Just converted '90 LX to R-143a for $50
a...@wi.net
Like the heading says, my A/C is now working again. I called a few auto
parts places and they said they weren't licensed to sell R-134a conversion
kits in Wisconsin. I called the dealer and they said a conversion kit for
the Mustang costs $550. I asked what it came with, but the guy didn't know
(shocking, huh?) Then when I was at Autozone, I saw a conversion kit. I took
it to a service station down the street and had the old R-12 evacuated (it
was basically empty) and they leak tested the system. They said there were
no detectable leaks, but there may be some very slow leaks (probably the
seals with the spring connectors), since the old R-12 leaked out on it's own.
(Poor ozone...) Then I headed to Autozone. Here's what I bought:
- R-12 to R-134a Conversion Kit ($28) This kit contained two plastic
cylinders holding the new R-134a oil and some additives to make the new oil
compatible with the old oil, as well as "rejuvinate" the seals and stop
small leaks (BS maybe...) It also came with two new R-134a valves that
screw onto the old high and low side pressure valves. - R-134a Recharge Hose
($13) This is a one foot long hose with a valve at both ends. One end
screws onto the cans of R-134a refrigerant and the other end hooks up to the
low pressure side valve on the A/C compressor. - Four 12 ounce cans of
R-134a ($4.50 each) I read in my manual that the A/C system holds 3 pounds
(48 ounces) of freon. So, I bought 4 cans, but you'll see that I only used
two.
I followed the directions with the kit and simply screwed the cylinders onto
the low pressure side valve and emptied both cylinders into the A/C system.
Then I started the car, ran the A/C on high, and attached the hose with the
can of R-134a on the end. When I started the A/C, the clutch on the
compressor would not engage because of no freon. As the freon entered the
A/C system, the clutch engaged. I emptied the first can of freon by holding
it upside-down. Then I hooked up the second can. The instructions say to
hold the can upright (except for the first one), so I held the next one
upright. About half of the freon left the can and that was it. I left
everything hooked up and running for about 10 minutes and no more freon would
leave the second can. So, I removed the hose and checked the air coming from
the vents--very cold. I don't why only about 1 1/2 pounds went in, but I
figure I'll try to put the rest of the can in after I run it for a few days.
I'll repost in a few weeks with an update of how it's working.
Andy Pluister
'90 LX 5.0 & '90 GT 5.0 convertible
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Nos50ford
I'd switch too, but where we work we can get R12 down to about 34 degrees
coming out of the vents, and we can get 134a down to about 53 degrees. What do
you think feels better on a 96 degree day?
a...@wi.net
In article <199806070343...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
I don't doubt the cooling power of R-12, but up here in Wisconsin, we don't
get too many 96 degree days (at least above zero,ha ha :( )
Lloyd Cimprich
I am very interested in the possibility of getting the air in my cars
working again, my 1990 LX still has functioning A/C but my 1983 Caprice
Sedan and 1985 Caprice Estate Wagon have fuctioning A/C. Is anyone aware if
such conversions can be purchased at reasonable cost for my cars, they are
all R12 now. I live in the Mississauga area of Ontario Canada.
Thanks in advance.
>Like the heading says, my A/C is now working again.
>
Charlie Daubitz
On Tue, 9 Jun 1998 07:21:08 -0500, "Dan" <spd...@netnitco.net> wrote:
>>the vents--very cold. I don't why only about 1 1/2 pounds went in, but I
>>figure I'll try to put the rest of the can in after I run it for a few
>days.
>
>
>If I am not mistaken, the R134a only takes about 20% of the original amount
>or something like that. I can't remember what the exact percentage is but
>that is why it only took what it did.
>
>
The pressure in the can has to be higher than the low side with the
compressor turning. When you charge gas the liquid in the can gets
cold and the can pressue drops too low, just put the can in warm water
to get the can pressure up.
Phillip Patterson
It's supposed to be 80% of the amount of R12. I done dozens of conversion
at our used car lot. It was WAY too expensive to do A/C repairs and
recharge them with R12. Also, we didn't have to have a license to get the
R12, you don't have to have a license to get R134A. All of the cars I
converted over would put out between 38-42 degrees, so that was plenty cool
enough. You need something to pull a vacuum to remove all the old oil and
replace with an ester based oil to convert to R134, everything else is fine.
You really need some gauges, though. I've even seen people add R134A to
they're existing system (when the freon get low) with R12 in it, and not
have any problems. Alot of places say you have to replace this or that to
do the conversion, it's a bunch of bull, we've got cars out there for over 2
years after the conversion, still working fine.
Phillip Patterson
'79 Malibu 454
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~ppatter
***Remove *AS from my e-mail address. This is done for Anti-Spamming
reasons.***
Dan wrote in message <6lgl8i$ss2$1...@hyperion.nitco.com>...
charles copeland
In article <6lfepd$psr$1...@neuromancer.echo-on.net>,
Lloyd Cimprich <haff...@echo-on.net> wrote:
>I am very interested in the possibility of getting the air in my cars
>working again, my 1990 LX still has functioning A/C but my 1983 Caprice
>Sedan and 1985 Caprice Estate Wagon have fuctioning A/C. Is anyone aware if
>such conversions can be purchased at reasonable cost for my cars, they are
>all R12 now. I live in the Mississauga area of Ontario Canada.
>
>Thanks in advance.
Initial news reports stated that conversion was not possible.
The chemicals content of the R12 system would contaminate
a R134 upgrade. If I recall correctly, all aluminum parts
must be replace, evaporator, condensor, ...
a...@wi.net
In article <6lfepd$psr$1...@neuromancer.echo-on.net>,
"Lloyd Cimprich" <haff...@echo-on.net> wrote:
>
> I am very interested in the possibility of getting the air in my cars
> working again, my 1990 LX still has functioning A/C but my 1983 Caprice
> Sedan and 1985 Caprice Estate Wagon have fuctioning A/C. Is anyone aware if
> such conversions can be purchased at reasonable cost for my cars, they are
> all R12 now. I live in the Mississauga area of Ontario Canada.
>
I don't know about the Canadian availability/regulations, but the conversion
kit I bought at Autozone was not make or model specific. It was a generic
R-12 to R-134a kit.
Andy Pluister
'90 LX 5.0 & '90 GT 5.0 convertible
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