A/C help?!

[MrMarcusT]

i recently moved to florida and i need my A/C more than ever. I push the button and nothin but warm air comes out. not hot, not cold just warm. it worked last week. thinking maybe its low or out? and if so where can i add freon and what type. everything is bone stock f22a1.. thanks!

[SilverFox]

Read around a bit. There's a search button ^ up there. http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=192967
9th post says which type and second post, plenty of AC info

[MrMarcusT]

. Actually I do plenty of searching on here and google. Only thing I come up with is r12 is illegal. and the link you sent wasn't much help said the same every other post or search did. And I'm pretty sure I been on here longer and know how to search. I only post after my research comes up with nothin or not much info I come on here.

[deevergote]

Best not to rip into the guy that searched and found something more than "R12 is illegal", which is apparently all you could find. If you want help, being rude to those that offer is sure isn't the way to get it.

Is your car an LX or a DX. It makes a difference, as they have different climate control units. The engine makes absolutely NO difference. I had a DX that did much the same as yours, warm air instead of cold. I never did figure it out.

[oyajicool]

The car came with R12 originally. If it hasn't converted to R134a, you'll need R12 to fill. Service ports for R12 and R134a are different in size and shape. R12 ports are smaller. So look for fittings to know what refrigerant is used. Also, if it was retrofitted to work on R134a, the retroffiter may have installed a decal indicating R134a is in the system.

Is it really illegal to have R12? I heard buying and handling it requires state license. Also, heard releasing it out to atmosphere is illegal.

[deevergote]

If the air is coming out warm, not just ambient, then I have a feeling it's not related to the refrigerant. Most likely, whatever switch goes from hot to cold has been damaged in some way.

[91@CCORD74]

Buy a can or Freon with the Gauge. Follow the instructions on the Can. If you are low on refrigerant, top it off to the full area on the gauge. Check to see if your compressor is on( the pulley on the side will be sitting still if its not). If the compressor doesn't turn on your pressure switch may be bad(the little switch sitting behind the driver side headlight). To bypass the pressure switch jump the wires, if your compressor don't come on you will need a new compressor.

Refer to a Haynes Manual for further diagnoses......

[RyanD]

Sir may i recommend es-12a from AutoRefrigerants.com. that stuff can work miracles. What i like about it most of all is you can drop it in on top of r-12 and its no illegal to own or do. This stuff is pure magic. I filled up my ac in june and its still blowin cold! All i spend was $30 too.

[s2cmpugh]

A/C works ends up being one of the more difficult things to repair on a car, especially on our older r-12 systems.

Couple things here you need to check:

1. Does the a/c compressor even engage?
2. Make sure the water control valve is closed so no coolant heats up the heater core. Our water control valve operates by a cable from the climate control to the water valve in the engine bay.
3. Find out if someone previously converted the system to r-134a.
4. LX and EX climate control systems are the same, but all you're really concerned with is a/c operation.
5. Find some a/c pressure gauges to see if there is even a charge on the system.
6. If there is a charge of the appropiate pressure, then check the a/c circuit for operation (relays, switches, etc.)
7. Try to find a shop that still has some r-12 tucked away OR purchase some r-12 equivalent (NOT 134a). R-134a will never cool the car as well as r-12, especially on a system designed for r-12.

Honestly, a/c work falls into the category of a professional. The tools, supplies, and skills tend to out weight what we can do at home.

Good luck!

[10thAnnivCB7]

Mine somehow still works and blows cold air and its all stock. I love it.

[alan lx]

A/C works ends up being one of the more difficult things to repair on a car, especially on our older r-12 systems.

Couple things here you need to check:

1. Does the a/c compressor even engage?
2. Make sure the water control valve is closed so no coolant heats up the heater core. Our water control valve operates by a cable from the climate control to the water valve in the engine bay.
3. Find out if someone previously converted the system to r-134a.
4. LX and EX climate control systems are the same, but all you're really concerned with is a/c operation.
5. Find some a/c pressure gauges to see if there is even a charge on the system.
6. If there is a charge of the appropiate pressure, then check the a/c circuit for operation (relays, switches, etc.)
7. Try to find a shop that still has some r-12 tucked away OR purchase some r-12 equivalent (NOT 134a). R-134a will never cool the car as well as r-12, especially on a system designed for r-12.

Honestly, a/c work falls into the category of a professional. The tools, supplies, and skills tend to out weight what we can do at home.

Good luck!

Is your compressor running when you hit the switch? If yes, check number 2 listed above. If no, jump the pressure switch with a jumper wire. If its cooling, your good maybe just need a can of freon. If its not cooling, maybe run a jumper wire to the compressor and then see what happens and go from there.

[curtie94]

Just to throw it out there, I retrofitted my ac to R134a and I get 35F out of the vents, so I say it cools just as well.

I would check the water control valve first, because if it is stuck open or part open then the air would be warm. But other then that it is just low.

I know most shops that do ac charge about $30-40 for a diagnostics,that tells you what wrong. I know that the VIP where I live was actually doing it for free for a while!

[Tippey764]

I hate when people try to debate r12 over r134a. Just change the seals and convert the valves to r134a, they sell them in any auto parts store. The a/c will blow cold again and eveything will be fine. 9/10 the systems are just low on refrigerant because a seal got hard and leaked out the refrigerant.

[Tippey764]

R-134a will never cool the car as well as r-12, especially on a system designed for r-12.

The difference is negligible, i have converted 3 cb7's and 1 integra and they all blow cool enough to satisfy anyone.

[peterr77]

If the air is coming out warm, not just ambient, then I have a feeling it's not related to the to the refrigerant