mapolus

Has anyone used the Griffith's Conversion Kit?

http://www.griffiths.com/shop/index....roducts_id=188

Is there a better way to do this?

Metal Guru

That'll do it.
Do you know for certain that's it's currently charged with R-12?

mapolus

Yes, I asked the tech to verify it was still R-12. He said yes. He's also the one that told me the ECU wasn't working...sooooooo. Is the only way to tell by the replacement sticker?

Metal Guru

You can tell by the charging ports on the lines where they go into the compressor, as they are errorproofed by being a different diameter/thread pitch and therefore incompatible with R12 equipment. The shop who's going to do the conversion will be able to verify R12 or R134a by this.

gr1275

If the R12 just needs topping off, put some in it. I believe you will be happier in the heat and humidity of FL with R12 than with the performance of R134.
If a shop finds a leak, I would still pay the extra to go back with R12 after they fix it.

Gary

mapolus

Oh...I was under the impression that I couldn't get R-12 anywhere??? Maybe that's way off-based. But I definitely need as much A/C as I can get in Florida (even today!!).

theporscheguy

I tried R12 at about $50 a can, once. The system still had leaks so I converted to R134. My system is very cold and we do have a little humidity in Missouri.

TT Surgeon

R12 is all over eBay.

mapolus

It quickly becomes apparent when someone doesn't actually do any research...guilty as charged. Anyways, I still have some doubts about this car's A/C. The tech said the system was empty, but thinks they had it recharged within the past 2 years (couldn't find the receipt though - so somewhat suspect). I figured that if I had the system evacuated and vacuum checked, I might as well upgrade to R134a so I can recharge it myself with readily available refrigerant. I'll keep thinking about it I suppose...

urquattro20Vt

Personally I wouldn't call _changing_ to R-134 an "upgrade". Granted it was a different system - but the last AC system that was designed for R12 that I had converted to R134 resulted in mediocre cooling performance. Not saying you _can't_ have good results but it's my understanding a system designed for R12 is different than a system designed for R-134 - I'm thinking mostly in the condensor but I'm not sure. Maybe the evaporator and expansion valve, too. The two refrigerants probably have different properties. What i do know is if/when I need to top up the system I'll find R12.

Brandon
'91 911 Turbo
'01 Audi S4

Metal Guru

The big difference between R-12 and R-134a is system pressure. All of the hoses got upgraded on the 964 platform to handle pressure that R-134a needs. As I've heard it the factory used up their stock on R-12 (they buy in bulk) and then made the switch sometime in the '93 model year.
My limited research indicates that R-134a has more heat removal capacity then R-12. The issue is usually that the system system gets charged with too much or too little refrigerant. If my system was empty I would definitely convert to R-134a and let the shop find the leak.