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Author Topic: Making my old a/c work again.  (Read 9953 times)

Offline 86forever

Making my old a/c work again.
« on: 12:21:52 PM / 24-Jul-17 »
 So my a/c hasnt work for almost 17 years already and i finally got fed up with me driving around with no a/c.  :glaresad: So this saturday coming up 07/29/17 i going to make a attem to make it to the San Diego yearly s12 meet. With a/c and not hot air  :idea:
So i have new:
New a/c comperssor
New expansion valve which i dont know where the fuck is it at! Please help!
New a/c dryier
New orings.
New conversion a/c valve for r134.
New valve stem conversion for r134.
 So i am hoping i could have all this running by wedesday i just need help where to find the expasion valve and cant find it any where in the forums, the net or even in facebook  :opps: .
I will keep you post it and have some pics.

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Offline S12_Lifer

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« Last Edit: 06:25:12 PM / 24-Jul-17 by S12_Lifer »

Offline 86forever

Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #2 on: 09:05:17 PM / 24-Jul-17 »
 lol no i already have one J. I just cant located where in the car is it at?

Offline S12_Lifer

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #3 on: 11:28:17 PM / 24-Jul-17 »
Located behind the dash, to the right of the heater core.

Offline 86forever

Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #4 on: 12:27:11 PM / 25-Jul-17 »
Located behind the dash, to the right of the heater core.

oh man oh man thats going to hurt.
Post Merge
Well yesterday i replace the a/c dryer and all the o-rings. i perform a vacuum and leak down test and everything pass, but i think i mess up my job a/c machine my car had trap r12 somewhere in the a/c lines and recover 0.09g of it. Hopefully nothing goes wrong with our cm cars.
« Last Edit: 12:49:02 PM / 25-Jul-17 by 86forever »

Offline weitrhino

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #5 on: 02:53:21 PM / 25-Jul-17 »
I'm in a similar boat. When it's only warm outside my AC puts out cool-ish air, but when it's hot outside like it typically is in Texas summertime the AC is useless. I don't know how to diagnose whether there's been a component failure or if the R12 has simply leaked away because the car is so flippin' old.

If there's no mechanical failure can the system simply be vacuumed and recharged with R134a buy using an adapter kit?

If you were in my situation, what's the most economical way to proceed that leads to functioning AC?

Offline S12_Lifer

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #6 on: 05:20:32 PM / 25-Jul-17 »
Yes, you can use R134a once you install an adapter kit.  R134a is about $32 per pound.  If you stay with the R12, you will pay around $48 per pound.  I would find an AC shop that can recover your remaining R12 and have the system checked or converted, then do the recharge.  I personally prefer to stick with R12.

Offline 86forever

Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #7 on: 06:04:26 PM / 26-Jul-17 »
 Does anyone knows how much Oil and r12 refrigerant capacity does the s12 takes?

Offline Xano

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #8 on: 08:26:48 PM / 26-Jul-17 »
There should be an owners manual pdf link somewhere that would tell you pretty close.  It shouldn't matter whether you have a Mk1, 1.5 or 2.  I'll see if I can find it.

Edit: http://club-s12.org/files/FSM-1986.pdf

Edit 2: The back page shows it's between 2.0 and 2.4 lbs for non VG30E motors, and 1.8-2.2 lbs for SE's.
~xano


Offline weitrhino

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #9 on: 10:53:31 PM / 26-Jul-17 »
Yes, you can use R134a once you install an adapter kit.  R134a is about $32 per pound.  If you stay with the R12, you will pay around $48 per pound.  I would find an AC shop that can recover your remaining R12 and have the system checked or converted, then do the recharge.  I personally prefer to stick with R12.


I thought you couldn't get R12 since many years ago. Are you suggesting it should still be available?

Offline 86forever

Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #10 on: 01:39:40 AM / 27-Jul-17 »
There should be an owners manual pdf link somewhere that would tell you pretty close.  It shouldn't matter whether you have a Mk1, 1.5 or 2.  I'll see if I can find it.

