Freeze 12 or R-134A? What all am I going to need? What are some other things I should do with the AC system? How much will it cost me?

 

Subscribe

 

Ahh... Words of such wisdom... Lol goodnight, man. I need to sleep.

 

Personally I haven't tried Freeze 12, I have heard of it though. I would just convert over to 134a. To start off with, you will need a bottle of which ever you are going to use, adapters if its r-134a, a hose and pressure gauge.
Plus, you might need to do more depending on the ac's current condition.
Ex: You might have to replace a leaky hose, maybe even the compressor, etc.
You might also have to get it vaccumed, to get all the old air and moisture out of there(Have a Shop do that). The Compressor might also need to be oiled.
In other words your looking from anywhere around $30-$300. And possibly more.
Good Luck!

 

1993 is/was when A/C was converted from R12 to R134a. You should have a sticker on the radiator support or A/C compressor that says which type of refrigerant to use and how many pounds are required.

I'd recommend an A/C shop give it a look. Since I am no A/C expert and the issue may be more than low coolant.

 

It still works pretty good, it just hasn't had new fluid since we've owned it (seven years)...

 

UPDATE: I found this kind of cool AC recharge kit at wally world for forty bucks. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

To convert you should change your dryer/filter. You have to get all oil out of the system the r12 is not compatible with 134 far as I know. Friend that does the conversion would do it for me for 200-250 with a charge depending on parts but I think I would rather go to the junk yard and pull the parts off a Cherokee that already runs 134.

 

X2..Even if you buy the R134a with the oil already in it etc if your system is sound with no leaks there is nowhere for the air in it to go and you won't get much of the new 134A in.

 

My system is 134a, Slick. Should be, anyway.

 

Never mind, just looked at the compressor and the sticker says R-12

 

a good working R-12 system is way better then a good working R-134a

 

The "fluid" should never need to be topped off and it does not wear out. If the system is low on refridgerant it means there is a leak. Have a shop reclaim the refridgerant out of the system and fix the leak, evacuate the system of air and moisture and then recharge it with R12. Converting to R134a the proper way will not be any cheaper in the long run and will not work as well as a functioning R12 system.

 

How do I tell if the system has a leak?

 

Had mine done last year after I lost the AC compressor. The shop vacuumed it and did the whole system REALLY GOOD with dye too (asked them to put it in) all for about $110. Call around, prices vary. Anything over $150 is seems REALLY expensive (but I know different areas charge different amounts). Its not that hard of a job, especially for a shop with the machine. Its not something Id do at home, and I do just about everything myself. Just got done changing the heater core and ac evaporator myself, then flushed and filled the coolant. AC, no thanks, Ill pay.