A/C recharging

[inmytree]

Hello all,

My 1990 Jetta N/A is in need of a A/C recharge. She was blowing cold last summer, this summer, not so much...it's going to be 98 here tomorrow, so I figured I'd see what others have found successful...

The system is R12...and from what I've read, a r134 conversion in not the answer...

I'm thinking about getting a R12 recharge kit off ebay. I've also seen Freeze 12 kits and something called envio-safe...

I think Red-Tek is an option, too...

I have a A/C gauge step from harbor freight...

so, does anyone have any success story's or horror story's that would be helpful in my quest to not sweat my @ss off this summer...

[82vdub]

I've never owned a converted car from an R12 system, and thankfully can still find R12 locally occassionally. My mechanic says that when he does an R134a conversion, they put 10% more R134a into the system than the R12 called for and said that it's equivalent to the old R12 (I'm not convinced though).

Read this thread on Red-Tec. If you are remotely concerned about fire safety inside the cabin of the car and "what happens if" scenarios, verify the fire rating of the replacement freon system you want to install in your car.

viewtopic.php?t=6951&highlight=redtek

[bscutt]

I did one R134 conversion on an old Dasher diesel. worked ok but I sold the car shortly thereafter so I don't know about long term reliablity. It also was not as cold as r12 and the high pressures get dangerously high if you try to optimize performance with a compressor designed for R12. Good R134 conversions require purging the system including all the lines, condensor, and evaporator, replacing receiver-dryer and possibly the orifice tube and all sorts of things most people don't do. You also need to drain all the compressor oil out of the compressor and replace it with suitable r134-compatible oil.

Fortunately I have been able to keep R12 on hand since it was banned in 1994 (for non-licensed people) and I suggest you stick with R-12 wherever possible. Some say you can add freeze 12 to r12 without purging the system. If you have no leaks or very tiny ones, r12 is worth the cost in the long run.

[Golf/Jetta]

theres a bunch of r12a. Red-Tek, Duracool, Freeze 12, Envirosafe and some others.

Red-Tek smells pine tree
Duracool smells butane/propane

basically its 70% propane, 30% butane
the molecules are bigger with less chance of it escaping..
less head pressure on the pump. = longer life + less mpg used
O-zone safe..
there compatible with peg/easter oil's

I'd say, get it vacuumed, if it holds a vacuum for the day (or 1 hour) shove it in...
if not then it needs to get fixed..
a lot of people say its colder then 134a
air with these system's is not your friend.

got mine done this summer with no problems yet. but its my first car with A/C, i'm glad to get something out of it..

[inmytree]

Thanks for the input everyone....I'm gonna try to keep with R12 if at all possible...

I did a r134 conversion in my Vanagon, and it never worked right...

[Golf/Jetta]

they don't make r12 anymore since 1992, last time i checked.
they either got 134a or r12a

[inmytree]

I see a few listings on ebay for r12....I know some are r12a, but other seem to be the real thing...

Thank goodness my jetta doesn't have the child proof rear windows, as they roll all the way down....

[Golf/Jetta]

you should read up on r12 b4 you buy

heres one
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_can_you_get_R12_freon

Ebay...the catch is you have to email the seller certifying you are buying the R12 for your certified auto tech to install!

[odie]

I've converted several of my vehicles from R-12 to R-134. never had any problems with the conversion kits.

Just vacuum out the old system. Checked for leaks. Added a can of the new oil and 2-3 cans of R-134.

I've done my 88 fiero, 92 jeep, 93 metro, 84 volvo, 82 mercedes. And they all blew pretty cold. And they were all non-functioning/empty when I started.

I'd recommend just doing the swap. R-134 is what is readily available.