Topic: A/C problems
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
Lifetime MemberModerator
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Very cool!
Pardon the pun.
Sarge
TKO500 5 spd.
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975
Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.
Lifetime Member #26
[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]WOW!!
I guess you can post anything you want on the net!!
I call BS on this one.
A break in an A/C line as the result of impact/crash would release the refrigerant almost instantly. It would not contribute to keeping a fire going long enough to burn a car to the ground. 
Strangely enough, I can't remember reading, or otherwise hearing of a massive amount of deaths while driving a car with a 134a refirgerant leak. If this is true, then all of the automakers on the planet are due for some wild lawsuits!!
134a is as safe as any other refrigerant we've ever used in autos, and safer than some of the "blends" some folks have on the market. Can you say "propane"? 
[/QUOTE]
Hey Adam, I can also say BUTANE. Stay away from blends!! I do a/c and all I need is to touch off a flamable gas with my elec. leak detector. Also you guy's who are retro fitting your r12 to 134a, be sure to put the proper oil (pag or ester) or it may cause a compressor sieze. mineral oil does not move well with r134a. If you can get as much mineral oil out as you can and replace with propper oil. Seen it happen
Terry
Speaking of old wives tails, I was told by one of the locals that you don't have to evacuate the system, just put the R-134a in on top after changing the fittings. I am extremely hesitant to follow this advice.
Any thoughts would be helpful. I have an '80 that blows cooler than ambient now but just barely, and has the 134 tips on it, but the PO told me he never put 134 in it, that it still has R-12. I don't want to cause more cost than necessary so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I have the guages and don't mind changing out the freon (with some advice, as I haven't ever done this before), but not an evacuator for the vacuum draw. I assume they are rentable or cheap to buy?
Godspeed and Safe Travels to all you headed to PF. I hope to be in attendance next year to buy beverages for Joel, Ken and others that have helped me out!
Dennis
Well Dennis, the truth of the matter is any shop that retro fits to anythig other than the car was designed for and does not lable and have recycling equip. is liable for a $25,000.00 fine. The EPA was in here a couple of years ago making sure I was, by law, doing it right. And not blowing refridegerant into the atmosphere. If you decide to change over to 134a to do it right you need to get rid of all the r12 and put the proper oil in. (pag 150) is what i use. Then if the system is opened YES you need to evacuate to get all the moisture out. Then u can charge it with 134a. As stated above ther are flamable materials in some of the drop in refridgerants. I would not use anything other than r12 or 134a. I have r12 on hand. If the system is designed for it that's what i use. Big time expensive though. Vac pumps also are not cheap for a good one $200.00- $450.00. Hope this helps. Its going to be a little lonely here this weekend with most of you in TN. Have fun guy's
Terry
The PO was one who could have spent the extra $5 at the time and saved me LOTS of headaches...
Since there is no way to confirm the existence of either fluid, and since the fittings have been installed for 134, I will evacuate and recharge. Thanks to the old friend of a friend, I found a guy at work who has a buddy in the heat and air business who will evac the old out per EPA regs so that I can refill and fix as necessary based on how the pressure holds.
With the weather here in the 90's and heading toward 100 for the 4th of July, I'm looking forward to cool.
Dennis
. Ended up putting a can and a half in the black 79 and not wanting to waste any put 1/2 can in the 78SA. Hope Im good for a while now. Got the R12 off ebay, about $17 per can for 14oz. Had to get certified. That's a joke, scored 25 of 25 but anyone can pass a test where you get to look everything up! Mike
Glad to hear Adam's car is cool! The problems as were expected with some phone diagnosis.
The article about the R134A is about the biggest bunch of total bull S**T I have ever seen. That guy is so far off base he is not even in the ball park.
But the change from R12 to R134A does follow a money trail. Remind me to tell about it when I have a bit more time. Perhaps this weekend.
No you should not mix R12 with R134A. They don't like each other. They fight instead of doing their job. A/C performance suffers. And the chemicals can create acids and cause some damage to the system over time. This can happen with any refrigerent over time when mixed with moisture, but the blended combo hastens it along.
Well majority of everyones A/C is fixed and mine just went out on me today. 
I'm not going to complain. I should of taken care of it long time ago. I hear the shop calling.... 
Windows do just fine for me. 