1990-93 A/C RETROFIT AND RECHARGING
Tools and Materials needed:
R-12 - R134a retrofit kit (available at most auto parts stores)
A/C gauge (comes in kit)
R134a refrigant (comes in kit)
Ester Oil (comes in kit)
R134a fill fittings (come in kit)
Misc. Wrenches (depending on your situation)
Misc. Hand tools
This is the retrofit kit I used
Step One:
Figure out WHY your A/C is not working. is it blowing hot, is it blowing warm? If it is blowing warm (kinda cold) your system needs to be toped off. If you still have the r12 system, it isn't worth it to drain out all that r12. the simple fact is that r134 just doesn't cool as well.
you are gonna have to go to a shop and have it topped off, unless you are connected in the black market, and can get a hold of some r12 LOL. the shop I got my 12 fill up quote at said it is 70 bucks a pound, and the system hold about 2 pounds. so you have to buy at least 1 pound of r12 so you are looking at at least 70 to refill with r12.
You could have your system evacuated, and then follow the diy, or get it filled. truth is it will prolly cost the same either way. the only thing is next time it would be cheaper to be able to fill it up yourself.
it is up to you what path you choose. colder air for now, or cheaper fix next time... they will cost about the same.
whatever you do, do not just top off your r12 system with r134. I should have said that in the diy, but i forgot to mention it. you will foam up your entire a/c system, and it will have to be flushed.
However there is a refrigerant on the market called like super12 or something like that, that is legal for you to use, however I have heard mixed reviews on this product, and most members consider it either a temporary fix, or a horrific thing they would never do to there car.
If it is blowing hot, you need to figure out if your compressor is even turning when your a/c on the dash is on. start the car, turn on the a/c, and pop the hood look under the alternator, you will see your a/c compressor. It looks alot like the alternator. is the front of the pulley turning?
If not then there is 3 things (as far as what I am going to cover) that could be wrong.
1. your a/c clutch needs to be replaced
2. you have no freon in your system, and the high pressure switch (pictured below) is not allowing your compressor clutch relay to fire.
3. your a/c clutch relay fuse in your kick panel fuse block is blown, or malfunctioning.
to solve number one, is going to cost quite a bit of money ( 80 bucks at autozone for a new clutch) not to mention you have to get a special tool to remove the clutch. you can replace the whole compressor, but there again lies the rub, because the compressor alone is 250-350 bucks at a parts store.
Number two can be figured out quickly. cut a piece of wire about 3 inches long and strip both ends of its insulation. twist the ends to make then easy to insert into a plug. now bend it into a U shape. you have just made a jumper!
now remove the high pressure sensor plug (pictured below) and insert the jumper one end into one hole and the other into the opposite hole. does the compressor turn on? does the drivers side radiator fan turn on?
if your compressor kicks on you have figured out that either your high pressure switch is bad, or you have no coolant in you system.
if your compressor does not kick on, but the fan does, you have figured out that the fuse might be bad in the kick panel fuse box. check the fuse, and replace it whether it looks burnt or not (picture below)
if the compressor still does not kick on after the fuse replacement (when you jump it) your problem lies beyond my knowledge of a/c repair, and obviously yours as well, and I would advise taking it to an a/c repair shop.
if your compressor, and fans kick on at this point, you are golden, and it is time to convert your r12 system to r134a!
Tools and Materials needed:
R-12 - R134a retrofit kit (available at most auto parts stores)
A/C gauge (comes in kit)
R134a refrigant (comes in kit)
Ester Oil (comes in kit)
R134a fill fittings (come in kit)
Misc. Wrenches (depending on your situation)
Misc. Hand tools
This is the retrofit kit I used
Step One:
Figure out WHY your A/C is not working. is it blowing hot, is it blowing warm? If it is blowing warm (kinda cold) your system needs to be toped off. If you still have the r12 system, it isn't worth it to drain out all that r12. the simple fact is that r134 just doesn't cool as well.
you are gonna have to go to a shop and have it topped off, unless you are connected in the black market, and can get a hold of some r12 LOL. the shop I got my 12 fill up quote at said it is 70 bucks a pound, and the system hold about 2 pounds. so you have to buy at least 1 pound of r12 so you are looking at at least 70 to refill with r12.
You could have your system evacuated, and then follow the diy, or get it filled. truth is it will prolly cost the same either way. the only thing is next time it would be cheaper to be able to fill it up yourself.
it is up to you what path you choose. colder air for now, or cheaper fix next time... they will cost about the same.
whatever you do, do not just top off your r12 system with r134. I should have said that in the diy, but i forgot to mention it. you will foam up your entire a/c system, and it will have to be flushed.
However there is a refrigerant on the market called like super12 or something like that, that is legal for you to use, however I have heard mixed reviews on this product, and most members consider it either a temporary fix, or a horrific thing they would never do to there car.
If it is blowing hot, you need to figure out if your compressor is even turning when your a/c on the dash is on. start the car, turn on the a/c, and pop the hood look under the alternator, you will see your a/c compressor. It looks alot like the alternator. is the front of the pulley turning?
If not then there is 3 things (as far as what I am going to cover) that could be wrong.
1. your a/c clutch needs to be replaced
2. you have no freon in your system, and the high pressure switch (pictured below) is not allowing your compressor clutch relay to fire.
3. your a/c clutch relay fuse in your kick panel fuse block is blown, or malfunctioning.
to solve number one, is going to cost quite a bit of money ( 80 bucks at autozone for a new clutch) not to mention you have to get a special tool to remove the clutch. you can replace the whole compressor, but there again lies the rub, because the compressor alone is 250-350 bucks at a parts store.
Number two can be figured out quickly. cut a piece of wire about 3 inches long and strip both ends of its insulation. twist the ends to make then easy to insert into a plug. now bend it into a U shape. you have just made a jumper!
now remove the high pressure sensor plug (pictured below) and insert the jumper one end into one hole and the other into the opposite hole. does the compressor turn on? does the drivers side radiator fan turn on?
if your compressor kicks on you have figured out that either your high pressure switch is bad, or you have no coolant in you system.
if your compressor does not kick on, but the fan does, you have figured out that the fuse might be bad in the kick panel fuse box. check the fuse, and replace it whether it looks burnt or not (picture below)
if the compressor still does not kick on after the fuse replacement (when you jump it) your problem lies beyond my knowledge of a/c repair, and obviously yours as well, and I would advise taking it to an a/c repair shop.
if your compressor, and fans kick on at this point, you are golden, and it is time to convert your r12 system to r134a!
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