12 to 134a Conversion

[Kneale Brownson]

Are you replacing the hoses?

Tediously fingered on my iPhone


> On May 20, 2018, at 4:35 PM, Einhorn Hofmann <einhorn.hofmann at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I've decided to do a rebuild on the A/C on my Audi 100, 1990.  The Car’s in
> otherwise good shape, and my local VW/Audi independent garage has agreed to
> do it if I get the parts.
> 
> I’ve managed to located everything I need so far at one company…with the
> exception of the Condenser.   I can find condensers on ebay, but ideally
> I’d like to order everything from one place  -- reason being that in Canada
> we can get hit by some pretty nasty “Customs Brokerage fees” if we’re not
> careful.  The shop I’ve sourced everything else at handles the brokerage
> fees (unlike your average seller on eBay).
> 
> 
> 
> The questions I had:
> 
> 1.)    If the existing evaporator looks in good shape, would it be crazy to
> do a rebuild without replacing the condenser?  I had no plans to replace
> the evaporator inside the car, since I assume it’s as difficult a job as
> replacing the heater core which it sits next to in the passenger footwell
> (?)
> 
> 
> 2.)    Has anyone located a condenser for another vehicle that’s close
> enough in size, to fit the i5 engines, even if it requires some minor
> mods?    I'd imagine there might be enough room for a different slightly
> different condenser.   The i5’s are at an angle on the driver’s side,
> (unlike the V4 and V6 which I believe are perpendicular to the length of
> the car and centered.)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The plan is to replace the compressor, receiver/dryer, all seals, and
> presumably the mechanic performs a flush prior to drawing the vacuum, and
> doing the R134a conversion.  As an aside, he mentioned that he actually had
> two cylinders of R12 left over, but if he was caught using them, the fines
> were ½ a million dollars.  I asked about the increased pressures and lower
> cooling after an R134a conversion.  He mentioned that you typically see a
> 10-15% lower cooling efficiency after the conversion, which most people
> don’t notice, and furthermore its academic since there’s no alternative for
> retrofitting an R12 car.
> 
> 
> Thanks for any input,
> 
> MC
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