[Supras] MKIII AC - Retrofit or not to retrofit.

[supraman88]

R-12 is EXPENSIVE!!!! (I could have bought 30 LBS for $80 a couple years
ago; ass hurts from kicking myself...)
I thinks now it's at least $30 a pound...

If you have the system completely evacuated...totally and flushed and
evacuated again, you may get by. The killer is that the oil in the R-12
is not compatible with R-134, so ALL the oil has to come out. You'll
probably need a new Receiver-Drier, also, but I have seen people get
away without doing this.

But that's the real key...getting ALL the R-12 and the oil that goes
with it out. You have a '92; IIRC that was one year before the
changeover, so the compressor will probably work with it. But it doesn't
get as cold, and the trick to use R-134 was to put in a larger
compressor for the same size car.

Hope this helps a little...you'll need a trustworthy shop that can get
ALL (did I stress that enough? ;) the oil and R-12 out, you should be OK.

The idea here is to NOT spend an arm and a leg: this service should be
~$120 or less. Any more and consider changing the compressor. As long as
you can do it on the cheap (<$80 or so), pay your money and take your
chances. Anyhting over $100, get the compressor...they're about $250
from CarQuest or AutoZone.

Good Luck!!


(I just did some checking...I found a 30LB tank for $577 ($19 a lb) and
a 50 LB tank on E-Bay for $356 inc shipping w/3 days to go)



D P wrote:
> Bob and group, I need some help in deciding which way I should go in fixing 
> the A/C on my 92T.
>
> Cost is not my first option, I want a fix that will be the least costly in 
> the long run.  I'm a bit leary on the retrofit after reading on the list 
> where the conversion could lead to compressor failure etc. if not done 
> correctly (re: Mike Lewitz's advise from a while back).
>
> I'm thinking if I keep the R12 system and just fix it correctly now, it'll 
> last me a good while.
>
> So, please help me decide which option I should choose from below:
>
> First Option.
> I found a shop that will charge me $65 for the first lb of R12 then $10 
> after that to charge up the system and check for leaks at no extra charge.
> I figure I'll then fix the leak myself and have the system vacuumed and 
> recharged again.
>
> Second Option.
> Found another shop down the road from my house that will change me just for 
> the parts, freon and oil to retrofit the system to R134a.  The owner lives 
> in my neighborhood and said he'll "take care of me".
>
> Which should I do?  Help, please!
>
> Darren
> 92T 5-Speed White Package
> Canadian Model in Florida
>
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