Cool
After another period of setting up for over a year, the air conditioning stopped working on my 93 Coupe. I had worked fine before that. The problem is that my 93 has the older R12. Its hard to find, expensive, and everyone keeps telling me i need to convert my system to R134. I came close to doing that, actually buying the valve to adapt to 134. But I still had pressure on the schrader valve. I found 2 cans of R12 on ebay, and bought the install hose. I hooked everything up, started her up, turned on the AC, after the first can I got some intermitten turning of the compressor clutch. I added the second and it started turning. Cool air out of the vent. A truly beautiful sight! I've been riding around for a week and a half with no problems. Even taking it out on a 100 mile trip to a close city. I guess I had forgotten how warm things run on a hot summer day. It was about 97. The cooling temp ran from 195-212. Warmer then I like to see it, but it was a hot day. It may be time to revisit a plan to make the cooling fan come on cooler, as my system is stock. I would guess 5-6 years since its worked.
Onward and forward. My next task is to get the cruise control to work again, then me and the wife plan a much longer trip. Maybe the beach or something. I just wanted to share the joy

 

Seems you only fixed the problem temporarily as the R-12 will just leak out again because you didn't fix the leak.
Your temps for a 97 degree day are perfect.

 

I thought about that. Ask me again at the end of the summer, or this time next year. It had been quite a few years since that system had been topped off when it quit. I am hoping it is a very slow leak. I can live with that. R12 was hard to find back when it quit, so it had been years since it had been charged. My backup plan is to have the old gas pumped out and recharge the system with 134. But for tight now, it sure is nice to be able to ride around cool again in my vet.

 

Congrats on having A/C again! I agree, those temps are just fine.

I hope that you know that it is not that simple at all.

 

How much did you pay for the R12? I feel lucky that the AC in my 91 works and really proved itself yesterday when I decided to drive it to work when the temp was heading up to 90. I'm thinking about putting some R12 away in case I ever need it.

 

I hadn't turned on the AC in my '90 for the last 10 years and decided to try it recently. The compressor didn't turn over but there is freon in the system when I checked the schrader valve. Was there any damage to your unit when you first tried to run it? I'd like to try it but don't want to damage anything.

 

Quick look on ebay shows lots of cans of the real stuff going for ~$30-35 a piece. I bought three cans recently at $90.

 

About $30 per can. Be careful if it says "R12 substitute". You can't mix that with the r12 in your system already. Also the charging hose set-up needs to clamp on and puncture the can to work properly so the r134 charge hose won't work. Good luck to you.

 

If you decide to do the conversion, don't do like my '93 previous owner. Never changed the o-rings and probably didn't flush it.

Mine leaked down. I put my vacuum pump on it and it wouldn't hold.

Broke it open, found the old black packings everywhere. Flushed it and blew it out. Replaced the orifice. All new green o-rings. Held a good vacuum this time and refilled with the right compressor oil and 134a.

I've converted 12s before. Never as cold but done properly it will keep you comfy in the heat.