A/C problems
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Track Day
Joined: May 2002
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From: Mechanicsburg, Pa
A/C problems
found out today my evaporator leaking, 1K to replace and recharge r12 system. My mechanic does not recommend upgrading to r134. Any thoughts for my 87 911? I thought a/c worked fine b4.
Thanks
Jerry
Thanks
Jerry
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You check pelican? DIY?
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...pg2.htm#item11
of course that doesn't include recharge
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...pg2.htm#item11
of course that doesn't include recharge
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From: Indianapolis, IN
I repaired a leaking a/c hose on my '87 Cabrio a year and a half ago. I didn't upgrade to new refrigerant. Wrench said I probably wouldn't be happy with the performance of the new stuff and anyway, would require more $$ to upgrade to compatable equipment. I'm still pretty happy with the a/c performance, although the top is usually down ;-)) Wrench also said the hoses are designed to leak, so a recharge will be necessary down the road.
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From: In the pasture.
The best you can hope for with the older 911 AC unit is acceptable. Stay with R12. Larger molecules. Leaks slower from hoses. If you upgrade check out the Kuehl system @ www.griffiths.com. The guy is a total blinking d*#k but the system is suppose to work wonders for air temp. Nothing helps the fan speed.
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From: SW Ontario canada
The problem we have in Canada is that R12, while still available if you look, is blindingly expensive. I have the old york Dealer installed A/C with an upgrade to a Sanden compressor. I changed over to R134, which in my case only required a receiver/dryer changeout. The A/C lost about 10% but with the better compressor, was still adequate, but took a long time to cool a hot car, esp. in traffic.
Recently, I needed a small top-up. A friend of mine owns a shop and injected a can of Wurth product. Apparently this can contains 2 oz.. of R134, Tracing dye and something that chemically bonds with the R134 and increases the size of the molecules. This increases the capacity of the R134 to move heat, and decreases leaks. Or so I'm told.
I can tell you that the A/C seems to be back to it's R12 performance, running on low fan speed, at a low t-stat setting ( low comp. run time) on a 90 deg day with moderate humidity, with lots in reserve. The system seems to cool a hot car much faster too.
If anyone is interested in learning more, I will get the product number from my friend and call the Wurth Rep. and get more info.
Oh, lastly, I am told that early 911s did not have 'barrier' A/C hoses, so they do leak no matter what. Someone wrote here a while ago, that they had updated to barrier hoses and it was very cost-effective. If I had the budget,and was in there anyway changing out an evaporator, I think I'd do the hoses too.
Recently, I needed a small top-up. A friend of mine owns a shop and injected a can of Wurth product. Apparently this can contains 2 oz.. of R134, Tracing dye and something that chemically bonds with the R134 and increases the size of the molecules. This increases the capacity of the R134 to move heat, and decreases leaks. Or so I'm told.
I can tell you that the A/C seems to be back to it's R12 performance, running on low fan speed, at a low t-stat setting ( low comp. run time) on a 90 deg day with moderate humidity, with lots in reserve. The system seems to cool a hot car much faster too.
If anyone is interested in learning more, I will get the product number from my friend and call the Wurth Rep. and get more info.
Oh, lastly, I am told that early 911s did not have 'barrier' A/C hoses, so they do leak no matter what. Someone wrote here a while ago, that they had updated to barrier hoses and it was very cost-effective. If I had the budget,and was in there anyway changing out an evaporator, I think I'd do the hoses too.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 686
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From: SLC, UT
I converted to R134 two years ago in my '86 coupe. The wrench only installed the conversion kit (about $70 including the R134), and it blew cold air (it gets to 102 - 103 during the summer here). Last year, I did not have to add any R134, albiet by the end of the summer, it was only blowing cool air, not cold air. I tested the system this year and it is still blowing cool air (thus some R134 must still be in the system). I plan on charging the system by purchasing a DIY kit from Pep boys and anticipate it working fine.
Don't quite understand why the entire system needs to be replaced like some folks and wrenches think. In fact when I questioned the wrench about it, he said hey, no problem, if you want me to change it all out for a couple three grand, I'll be happy to do it, however, you won't get three grand of better cooling. He stated for $70 bucks, the system will work just fine, nearly as well as changing everything out and it is cheap to keep adding R134 as it leaks out through the hoses.
Hummm... $3K vs. $70 he was right.
Just my experience and humble opinion.
Good luck!
Don't quite understand why the entire system needs to be replaced like some folks and wrenches think. In fact when I questioned the wrench about it, he said hey, no problem, if you want me to change it all out for a couple three grand, I'll be happy to do it, however, you won't get three grand of better cooling. He stated for $70 bucks, the system will work just fine, nearly as well as changing everything out and it is cheap to keep adding R134 as it leaks out through the hoses.
Hummm... $3K vs. $70 he was right.
Just my experience and humble opinion.
Good luck!
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Originally posted by DGaunt
The problem we have in Canada is that R12, while still available if you look, is blindingly expensive.
The problem we have in Canada is that R12, while still available if you look, is blindingly expensive.
JP
1987 Carrera Targa - 17K miles
