[s-cars] Re: A/C Compressor Fest

[CyberPoet]

Well, far be it for me to suggest something totally in violation of
various state (and possibly national) law, but...

A) If the systems are charged with 134A or equivalent, then you can
vent out the old by accident (opps!) and refill it with bottles from
the local auto parts store without legal issues. Still, an A/C
certified tech with the equipment to recover, clean and restore the
refrigerant is preferable.

B) If the systems are charged with R12 or equivalent, then you wouldn't
be able to get your hands on replacement refrigerant in the US without
a valid A/C license, and can't legally vent the R12 -- it has to be
recovered by law (good time to do that R-134A conversion -- expensive
with a new dryer/accumulator, etc, but worth it if you are planning on
keeping the car for 3 or more years). If you're planning on doing the
conversion, let the rebuilder/remanufacturer know this before they get
to work on the compressor designed for R-12 and ask for their
recommendations (they may change the gearing or the pulley wheel to
permit higher compression rates to make up for the lessor efficiency of
R-134A).
   ...But, if you have any friends in Mexico (or Texans living close to
the border), they can scoot over to their local Mexican equivalent of
Discount Auto Parts and pick up R12 by the case without a license.
After it crosses back over the border, getting to you should be easy
enough (has to travel via ground transit though). It seems totally
unfair, but it is available (at a very reasonable cost, even!). Ever
wonder where your old R-12 goes after it's recovered during a R-134A
conversion? It gets sent out in bulk to firms that clean it and then
repackage it for the mexican market... How's that for a gas?!?

Best Wishes,
=-= Marc Glasgow


On Thursday, January 23, 2003, at 08:20 AM,
s-car-list-request at audifans.com wrote:

> Someone, Dave I think, suggested having a "compressor-a-thon" for group
> replacements.  Unless one of you has all the equipment including the
> refrigerant recovery and vacuum evacuation equipment I don't think you
> want to do this yourselves.  You might check and see if a license is
> required for purchase of refrigerant in quantity.