Bryan Welch

My 1991 944S2's air conditioning compressor blew its front seal last weekend. Now I need to have the compressor rebuilt/replaced and refill the system. Has anyone had this done? The AC worked great before, but will R-134 work as well? Any recommendations?

thanks,
Bryan

Bob S. 1984 Silver

Bryan:

Look in the archives. This is a subject that has been discussed at length. As a certified MVAC tech, I have answered this question a number of times on this forum.

Good luck

Bob S.

My944Turbo

I am in a similar situation...i let someone borrow my car(by the way a horrible idea) and they managed to take it over a curb and in the process messed a few things up, including the A/C condenser. Anyways back to my answer, I just got back from the dealership to order many, many parts and he told me that they no longer use R-12, just the new 134, so i would have to retrofit, he said it is a shame because in our cars, the R-12 cools significantly better. So my response would be stick with the r-12, but then again, i don't know squat. Oh and i found a place that will fill my car back up with R-12 once i get everything back into place. Good luck, cause if you are like me this summer, no A/C equals very angry patrick.

rpm's S2

The PO of my S2 had the ac repaired just before I bought the car. He had the R-12 system rebuilt - the receipt was for ~$300. You could freeze meat in my car! Yes, eventually it will need to be recharged and that will be more expensive - but how often do you recharge the ac? Every 3-4 years at the most unless the system is broken or leaking.

Bryan Welch

Okay, after calling a few mechanics, porsche places, and reading archives here I know more and have more questions. *sigh* Since the compressor lost the front seal, I hear I need to find a shop that specializes in AC. They should be able to rebuild the compressor. There were no leaks in the system before this problem.

If I choose to convert to R-134, I've heard these answers:

1. Flush system twice, get bigger condensor, fill with R-134 and oil.
2. Flush, replace dryer, all seals including in cabin, fill with R-134 and oil. (Unless seals are replaced, system will leak within a year.)
3. Flush, Replace seals, fittings, fill.

I'm assuming it would make send to do a leak analysis of the system before converting to see if any leaks exist. Then again, if all seals are being replaced this isn't needed.

What I need to find out:
Do I need to replace the dryer? Do I need a bigger consensor? Do I need to replace all seals in the system?

Doing leak analysis and then just sticking with R-12 is sounding simpler.

Type_LT

I put R-12 back in my system and it's ice cold.

daly944

i had a leaky hose and a leaky compressor on my 87 944na about three weeks ago, and my mechanic told me that he highly recommended doing the r134a conversion. i'll admit, its really expensive having a mechanic do it, about 1500 after parts and labor, but if you bite the bullet now you save so much down the road. you never need to change out r134a, and if you lose some, its like 15 bucks to replace. r12 is getting really freakin expensive to refill. as for cooling, my ac freezes my nuts off still, and i live in new orleans, hot and humid every day of summer. i highly recommend the conversion.

Bones944

just had 2 cans of r-12 put in my system at $43 per can. Now I believe I need an expansion valve, which resides under the dash....dash would have to be removed to replace it. A/C cools pretty well, but not as well as it should. Might just have to live with it for awhile

951Tom

FYI....don't let any mechanic try and sell you a $$$$ repair by removing the dash to replace the a/c expansion valve. They will easily accomplish it by removing the hvac fan at the base of the windshield & reaching down in. A mechanic still must do it b/c the freon has to get removed & put back in.

Bones944

Thanks for the info Tom, I was thinking about that option myself...read in the factory manual that dash must be replaced....go figure

My944Turbo

i don't know about the $1,500, i was quoted by my mechanic $600-$750 for the conversion. the dealer told me that for the conversion you need a new reciever/dryer which he quoted my was like $186, all new seals and a few other small parts. he said for our cars the conversion kit wasn't hard/bad price wise at all. but the with audis, they are a nightmare. at least that is what he told me. and yes he said i would have to flush the system. but then i guess if you have to include the price of a new compresser and other labor i guess it could get to $1,500. but for me i'll stick with paying the $220 i was charged last summer for recharging the system and it was almost completly empty. then again i have to do it again since my condenser got ripped off my car. then again it's up to you. but i'm an unfriendly person to the environment cause i like r12. oh and when they recharged it last summer they put a dye in with it so i could find leaks if there were any, and let me tell you that green dye was squirting out of the condenser like mad after the little curb incident.

rfuerst

Hey MY944Turbo,if the dealer is selling you a receiver dryer for $186.00 dollars I have some dry swamp land I can sell you!!!You can purchase a receiver dryer for between $20.00 to $30.00 depending on who you deal with,Tweeks,Zims,Paragon Products come to mind.I converted my 1987-944S for about $60.00 total,this included the $40.00 kit from KMart and the $20.00 receiver dryer.It could be a little colder for our Florida weather but for the money I can not complain. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

My944Turbo

Hey, thanks for the heads up. But lucky for me, i love r12, so no swamp land for me. But if i did go that route and then read your post i'd be pretty miffed. thanks for the info, hope that helps somebody out there, as i'm sure someone is going to do the retrofit.

1979 930

i will put in my 2 cents. when i bought my 1983 944, i upgraded everything in the a/c system to r134. BIGGEST REGRET I HAVE WITH THIS CAR. the r134 sucks compared to r12, the car will not take more than 2 cans of freon, and of course, i'm out $500., and i did all the labor. i've swapped r12 to r134 systems in 3 cars, and this one was the biggest pain in my a$$ so far, with the absolute poorest results out of the 3. it works, just not as well as the r12. oh, and my new compressor...damn thing causes belt squeaks every week. has to be adjusted weekly. stick to r12 if you have ANY choice at all.

Bob S. 1984 Silver

UM...1983...

You DID have the system vacuumed out before you introduced the R134a I hope? The oils are incompatable. Interdynamics makes a kit that includes an internal sealant that works rather well. Like I said in another answer above, there is lots of ifo on how to do the conversion in the archives. I have converted a number of cars, and I live in Tucson...Very few problems and usually there is no need to change out compressors or dryers unless the system has been opened to the atmosphere or damaged and needs repair, such as bad compressor seals. Most of these garages "see you coming", charge an arm and a leg, and wind up using an Interdynamics kit or equivalent. It is a racket. Including labor, a new dryer and a thorough inspection which includes taking the system down to a hard vacuum and HOLDING it there for two uours to test the integrity of the system should cost no more than $250 to $350. Of course if any parts are toast, all bets are off. Heck, if there is measurable R12 left in the system, the garage migh pay you for it. It's getting about as expensive as caviar. The difference is the supply of caviar will be about the same year from year; the supply of R12 is dwindling FAST!!

The only special work required is a 90 degree fitting for the low pressure side of the compressor, filing a bit off the alternator bracket, and a one inch shorter drive belt.

Read the archives, guys...save yourself a bundle.

Cheers!

Bob S. certified MVAC tech