AC Question
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,834
Likes: 30
As an HVAC tech, imo, R-134a sucks. R-12 is awsome. problem R-12 is regetably "liquid gold" as we call it, and is availble, for a nominal fee. If you know someone in the a/c trade, give him 50 bucks to look at it. they will be able to check the system out, check pressures, switches, superheat, subcooling, general operation. If you ask a tech what superheat or subcooling is, and he answers, "uh, uh, I don't know" don't let him touch your car. or take it to a real auto a/c repair shop. it will be painful either way.
..r-12 is decent in my book!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,834
Likes: 30
What's involved with that in terms of cost/work?
If I can get the R12 going for this year, that's good enough for me, I can worry about that next year.
Unless I have to replace the compressor, I can't see the conversion being fiscally responsible. The 134A compressor on Rock Auto is $700 vs. $500 for an R12 compressor.
I don't see where a conversion makes sense, plus, I LOVE THE COLDNESS of R12.
If I can get the R12 going for this year, that's good enough for me, I can worry about that next year.
Unless I have to replace the compressor, I can't see the conversion being fiscally responsible. The 134A compressor on Rock Auto is $700 vs. $500 for an R12 compressor.
I don't see where a conversion makes sense, plus, I LOVE THE COLDNESS of R12.
......if you are using r-12 and can get r-12, stick with r-12....
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Conyers Ga
...uh....once the system is open, it has an affinity for moisture and will absorb same VERY quickly!....change out the orifice tube as well as the accumulator/dryer...i have never heard of anyone sucking down a system with a "shop vac" (or similar!)...it would seem to me that any vacuum cleaner WOULD NOT be sufficient to pull a hard enough and steady vacuum on the system...i WOULD NOT USE IT...pulling a vacuum is for removing air from the system and when the system is under vacuum it lowers the boiling point of the refrigerant so that it will "boil off" and be removed by the vacuum pump.....moisture and refrigerants in the system together will form an acid, taking out the system over time.....once you put on a set of gauges and pump the system down,turn off the pump, shut all valves, mark and watch all gauges for about an hour...if the gauges move at all, you have a leak which must be fixed....
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City UT
WOW, all the guy asked was what to do with his a/c problem, not a lesson on refrigeration evacuation. The best answer to the question, is to take it to a professional. It may be less exspenive than, "I think I fixed it right". I have been there with a shade tree engine repair. Very painful also minus a friend. I know it may sound exspensive, but they do know what they are doing. It is a "service".
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
WOW, all the guy asked was what to do with his a/c problem, not a lesson on refrigeration evacuation. The best answer to the question, is to take it to a professional. It may be less exspenive than, "I think I fixed it right". I have been there with a shade tree engine repair. Very painful also minus a friend. I know it may sound exspensive, but they do know what they are doing. It is a "service".
Like I said, AC ain't my thing.
However, looking into this more, it doesn't seem all that complicated. But I tend to over simplify.
BTW, the rest is OK, I like learning about this stuff anyway.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,834
Likes: 30
WOW, all the guy asked was what to do with his a/c problem, not a lesson on refrigeration evacuation. The best answer to the question, is to take it to a professional. It may be less exspenive than, "I think I fixed it right". I have been there with a shade tree engine repair. Very painful also minus a friend. I know it may sound exspensive, but they do know what they are doing. It is a "service".
.....it is always better to go into something with a little bit of knowledge then none at all so that one does not get ripped off and that all the options are made available to him if the shop doesn't supply any......
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City UT
i agree with the knowledge recon. it has helped me a great deal. I was trying not to get into any kind of pissing match. I know Jsup will soon be cruisin in a great american sports car with ice cold a/c, and hopefully we have contributed in some way to his cause.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
I put in one can, 14OZ, of R12, and it seems to be working fine.
I turned down the AC as low as it would go, then filled it until the clutch just stayed on, there was a drop left in the can so I just put it in.
I don't have a gauge, I think my dad may have one, but the compressor is not rattling so I don't think I over filled it.
I'm going to try to get my hands on a gauge and check it.
I turned down the AC as low as it would go, then filled it until the clutch just stayed on, there was a drop left in the can so I just put it in.
I don't have a gauge, I think my dad may have one, but the compressor is not rattling so I don't think I over filled it.
I'm going to try to get my hands on a gauge and check it.
Last edited by jsup; May 6, 2008 at 05:27 PM.
