ad either on Ebay or on various Craigslist sites, they always always ALWAYS say the A/C is not working! When there is no mention of any A/C issues, and the rest of the car looks interesting, I will email the owner and ask "Is the A/C running strong and cold?" And they will always always ALWAYS answer back "The A/C is not working." or "It is blowing but not cold, probably just needs a charge." Yeah, right.
So I was just curious as to why the A/C is such an issue on these Vette's. Has anyone else had this experience or is it just me?
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Okay so most of you know I am new here and have been looking to buy a used Vette as I have been a postaholic for the last week. LOL
Anyway, I had a question that I was hoping someone could answer. I have been looking at C3's and C4's only and whenever I read the ad either on Ebay or on various Craigslist sites, they always always ALWAYS say the A/C is not working! When there is no mention of any A/C issues, and the rest of the car looks interesting, I will email the owner and ask "Is the A/C running strong and cold?" And they will always always ALWAYS answer back "The A/C is not working." or "It is blowing but not cold, probably just needs a charge." Yeah, right.
So I was just curious as to why the A/C is such an issue on these Vette's. Has anyone else had this experience or is it just me?
Thanks!
Anyway, I had a question that I was hoping someone could answer. I have been looking at C3's and C4's only and whenever I read the ad either on Ebay or on various Craigslist sites, they always always ALWAYS say the A/C is not working! When there is no mention of any A/C issues, and the rest of the car looks interesting, I will email the owner and ask "Is the A/C running strong and cold?" And they will always always ALWAYS answer back "The A/C is not working." or "It is blowing but not cold, probably just needs a charge." Yeah, right.
So I was just curious as to why the A/C is such an issue on these Vette's. Has anyone else had this experience or is it just me?
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
the shrader valves go bad after 20 years. many just charge them every year till they get to bad than do without because it leaks out to fast. easy cheap fix they can be changed without looseing freon with the right tool.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Because cars older than 1994 used R-12, which most people think is impossible to get. Most A/C shops don't even have the R-12 equipment any more because so many people have converted to R-134a. The percentage of cars still using R-12 is very small.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Alexandria Virginia
And OOOOOHHHH boy, do I NEED A/C! Summers here are excruciating!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
When I had mine recharged I just happened to have two cans of R-12 in the garage. The guy had to go find his R-12 manifold set to put in the freon.
What I have seen is that people hoarded R-12 when it was first banned and the price went WAY up. Now that everybody has converted to R-134a the hoarders have lowered the price drastically to get rid of it because the demand has dropped to almost zero.
What I have seen is that people hoarded R-12 when it was first banned and the price went WAY up. Now that everybody has converted to R-134a the hoarders have lowered the price drastically to get rid of it because the demand has dropped to almost zero.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Alexandria Virginia
When I had mine recharged I just happened to have two cans of R-12 in the garage. The guy had to go find his R-12 manifold set to put in the freon.
What I have seen is that people hoarded R-12 when it was first banned and the price went WAY up. Now that everybody has converted to R-134a the hoarders have lowered the price drastically to get rid of it because the demand has dropped to almost zero.
What I have seen is that people hoarded R-12 when it was first banned and the price went WAY up. Now that everybody has converted to R-134a the hoarders have lowered the price drastically to get rid of it because the demand has dropped to almost zero.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 161
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recharging the ac was the first repair I did myself. Either r12 or 134 it's easy to do. By law R12 is supposed to be recaptured and recycled to protect against ozone depletion. You also not supposed to go faster than 65.From your posts, I know you like the c3 and older c4 but you should buy the newest year you can. Freon, opti's, heater cores, and availability of parts make having a corvette and driving a corvette two different stories.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,496
Likes: 475
From: New Jersey
The ac on these cars is not especially complex from a technical perspective, don't turn down a car due to the ac not blowing cold. If you invest in a set of gauges and a vacuum pump, you could probably diagnose, fix, and charge your own system.