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Suddenly your auto air conditioner has become an important part of your life.
Maybe it's not doing the job it was designed to do.
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We CAN HELP. Auto air conditioners are not friendly toward patchwork or partial repair.
Do it right the first time. It's the cheapest way long term. Both General Motors and
Ford Motor Company have reversed their thinking on retrofit. We believe that as long as
R12 is available repairs should be completed in a conventional manner.
There are some few cases where retrofit is feasible.
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Place your auto air in the hands of a professional you trust. Take his advice. Sad tales
and nightmares can be avoided. The temps will soar this summer. Let us help keep you cool.
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Currently, there is no law or regulation stating that a person must convert their automotive air conditioning system to R134a.
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However, the future does look bleak for R12: and if a major repair is required on a R12 system it may well be in the consumers best interest to convert to the R134a refrigerant. The price of "Freon" has sky-rocketed while the price of R134a has fallen; therefore, it may be a cost effective as well as an environmentally more conscious option to convert.
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Perform the repair exactly as you would if the refrigerant were R12. Only, instead of using a mineral oil to lubricate
the system use an approved ester oil. Be sure to flush the system completely in order to remove as much of the residual,
mineral oil as possible. Make sure flushing methods are EPA approved. Evacuate the system for a minimum of 45 minutes
and begin charging with R134a refrigerant. Start with 70 percent of the charge you would use if charging with R12.
Under some conditions, auxiliary condenser cooling fans may be required or you may need to replace the condenser with
an approved serpentine type. Also, be sure to use the new style o-rings when replacing components.
(There are many new "drop-in" replacement refrigerants currently being tested. We will keep you posted on their development.)
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Yes, almost every new replacement part is compatible with R134a. Many compressors now come without oil so that the installer
can determine whether it will be used for R12 or R134a. (Read warning labels that come with replacement components.)
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The LOW pressure line is cool and it also collects the moisture.
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Unfortunately, you have only one option. You must recover the refrigerant and flush the system. You should also replace
the drier, again. Too much oil is as bad (if not worse) than not enough oil. A compressor cannot compress a liquid.
Oil is a liquid; too much can cause compressor damage and poor cooling.
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An automotive air conditioning system is made up of the following operational parts or components. Some terms for
maintaining your auto air system are also included.
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The "working fluid of the A/C system. The refrigerant transports heat from one part of the system to another.
It absorbs heat while turning into gas, and gives off heat when becoming a liquid.
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The component where the liquid refrigerant vaporizes, absorbs heat, and travels on to the compressor. The "cold" part.
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Pressurizes the refrigerant gas and pumps it to the condenser.
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A small radiator that extracts heat from the refrigerant and converts (condenses) it from a gas to a liquid, then transports
the liquid to the accumulator.
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A storage tank and filter for the liquid refrigerant. Excess fluid is stored here and moisture is removed.
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Regulates the liquid refrigerant going to the Evaporator. Here the liquid again changes back into a gas,
cools the Evaporator fins and gives off cool air that is blown into the car by the fan. The cycle then repeats itself.
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Engages and disengages the system.
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The system lubricant.
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To vent all system refrigerant.
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To remove all system moisture and refrigerant.
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A complete test of all operations of the climate control system.
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A check of all system components and connections for refrigerant leaks.
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