ZPmadA

I took my 944 to my uncle’s shop. They don't work on Porsches, just boring cars. The previous owner had my 86 turbo's A/C upgraded to use the new stuff a couple years ago. I think the "new stuff" is called R134a. Well, that’s what I bought at NAPA. I went back to my uncle's shop, and the tool with the gauges that’s used to charge a/c wouldn't screw onto my car's fill plug. Seems like the plug on my car is threaded on the inside, and the tool the shop has is for fittings threaded on the outside? Mechanic says they use this tool for all cars and it works fine, I guess its a universal tool. Is there a special fitting I need to charge a 944 a/c system? I do not know which upgrade kit the previous owner used so I have no specifications. If anyone can tell by the sound of this post let me know. I'll try to get a pic up soon. What are the names of typical a/c upgrade kits for 944s?

Epic2112

Err, bring it somewhere else. A/C fittings are A/C fittings. R12, the old stuff, uses fittings that thread on the outside of the nipple, 134a, the new stuff, uses fittigs that thread into the hole in the nipple. ALL cars use one of those two types of fittings.

No offense to your uncle, but bring it somewhere else, this isn't rocket science. If they didn't immediately know by looking at it, you don't want them working on it.

You should also let the shop doing the work supply the refrigerant. A lot of the cans that are avbailible have extra chemicals in them that you don't want in your car.

Crunky

They were trying it on the wrong service port. The service ports are different sizes on purpose so you cant charge it on the wrong side of the system.

Jeremy Himsel

No exactly............ but 99% of the time cars only use 2 types of fittings.. Some of the newer alternatives, like Freeze 12 have thier own "special fittings" so I would really try and investigate what type of Freon you actually have in the system first. Any qualified shop should be able to tell the difference between a r-12 and 134A fitting so you may have a freeze 12 fitting on there meaning you have freeze 12 in the system.

Charlotte944

Your uncle needs to get a set of R-134a gages and hoses. The R-12 and R-134 fittings are different. R-12 systems use an externally threaded fitting, R-134 systems use a quick release fitting similar to the quick release fitting on an air hose.

bearone

"special fittings"

isn't freeze 12 an r12 substitute and uses the same fittings?

Jeremy Himsel

Replacement yes, same fittings no.

www.freeze12.com

Epic2112

Well, none the less, any shop that I would even consider bringing my car to would have to be familiar with refrigerant fittings. I didn't know that freeze12 used different fittings.

ZPmadA's description sounds like he had r12 fittings that wouldn't fit on 134a fittings on his car. If a shop didn't know this stuff I'd get out fo there right quick.

ZPmadA

Wasnt my uncle, was the guy working at the time. Uncle is too old to wrench. I have a feeling the younger mechanic wanted any excuse not to touch my car, was a bit busy. ahh whatever, thats all I needed to know is I have r134a fittings thanks.

AndyK

Can I buy a can or two of R134A from a store, and add it myself--after my compressor is converted to R134 in the next few days? I heard 134 tends to leak faster, and I would hate to have to pay a mechanic to do it after the expensive A/C rebuild!

Epic2112

If you aren't trained to work on A/C, don't. Just adding a can or two to your system is like putting air in your tires without a gauge.

Crunky

Most auto parts stores sell a 134 "qucik charge" or "measure and check" kit. Most of them are about 16oz of 134 pre-mixed with the correct oil, and sometimes stop leaks and what not, they also have the charging hose with a gauge on them. If your already retro-fitted to 134, it might be worth a shot with the stop leak stuff, if it don't work, or clogs your system, then so what? There was something wrong with it already, right?

Epic2112

Wrong. That stop leak stuff contaminates the system. If it only works temporarily, or doesn't work at all, you'll have a hard time finding a shop that will touch it. That sealant ruins the machines used to evacuate A/C systems. If a shop finds the sealant in your system they will most likely tell you one of two things: bring the car to another shop and hope they don't test for the sealant, or replace every part of the A/C system.

You never ever ever want to use the stuff with the sealant in it. The only reason it exists is because people who don't know better buy it. You'll never find it in a shop.


Once again, bring the car to a place that knows A/C systems.

jwlester

Can anyone point out a good write up on A/C work(charging etc.). I have all the equipment but it has been years since I've done any work with it.

Cheers, Josh