Les, I think you wanted to send this to the list as well. Chad
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 16:53:03 -0700 From: Les Noriel <[email protected]> To: Chad Rebuck <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [A2-16v] Re: A/C troubles Darn environmentalists make this so difficult. R12 used to cost $1.50 per pint. Its now $300 per pint while across the border in Tijuana, its still $1.50. R134 Conversion kit from the dealer cost $400! I am exploring the possibility of using Frig-C instead of R-134. R134 requires evacuation from a licensed shop for a minumum of 30 minutes. Also, the oil used in traditional R12 is incompatible with R134. Higher internal pressures of R134 compared to R12 makes leaks more probable in our aging AC systems too. >From what I have been able to gather, Frig-C is an approved alternative to R12 and R134. IT is compatible with R12 oil and existing R12 class evaporators. You still have to change the fittings as required by law. And there are automobile kits available. I dont' know what they cost yet and I have yet to find a local dealer. I have only found cases of Frig-C online and distributors indicate they have automobile conversion kit for dealers only. What I have determined so far is that it would take 3 pint cans, a can of lubricating oil, and the conversion fittings from R12 to Frig-C. If that is all it takes, it should not cost very much and I should be able to perform this in my garage. I am searching for a local dealer. Anyone know more about this process? -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Chad Rebuck Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2002 2:38 PM To: brd; 16v list Cc: [email protected] Subject: [A2-16v] Re: A/C troubles What are common ac components to leak? Hoses, fittings, evaporator? My 90 gli had very cold air after I refilled the r12, but after a month or so I had to add more because it wasn't cooling as well. Someone suggested that evaporators are known to fail due to the cooling, heating, cooling cycles. Is this common for VWs as well? I've never had an evaporator leak from my other 3 VWs. If I take it to an ac shop to find the leak I'm afraid they may fill the system with some leak detector. A friend of mine had a shop check for leaks in his ac system and this is what happened. I don't think this can be too good to leave the fluid in the system. How much work is involved in converting to r134? This seems like a lot of work to replace all the seals... but if I have to replace any components of the system I may as well convert it at the same time. Chad 90 gli ----- Original Message ----- From: "brd" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 10:51 AM Subject: Re: A/C troubles > On Fri, May 31, 2002 at 10:37:11AM -0400, Joswick, Chris wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > > > Got an A/C question. Mine no longer works and in the 6 years i have had the > > car i have only used it maybe 10 times. I am thinking it could be something > > small or an easy fix, but i don't know where to start. any suggestions? > > thanks in advance > > > > chris > > 91' 16v > > Define "no longer works". Doesn't turn on, only blows warm air, loses > freon, compressor doesn't work? Did it work when you got it? > > Assuming your blower controls work fine, and the a/c just never cools, > you can have a shop leak test the system for $20 or so. They should > be able to pinpoint a leak with a "sniffer" and/or tell you if your > compressor is stuck. > > Worst case, it leaks inside the dash in the evaporator, but even that's > not that bad. I replaced mine myself. Not a big deal. > > I'd have a shop test it and then evaluate what to do. They will most > likely want to fix it. A lot of places won't charge much to test, > thinking that they'll make a killing on the needed repairs. If it's > something major ($$$), look into a 2nd or 3rd opinion or the possibility > of doing it yourself. > > Laters, > Brian > 1989 Jetta GLI 16v Wolfsburg <-- with cold a/c > _______________________________________________ A2-16v mailing list [email protected] http://maillist.myip.org/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v
