A/C Question -- any way to maintain originality of R12 these days?
06-23-2011, 01:01 PM
#16
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Ours got to the point where it would only hold a charge for about a month, so I gave in and had it fixed and converted to 134. I figure it will make the car easier to sell anyway. We now have 40 degree air! I actually got cold driving it in 90 degree heat the other day - then I realized you can turn temperature **** up 
06-23-2011, 01:15 PM
#17
I replaced the O-rings that go where hoses hook up to the dryer (drier?), and I replaced the dryer.
The system has a port on the low-pressure side of the system and a port on the high-pressure side of the system. The ports allow you to hook up a pressure gauge and add refrigerant. The ports on an R12 system are different than the ports for an R134a system. Most auto parts stores have fittings for R134a that just screw over the R12 fittings. They cost about $12.
My original compressor seems to be working fine, and I did not change the expansion valve. Perhaps that's taking shortcuts, but so far so good. My car is not a daily driver. If something fails, then I'll deal with it at that time.
The system has a port on the low-pressure side of the system and a port on the high-pressure side of the system. The ports allow you to hook up a pressure gauge and add refrigerant. The ports on an R12 system are different than the ports for an R134a system. Most auto parts stores have fittings for R134a that just screw over the R12 fittings. They cost about $12.
My original compressor seems to be working fine, and I did not change the expansion valve. Perhaps that's taking shortcuts, but so far so good. My car is not a daily driver. If something fails, then I'll deal with it at that time.
06-23-2011, 04:07 PM
#18
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I have two good sized cans of R-12 laying around that i have nothing to use them in anymore..If you or anyone else is interested pm me. I bought them awhile back for my '87 944 from a guy who has a huge stock pile.
06-23-2011, 04:31 PM
#19
I installed a rebuilt compressor and new drier from an online vendor over the winter (can't remember who I bought it from, I want to say Zim's but not 100% on that.) Fresh recharge on R12 and the A/C in my 951 works better than the A/C in my other two cars ('2003 VW GTI and 2005 Audi A6.) On a 90 degree day, idling in the garage, I had low-50 degree air coming out of the vents. When driving on the expressway a few weeks ago when we had mid-90s here, I actually had to turn DOWN the AC (or turn UP the temp on the control ****) because it got COLD in the car. I'm usually the guy sweating like crazy on a 70 degree day - it takes a lot for me to feel cold.
IMO if you can rebuild and recharge with R12, go that route over 134. Stuff works awesome. It doesn't get cool in the car. It gets COLD.
IMO if you can rebuild and recharge with R12, go that route over 134. Stuff works awesome. It doesn't get cool in the car. It gets COLD.
06-24-2011, 01:21 PM
#21
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FYI -- the cheap 134 service port adapters use cheap schrader valves, I've had two leak after a short period of time on the high side fittings. NAPA sells good ones and sells much nicer adapters. NAPA P/N 409902 and 409903 conversion fittings, $7 each (for late cars)
06-24-2011, 03:03 PM
#22
This is what I looking for. What year is your car? Were your ports close to each other by the shock tower.
06-24-2011, 03:35 PM
#23
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yes, All Late cars are like that (well, I can't say for 968's, but all > 85.5 944's and 951's)
The NAPA ones are steel with chromate finish, not aluminum like the AutoZone/O'Reilly's/etc. Much better pieces.
The NAPA ones are steel with chromate finish, not aluminum like the AutoZone/O'Reilly's/etc. Much better pieces.
