R134 Freon in a R12 A/C system?

[AccordEX93]

My A/C stopped blowing cold air about 2 months ago. Today, I finally took it to the shop to get it fixed.

But after looking over the invoice, I was shocked to learn that they TOTALLY refilled the system with R134. They didn't even bother to do a conversion....they just completely vacuumed out any remaining R12 and filled it with R134.

Is this something that I should be worried about? Wouldn't it mess up my compressor and other components?

[NorcoAccord]

My A/C stopped blowing cold air about 2 months ago. Today, I finally took it to the shop to get it fixed. Surprisingly it cost me only $120...I was expecting alot more considering that it's an R12 system.

But after arriving home, I looked over the invoice and was shocked to learn that they refilled the system with R134 WITHOUT first converting it to handle R134!?

Am I just overreacting or do I have a genuine concern? The shop is closed now and I plan on calling them immediately tomorrow. Just wanted to get some of your thoughts first.

in auto my teacher said you can do it and no harm will come as long as the bulk of it is r12, r134a is good but r12 is the best.

[rickyduckworth]

r134a isn't even something the average person can buy and is almost phased out everywhere nowadays due to the potential for more damage to the environment. you won't go out and buy r-12 in any state without a permit i don't think.

and yes, you can mix it, i ALWAYS simply evacuate the old shit, throw in the new or simply top it off with the new. i've never had a compressor fail because of it, the drier is always fine, etc.

converting to r134a involves new parts (over $100 usually) plus proper evacuation of the system (more money) and then a fitting or two, a sticker and that's about it, but it will run $200-$250 and is a joke

[cleanz_28]

Go to Tijuana...I heard its under $100.00 and they put in R-12 in.it super cold.

[NAiL05]

r134a isn't even something the average person can buy and is almost phased out everywhere nowadays due to the potential for more damage to the environment. you won't go out and buy r-12 in any state without a permit i don't think.

and yes, you can mix it, i ALWAYS simply evacuate the old shit, throw in the new or simply top it off with the new. i've never had a compressor fail because of it, the drier is always fine, etc.

converting to r134a involves new parts (over $100 usually) plus proper evacuation of the system (more money) and then a fitting or two, a sticker and that's about it, but it will run $200-$250 and is a joke

SOme misinformation here. R12/134A CANNOT BE MIXED. If you mix you will eff up your system because both use diff types of oil. You will contaminate the system HOWEVER you can use 134A in an R12 System and it will work just fine. To get rid of the system you need to draw a vacuum the longer the better. Its better to take it to a shop to do this unless you have a pump. Also about buying refrigerant you can get 134A at wal mart. R12 you need an IMACA certification to buy or you go to a shop that can do it. 134A conversion as I recall were just a few fittings...and you can buy them at autozone for like 20 bucks...Wherever you got that quote you need to quit goin to them. As for the temp diff between the two its like only a couple degrees so it really doesnt matter.

[90accordguy]

Yea ... there's no way he mixed it .. I bet he changed the fittings and filled it .. thats the only thing they change when they go to R134 .. two fittings .. I just did mine a week ago ...

[Bruce Banner]

Yeh, my AC isn't as strong, I've been thinking of a recharge.
Anyone know of a place in the San francisco area I can get the old stuff?

[Mjfan12]

mine is already converted I think, it has a sticker under the hood that says R134. Man I wished I remembered the stuff I learned in autoshop. my teacher taught us all of this, but that was 3 years ago.

I get warm air with the AC, so I hope its just needs a recharge and its not a leak.

but if it is a leak, how long would a charge tyically last? I just wanna ghetto it for the summer, I dont really care about the AC since this is just a daily driving beater. 30 bux > a crap load to fix properly.

[NAiL05]

Depends on how big the leak is. You can throw dye into the AC system and find out a few days later where your leak is with one of them UV lights.