I had a mechanic friend of mine purge my system last fall in anticipation of upgrading my AC system to R134a, but it sounds like from a few website forums I've read that since my A/C system seemed to have been working ok before (other than not blowing cold air anymore after 15 years), that it was cheaper to find R12 and have an A/C guy recharge the system rather than replacing it for the current standard.

Can I get some opinions about this? I dont' think I'm having any compressor problems, no leaks that I knew of with the old system... is it cheaper to spend the money on R12 Freon and have someone recharge it, or is it in my best interest to get a new AC system?

Something to note... I'm only hoping to get 2-3 more years out of this jeep before upgrading to an new beater/trail rig, so cost plays into the decision because of that.

Thanks for the help!

 

I am pretty sure it was R12 that was in it. R12 is hard to find and not cheap.

 

That would be an important distinction, yes =\
Maybe I've been pricing the wrong stuff on ebay... see, this is why I ask here first

thank you, off to do research and validate that! =)

 

Yep, my bad. Changed to R12

 

I would think your system has a freon leak and if not fixed R12 (if u can find it) will be major cha-ching and it will continue to leak. Leaks on 20 yr old vehicles usually get worse, not better.

 

You can get "Freeze 12" on eBay that's works. I put some in my son in laws 88 and its working...Tj
PS his condenser was leaking so check that

 

I was looking at that stuff... but the reviews I read, many of 'em said that it's super flammable, way more than just about anything else in the vehicle, and that it was a potential hazard in a front-end collision. Knowing nothing of the stuff but what I've been reading (mostly today, as a matter of fact)... I'm not sure what to do about it.

It's cheap, comes in self-serve cannisters that would let me recharge myself... so it's very very tempting, but... as stupid as it sounds, I don't want to blow up my jeep in an accident, especially with my mom driving it lately =\

 

if there is a place that can recharge the R12 in your area, i say just go that route. just like you i was debating on recharging the R12 on my 88 or just convert to R134. in the end, i converted to R134 last year. reason being is that in my area, there was no shop around that recharged R12's. every shop had suggested to just convert. & so i did.