I've done R-134a conversions on three different vehicles. It's really pretty simple -- go to your local auto parts store and pick up a conversion kit. It has three cans of freon, one can of oil, a connection hose, and fittings.
You should have your system professionally evacuated (assuming that it has some charge in it.)
On the last one that I did, I just started with a system that had been taken apart by someone who didn't, but should have, know better.
Instructions:
- find fitting in the kit that works.
- connect it up
- start car
- turn on A/C
- put one can of freon in
- put can of oil in
- add second can of freon
- add third can of freon.
Enjoy the cold A/C!!
This, of course, assumes that all the other components are working properly and that you just need a charge.
HTH --
David
'89 CRX DX, white, 198K miles
'90 CRX Si, yellow, 49K miles (R-134a conversion)
'02 Civic EX, ruby, 22K miles
'94 Helix, black, 16K mile
----------
From: Ricky Crow[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 11:04 AM
To: George Freeman
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: CRX: R12 vs R134a
From my experience, most places *can* re-install R-12, but you just have
to pay more for it, and be demanding that they do it. Most places will
tell you straight up front whether or not they even buy R-12 any more.
Ricky,
Still the original Honda A/C system with R-12 and 176k miles on the
compressor.
On Sun, 13 Oct 2002, George Freeman wrote:
> Well it's still hot here in Florida as the last extended days of summer
> wrap up and I have an A/C question. I had an aftermarket R12 A/C put in
> the car when I got her used in '93. Everything was fine until last
> year, about a week after the engine swap- the 4-1 headers cooked the
> high side A/C line and the seal blew at the compressor, sending freon &
> oil everywhere (I have since put in heat shields all around the A/C
> lines).
>
> I took the car to the local A/C shop and they hemmed & hawed that they
> couldn't do R12 so they converted the system to R134a. A friend of mine
> tells me yesterday that I'm slowly destroying the compressor since R134a
> is not as good a lubricator as R12 was. Is this true??
>
> Incidentally, my friend mentioned a small one-man auto shop who may be
> able to put R12 back in the system...
>
>
> George
> '89 DX-Hybrid-D16Z6, 124k miles
> "Seats, Suspension, Engine, MSD, next=dyno"
>
>
