Converting an R12 AC System to R134a PROPERLY

[Leethal88]

My '93 Accord Lx says it takes R12 refrigerant under the hood. I need it recharged because I have no AC in it. I was going to get the kit at Wal Mart for like $30 that comes with the adaptor I need. In order to use that though how do I get rid of the R12? Is there an easier way? Please help!

[Lord Les]

My '93 Accord Lx says it takes R12 refrigerant under the hood. I need it recharged because I have no AC in it. I was going to get the kit at Wal Mart for like $30 that comes with the adaptor I need. In order to use that though how do I get rid of the R12? Is there an easier way? Please help!

I think you can get a kit for about 100 dollars that will allow you evacuate the old refrigerant. I saw one at GI Joes that seemed to do that. I'm not a really good tech person, but wanted to let you know what I found.

You need high and low gauges, not just the low gauge that most of the kits have.

[C91BLX7]

Rent the tools from auto zone, as well as get some PAG oil and a new dryer/receiver ( and the valves/ports)

Suck out all the old refrigerant. Then put the new ports on, and the new dryer .

Then put the system under vacuume, and turn the pump off and let it sit for 30 minutes, if the vacuume pressure goes down you have a leak. If not then refill with around 24 OZ of R134a and oil.

[MikeW]

Oh how i love my R12....i wish i could run my car on R22.

[Losiracer2]

I would just recharge the R12, the supply really isn't THAT low as everyone thinks even though they stopped making the stuff. But you would have to get a lot of new parts: condensor, dryer, evaporator, then evac all the old R12 out, then put new R134 in, put that PAG oil.....trust me, I was thinking about it, rented all the equipment from autozone, and its just a big hassle.

I ended up just getting my R12 recharged for 60 bucks, I was just a can low and now my A/C blows better than my mom's 2003 Toyota minivan.

btw, Autozone charges about 370 dollars to rent that machine. It is refunded after you return it all, but still, that's A LOT of money lol.

[nine_deuce]

A cheap, quick way to get rid of the r12 is to just unhook the lines from the compressor. That's what I did, of course, it was done in the engine swap, AND when I put my header on... blah, I wouldn't recommend doing that tho

[Fake Thug]

But you would have to get a lot of new parts: condensor, dryer, evaporator, then evac all the old R12 out, then put new R134 in, put that PAG oil.....trust me, I was thinking about it, rented all the equipment from autozone, and its just a big hassle.

No he wouldn't. retrofit fitting, recover/recylce and evac r12(with a ac machine) get r134(which you can get with oil already in it)

charge the system with r134a. 26 oz, 30 max. Check for leaks.

[Fake Thug]

A cheap, quick way to get rid of the r12 is to just unhook the lines from the compressor. That's what I did, of course, it was done in the engine swap, AND when I put my header on... blah, I wouldn't recommend doing that tho

I wouldn't recommend it either. Beside hurting the ozone layer, you only maybe get about half of the refrigerant out. It has to be evacuated with a machine.

[drkshdw107]

A cheap, quick way to get rid of the r12 is to just unhook the lines from the compressor. That's what I did, of course, it was done in the engine swap, AND when I put my header on... blah, I wouldn't recommend doing that tho

If you are caught doing this it is a $10,000 EPA fine minimum...take it to a shop...have them evacuate the R12...then replace the dryer and the fittings (you should flush all the lines and replace the o-rings...but i didn't and mine has been working great for 3 years now) get a vacuum pulled on the system and add refrigerent...(Advance Auto has it with the oil already in it) use about 26 oz. as stated above...

[C91BLX7]

I would just recharge the R12, the supply really isn't THAT low as everyone thinks even though they stopped making the stuff. But you would have to get a lot of new parts: condensor, dryer, evaporator, then evac all the old R12 out, then put new R134 in, put that PAG oil.....trust me, I was thinking about it, rented all the equipment from autozone, and its just a big hassle.

Huh?

The only thing they say you should replace is the receiver/dryer, but you don't have to. Mine is running all the original OEM stuff and blows cold on R134a

[Leethal88]

so I can either get the old R12 out and replace with R134a with the retrofit adaptor or I can recharge the R12? Where would I get R12 and what shops purge R12? If I rent these tools at autozone what do they do with the R12 I take out?