A/C conversion to Sanden/R134

Tue Apr 15 18:12:00 EDT 2003

Hi a/c enthusiasts,

Today it turns out the electricity went out at work (and it is our problem not the power
companies!) so we were sent home for the day.  I took the opportunity to drive over to
Phoenix and pay AZ Mobile Air (http://www.ackits) a visit.  I'd been wondering how I'd be
able to get there during business hours.

I got an estimate of $439.55 for the parts, excluding the condensor, refrigerant, and labor.
Here is the breakdown.  You may notice the prices for walk-in are higher than the website
prices.  But if you "know about" the website, then you get those prices!

5033 York to Sanden Adapter $31.45
488-45021 New Zexel W/2GR CL R134A  $200.10
48624MD Filter/Drier  $23.17
57399MD Expansion Valve  $28.29
Hoses (estimated)  $100.00
35016363S Retrofit Fitting LO-7/16STR  $2.15
57807MD High Pressure 3/16 Switch Kit  $21.45

Even though one of the guys there said the pressures were about the same for both of the
refrigerant types, it seem the high pressure switch is still needed for whatever reason.

I remembered I have a new receiver/drier "in stock", so I'll try to put that to use.  I was going
to suggest one of the usual subjects like Performance Motorcars or TPC for the expansion
valve, but the one from the a/c vendor might be more appropriate for R134a use.

It hadn't occurred to me until he mentioned it that the hoses would be made from using the
existing hoses "off the car" as patterns.  Prior to hearing that, I was imagining the hoses
would be fabricated with the car there.  This means I can have the stock hoses loose and
shop around for the best hose vendor.

I heard the same story there as I hear at the a/c place I've been going, that no credit is given
for any of the R12 they evacuate.  I didn't even ask how much it would be for that part of the
service.  I'll probably go somewhere local for that since this place isn't near my work or home
at all.

They had a cutaway of a "parallel flow" condensor that they explained is needed to convert to
R134a from R12.  It is clearly more efficient than the tube-and-fin style that the stock one is.
The only problem is they don't have a vertical model that fits the 5 cylinder type 85 well.  One
guy there said the hot rod guys will turn the horizontal parallel flow ones on their sides and
they work okay.

I'm going to try to find one that fits well.  I searched online and it looks like the best one has
already been alluded to by fellow lister Paul, model CD-1801 from http://www.air-
tique.com/condensers.html .  I sent them an email asking for confirmation that that is a
parallel flow design for use with R134a.  It looks like it is, but they describe it as a "Aluminum
6mm Multi Flo".  I'm sure it's appropriate.

I'm leaning towards piecing my own a/c setup together, leaving only flushing of the
evaporator and charging with R134a for the shop to do.

If you'd rather click a link than measure your radiator, you can go to
http://www.performanceradiator.com/EStore/Radiators/5selectradiator1.asp?selYear=1986&
selMake=AUDI&selModel=4000+SERIES&selLiters=2.3&Submit2222=Next+%3E%3E to
see what the dimensions for the 5 cylinder type 85 radiator is.  Well, the "coresize" is
described as 18 7/8 X 15 X 1 3/4.

So, I think I'm going to buy that vertical parallel flow condensor, a cheap York-to-
Sanden(/Seltec) adapter bracket, pull the hoses for having barrier versions made, probably
buy the Seltec locally, bolt it together and have either ackits.com or some other local a/c
vendor flush the evaporator and put it together.

Actually, I asked a question like James' before.  What cars came with a/c compressors that
might be able to bolt onto this Sanden/Seltec standard mounting pattern?

Ken

On 15 Apr 2003 at 14:52, Ti Kan wrote:

> james accordino writes:
> > Yeah, thanks Ti.  I was aware of Sanden.  Yes a very
> > nice looking clean alloy cylinder.  Mounting and
> > connections require a trip to the hose shop and some
> > fab.  I just seemed to remember something at a
> > junkyard that there was a newer, simpler and more
> > effiecent alternative that was in a mass marketed
> > vehicle.  I wonder what Nissan, Yokto and Mazda are
> > running for compressors in their current vehicles?
> > Anyone know?
>
> In fact Audi now uses a new, high-tech compressor in some of the latest
> models.  It has an externally-controlled "variable displacement" design
> whereby the climate control ECU dynamically changes the wobble plate
> angle inside the compressor to vary its effective displacement, in turn
> changing the amount of refrigerant that is being pumped.  On these cars
> there is no compressor clutch, making the A/C operation very smooth.
> The compressor runs all the time, yet can dynamically go from full-tilt
> to almost a "turned off" state (virtually no load on the engine) based on
> the cooling demand.
>
> -Ti
> 2003 A4 1.8T multitronic
> 2001 S4 biturbo 6-sp
> 1984 5000S turbo
> 1980 4000 2.0 5-sp
> --
>     ///  Ti Kan                Vorsprung durch Technik
>    ///   AMB Laboratories, Sunnyvale, CA. USA
>   ///    ti at amb.org
>  //////  http://www.amb.org/ti/
> ///
>