Edit: http://club-s12.org/files/FSM-1986.pdf

Edit 2: The back page shows it's between 2.0 and 2.4 lbs for non VG30E motors, and 1.8-2.2 lbs for SE's.

 Thank you so much the info.
Post Merge
  :yay!: :yay!: :yay!: :yay!: :yay!: So i was able to make my car blow cold air after 15 years, but i do have problems with car not idling right. I have to figure out why the a/c condenser fan does turn on "which is probably burnt" also the a/c does not turn off after it reaches very cold temperature. I think is probably the reason why my old a/c compressor took a shit on me. Maybe overheated who knows but for now i am happy that my s12 is blowing cold air.

 If any one got question just reply.
« Last Edit: 01:52:05 AM / 27-Jul-17 by 86forever »

Offline mc

Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #11 on: 07:31:08 AM / 27-Jul-17 »
..good job....what air temps are you getting it now?   I did the same to my daughters 1991 Stanza but used R152 (canned air for keyboard cleaning) and it freezes you out...dirt cheap too..drain out old oil,replace with modern oil, replace dryer, vacuum system and add 60 % or so of R152..i also converted my Camry over to it ....i just wish my SE had a/c.
« Last Edit: 07:33:38 AM / 27-Jul-17 by mc »

Offline weitrhino

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #12 on: 11:30:43 AM / 27-Jul-17 »
So i was able to make my car blow cold air after 15 years, but i do have problems with car not idling right. I have to figure out why the a/c condenser fan does turn on "which is probably burnt" also the a/c does not turn off after it reaches very cold temperature. I think is probably the reason why my old a/c compressor took a shit on me. Maybe overheated who knows but for now i am happy that my s12 is blowing cold air.

 If any one got question just reply.

Are you saying the car has trouble idling when the AC is turned on? If that's the case, check that the idle up solenoid is working. It's supposed to kick up the idle speed when an extra load on the engine happens, like engaging the compressor.

Offline 86forever

Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #13 on: 02:49:12 PM / 27-Jul-17 »
..good job....what air temps are you getting it now?   I did the same to my daughters 1991 Stanza but used R152 (canned air for keyboard cleaning) and it freezes you out...dirt cheap too..drain out old oil,replace with modern oil, replace dryer, vacuum system and add 60 % or so of R152..i also converted my Camry over to it ....i just wish my SE had a/c.
Last night it got down to 37f and this morning it was at 41f. I did the same step has you did exept r152 i used r134a.

Offline S12_Lifer

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #14 on: 11:47:23 PM / 27-Jul-17 »
There is a place in San Diego called Eskimo Radiator and Air Conditioning which still sells the R12.  I been taking my wifes S12 there for more than 20 years for the R12 recharge..............ice!

Offline ndd

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #15 on: 02:29:00 PM / 28-Jul-17 »
I am a HVAC tech.  For older automotive systems using r12 take a look at a product  called HC12-A. It can be muxed with r12 I've used on several older cars vs converting to 134a peace

Offline 86forever

Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #16 on: 12:42:26 AM / 29-Jul-17 »
I am a HVAC tech.  For older automotive systems using r12 take a look at a product  called HC12-A. It can be muxed with r12 I've used on several older cars vs converting to 134a peace
  Hmm where can i find it and is it cheap? Plus the reason why i went to the r134a is because at work in are shop the r134 is free for employee but just don't tell are mangers lol.

Offline weitrhino

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #17 on: 04:29:42 PM / 29-Jul-17 »
I am a HVAC tech.  For older automotive systems using r12 take a look at a product  called HC12-A. It can be muxed with r12 I've used on several older cars vs converting to 134a peace


Yes, I've been researching R12a since my last post and I think that's the way I'm going to go. I've also found there's plenty of R12 cans for sale on eBay, a bit spendy though.

Offline ndd

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Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #18 on: 12:11:13 PM / 31-Jul-17 »
Type in hc12a into any browser found it on amazon as well I used an older r12 can tap to use info readily a available

Offline 86forever

Re: Making my old a/c work again.
« Reply #19 on: 09:02:36 PM / 01-Aug-17 »
whats cheaper r12 or convert r134?