purging r12 from a/c system - Im not an idiot, I swear
03-24-08, 09:36 PM
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purging r12 from a/c system - Im not an idiot, I swear
I've read pretty much every A/C post on this forum. I know the general consesus is to not convert to r134 as the comressor will eventually die due to much higher pressure from the r134. I have also read the lengthy and laborious process to do an r134 conversion the correct way (removing all the oil etc etc). So I'm throwing all caution to the wind and disregarding all this good advice and doing an r134 retrofit the poorman's way.
That said, heres my question. My compressor does not come on at all. I read that the compressor will not come on even if the AC button is switched on inside the car if the system is out of r12 to save the compressor. Should I still take my car to a shop and pay them to get any possible remaining r12 out of the system with a vacuum pump or is it safe to say there is no more residual r12 in the system because the compressor wont kick on? Also, I bought this car off a kid that said he refilled the system with a small can of r12 that got him through 1 arizona summer, but looking at the system it seems that the ac lines already have the r134 retrofit fittings installed, so now Im wondering if the kid new what he was talking about. Please be gentle with me, I know the AC gurus and purists are going to read this and conclude Im a moron.
That said, heres my question. My compressor does not come on at all. I read that the compressor will not come on even if the AC button is switched on inside the car if the system is out of r12 to save the compressor. Should I still take my car to a shop and pay them to get any possible remaining r12 out of the system with a vacuum pump or is it safe to say there is no more residual r12 in the system because the compressor wont kick on? Also, I bought this car off a kid that said he refilled the system with a small can of r12 that got him through 1 arizona summer, but looking at the system it seems that the ac lines already have the r134 retrofit fittings installed, so now Im wondering if the kid new what he was talking about. Please be gentle with me, I know the AC gurus and purists are going to read this and conclude Im a moron.
03-24-08, 10:17 PM
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If you go to autozone you can rent a vacuum pump. It has a $200 deposit, but you get it all back.
Also, before you put in R-134, check out freeze-12. It cools better than R-134 and runs at lower pressures. You have to have an MVAC certification to buy it, but its an easy test at www.epatests.com.
I have it in my MX-3 and it works great.
Also, before you put in R-134, check out freeze-12. It cools better than R-134 and runs at lower pressures. You have to have an MVAC certification to buy it, but its an easy test at www.epatests.com.
I have it in my MX-3 and it works great.
03-24-08, 11:47 PM
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look at Places Like Autozone..they have a Kit Called R12A...it contains a Can of Refrigerant and also a Sealer for the A/C..it runs you about 90-100 bucks...I was going to get it Myself a couple of Years ago,after Hearing Raves about it..I Didn't know much about rx7's,and when I Got a Manual,I found out that I actually Had NO A/C System in the Car what-so-Ever!!!..so I think that Will make you Feel a Little better than "moronic"!..CHEERS man.STYX!~..OH,and if you are Asking whether to Let a shop "suck the Freon OUT" or "do it yourself" sort of thing,It all depends on What you are Comfortable with..Personally,I won't be around Long enough to See the Fallout of Global warming,and If I was a Real environmentalist,I wouldn't be Driving around in an a car that Smells Like a Friggin Oil Derrick!
03-25-08, 03:31 AM
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Sideways, I actually bought my r134a conversion kit at autozone, the one by my place didnt have the vacuum pump, I asked for it, but there is another autozone in town, its a bit of a drive though so I was sorta hoping to get an answer like "dont worry it will be fine just fill it with r134" but I know thats not the case.
mistery - lols on your post, Im no tree hugger, I know the r12 is supposed to be recycled, if I could purge it myself I would, I just don't want to wait another week to get this done and I cant put the $200 down until later on this week to get a vacuum pump. The reason I'm going with r134 and not r12 is because I'm almost certain my whole AC system is going to need an overhaul soon and I don't want to spend $100-$150 on r12. ok, its off to more research then. Thanks for the replies.
mistery - lols on your post, Im no tree hugger, I know the r12 is supposed to be recycled, if I could purge it myself I would, I just don't want to wait another week to get this done and I cant put the $200 down until later on this week to get a vacuum pump. The reason I'm going with r134 and not r12 is because I'm almost certain my whole AC system is going to need an overhaul soon and I don't want to spend $100-$150 on r12. ok, its off to more research then. Thanks for the replies.
