After driving to work today in 90 degree weather with 35mph wind gusts whipping dirt through the open window into my face, I decided to finally do something about the inop A/C on my car (92 Acura Legend)
When I first bought the car in 04, it still had r-12 and the system worked great up until last spring. At that point I replaced a number of o-rings and re-charged with an r-12 direct drop in replacement (r-414b) It blew cold for a few months then the refrigerant charge leaked out. By then fall was approaching so I left it empty over the past winter.
Today I finally broke down and retrofitted it to 134a. More specifically, I installed the Acura OEM retrofit kit, which included 134a service port fittings, a retrofit label, and a bottle of special retrofit PAG oil. Pulled the compressor out of the car, put the oil in, replaced a few more o-rings, put it back together and charged it with 134a and leak detection dye.
From all I've read and heard, I wasn't expecting much at all. Lo and behold, on my drive home my probe thermometer is reading 36F coming from the center vent! The temp knob was even about two notches above full cold. Granted, this was at night with no sun load, but so far I'm impressed.
Hoping the o-ring replacements take care of the elusive leak, if not I have the dye tracer to track em' down.
When I first bought the car in 04, it still had r-12 and the system worked great up until last spring. At that point I replaced a number of o-rings and re-charged with an r-12 direct drop in replacement (r-414b) It blew cold for a few months then the refrigerant charge leaked out. By then fall was approaching so I left it empty over the past winter.
Today I finally broke down and retrofitted it to 134a. More specifically, I installed the Acura OEM retrofit kit, which included 134a service port fittings, a retrofit label, and a bottle of special retrofit PAG oil. Pulled the compressor out of the car, put the oil in, replaced a few more o-rings, put it back together and charged it with 134a and leak detection dye.
From all I've read and heard, I wasn't expecting much at all. Lo and behold, on my drive home my probe thermometer is reading 36F coming from the center vent! The temp knob was even about two notches above full cold. Granted, this was at night with no sun load, but so far I'm impressed.
Hoping the o-ring replacements take care of the elusive leak, if not I have the dye tracer to track em' down.