[s-cars] AC recharge

Fri May 8 10:03:06 PDT 2009

Mine is a 93 and didn't need a recharge until last year.  Yes, the R12 
systems don't seem to have the leak problems that the 134a's have. I have a 
134a in a WRX that leaks out about every two years.
Jerry
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Theodore Chen" <tedebearp at yahoo.com>
To: "Tom Green" <trgreen at comcast.net>; <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 12:45 AM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] AC recharge


> that's exactly the problem.  i have several cans of R12 in the garage.  i 
> vaguely recalled some issue with finding the right fittings and figuring 
> out how to recharge the system using those cans.  it's gotten pretty warm 
> here, and with a 2-month old baby and a full-time job and a lot of 
> unfinished projects, i decided it was easier to just pay the shop to 
> recharge the AC with R12.
>
> the performance of the AC dropped so gradually over the last few years 
> that i couldn't really tell it was happening.  i noticed for the first 
> time last spring when we had a string of 100 degree days.  today it was 87 
> degrees and the AC didn't seem too bad.  it worked well enough on the 
> drive to the shop that i wondered if i needed to get it recharged.  but 
> after picking up the car and freezing myself on the way home, i think it 
> was money well spent.  by the way, the invoice shows that the shop did an 
> evacuation, pressure test, and recharge.
>
> i'm actually quite impressed that this 17-year old car kept enough R12 in 
> its system to work at all.
>
> -t.
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Tom Green <trgreen at comcast.net>
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2009 9:30:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] AC recharge
>
>>
> Topping off the R134a system is relatively simple.  The A8/S8 list has
> a Robert Waterloo discussion on how to do this, including why you
> might not want to do it.  Then, look
> at the August 2007 archives of this list for much discussion on the
> URS4/6 systems.  I use this adapter, modified to allow both schrader
> valves to operate in unison so you
> can gage the system and completely empty the 12 oz cans:
>
> FJC Air Conditioning Products - R134a Tank Adapter (6016)
>
> It is disappointing that no URS4 owner has yet "carried the message to
> Garcia" and provided a BTDT report on the connectors or adapters
> needed to top off the R12 system
> since so many report hoarding cans of refrigerant that they don't know
> how to use.  There are safety, economic and environmental issues (and
> regs) to consider, but you
> need all the information to make an informed decision.  There have
> been numerous posts similar to bob's below, but all gloss over the
> fact that the fitting for the low pressure switch does not match any
> common manifold gages or tank fittings.
>
> If you have R12 you are not going to use, sell it to a certified shop
> that can immediately put it in a recovery tank and pay you big bucks
> for it.
>
> Tom
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 04:55:35 +0000
>> From: "Kunz, Bob" <bob.kunz at hp.com>
>> Subject: Re: [s-cars] AC recharge
>> To: Theodore Chen <tedebearp at yahoo.com>, "s-car-list at audifans.com"
>>     <s-car-list at audifans.com>
>> Message-ID:
>> 
>> <540E0B723B94954CA9F98ECACA9316AE3204A85AB1 at GVW1098EXB.americas.hpqcorp.net
>> >
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> Green aliens from Planet Osmosis made Theodore Chen say...
>>
>>> the air conditioning system in my '92 works, but not very well.
>>>
>>> a shop said they'd recharge it with R-12 for $120, or convert to
>>> R134a for $140.
>>
>> Ah, summer arrives and the inevitable A/C issues crop up. You should
>> keep the system R12 if possible because of all the issues already
>> pointed out.
>>
>> The low pressure port is the low pressure switch (in the plenum on
>> the passenger side). You remove the switch and bridge the connector
>> (keeps the system from thinking pressure is too low), the system
>> remains closed because there is a Schrader valve in there. If you've
>> got manifold gauges use them of course. Low side pressure depends on
>> ambient. A couple of data points are (degrees F, PSI) (77,29.5),
>> (86,29), (95, 30). This is with the engine at 2K RPM, max cool, high
>> fan. Some compressors (my '86 does) have a low pressure port on them
>> in which case the pressures are about 3 PSI lower taken at that
>> port. If you need to play with the high side, you also remove the
>> switch and leave the cable connected (makes the system believe you
>> are not over pressuring the system on the high side).
>>
>> Remember the rule about recharging R12 systems (EPA tech hat on
>> now)... you CAN top up systems that are leaking but if you need to
>> open them you MUST recover the refrigerant. That's what makes
>> complete service of R12 systems pricey. $140 means the shop you
>> queried is not following rules. And although R134a is the same stuff
>> in duster cans, if you are dealing with it in a refrigeration system
>> you must recover the R134a. Go figure!
>>
>> --bob
>> '86 5Ks Avant
>> '99 A6 Avant
>> '02 TTQR
>> '07 Q7 4.2P
>
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