[Steve]

Well it could be worse but not by much. In the last 3 months my AC system has slowly died. It all started about a year ago. I have a 92 and the AC was not working so I thought I would try using the r12a several guys here and on other boards wrote about.



It sounded to good to be true. You get a kit and a couple of cans of this stuff. It mixed with any left over r12 Freon and you just go on down the road. Well, it turned out to be true. I just up the stuff in to the right pressure and the compressor started right up and the air blew cold!



That lasted until the end of June. I thought, no problem its probably just low, so I put in some more of this stuff but no go. It would not kick on, so down I go to the local radiator and AC shop and $1250 later I get my car back with a rebuilt compressor and new dryer with of course an up graded to the r134 stuff.



That lasted about a month and then it went back to not working. Back to the shop it went last week and they found a leaking condenser so $700 more and I was suppose to get my car back but as they were just doing the final test the tech gets into the car pushes the button for the AC and gets a cloud of r134 right in the face. Yes it's a leaking evaporator!



So I get the call saying that this will cost me another $1400 because the estimated labor to do the job is 13 hours! They say the whole dash needs to come out to do this. I said please button the car up and I will pay for the condenser and be on my way. Anyway so my question is, had anyone here been there and done...what? Any help would be most appreciated.



Cheers

Steve

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[jlm968]

I imagine others on here read between the lines: It's expensive to have someone else buy you parts and install them, eh?



Just an example: you could've purchased a good used late-944 condensor for $50, and spent about 2 hours replacing it yourself (and half that time to get the dad-burn belly pans on/off!).

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[Steve]

Yes I know and usually do my own work. I have done my own clutch and timing belts on this car. I just got to busy and had to take it in, but wow almost 2 grand and it's still dead!

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[flash]

bummer - been there done that though - hydraulics are like that too - you really have to replace everything, because pressure finds he weak spot - when it comes to AC, i always replace everything - the parts generally aren't that much, but having to go in there multiple times to fix something always is expensive



ya know, someday you'll bring that car down here and we can go over it

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[PorscheDude]

Learn to shop around for parts, and learn to DIY......

Use money saved on tools.

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[Steve]

Yes, someday we will tag up. I have grown to really like it and now it's just a matter of getting through all the little wobbly bits.





Hay Flash, been through pulling a dash?

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[flash]

not yet, but i'm always up for a challenge - from what i hear, it isn't too hard

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[Steve]

Is there anyone out there that has pulled a dash? If someone has any documentation or photos to share it would help a lot.



Thanks

Steve

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[flash]

i think anchorman has done it

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[banditsc]

Clarks Garage is your friend, don't be afraid to utilize it..

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/body-24.htm

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[rhudeboye]

A sad reality when your dealing with a 15 year old German auto. I'm not the most mechanically inclined guy out there so most of the time I take it to the pros also. I recall a thread not too long ago where a guy calculated his repair bills and it was more then what most 68s are bought for.



That being said, I think many of us that want our cars running as they should are in the same boat. Its a beautiful car and hard to replace so we count the cost and we do what we gotta do to keep her sound.

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[Steve]

Thanks for the link. That doesn't look to bad a job.

Its funny I just found a small crack in the dash right above the instruments.

Now I have to find the best price for a top dash in black and an evaporator. If anyone knows about that, I would like to know.

Maybe I can recover the dash, yes no?



Thanks

Steve

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[banditsc]

[quote name='Steve' post='58502' date='Aug 28 2008, 11:32 AM']Thanks for the link. That doesn't look to bad a job.

Its funny I just found a small crack in the dash right above the instruments.

Now I have to find the best price for a top dash in black and an evaporator. If anyone knows about that, I would like to know.

Maybe I can recover the dash, yes no?



Thanks

Steve[/quote]



Head over here and scroll to the bottom, they have a couple of different options. Basically full strip and redo, or leather overlay you can do yourself.

http://928leathershop.com/Dashboard,_Conso...nel_Covers.html

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[Gotter]

<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Man, *NOT* what I wanted to hear. My A/C went out a month or three ago and I have been too busy at work to so anything about it, but I might have time this coming month... I really hope that I don't run into the same issue you did. Really bites.



Good luck with the dash removal and such!

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[Steve]

The sad truth is that Flash is right. Everything seems to go about the same time on the AC, so be prepared for a complete job on it.

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[BBZ 968]

Steve...I have just had my A/c overhauled ( 92 coupe ) .....new condensor.drier.O'rings and a re-gas with R416A .

According to our expert Cool-it 1992 model 968's did not have internally wired rubber hoses and therefore cannot have R134a gas which would cause bursts and leaks. The only way to have the R134a would be to replace all the rubber pipework with the new braided rubber type ( 1993 onwards ). This option would have been too expensive for me so I opted for the lower performance gas.

The air-con is now fairly cool but not as cold as the original R12 gas which as you know is no longer available.



As you have a 1992 Cab I suggest you check out new rubber pipework for R134a . I think this would require removal of the dash to access some pipes.



Cheers Shaun

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[Steve]

[quote name='BBZ 968' post='58558' date='Aug 28 2008, 02:12 PM']Steve...I have just had my A/c overhauled ( 92 coupe ) .....new condensor.drier.O'rings and a re-gas with R416A .

According to our expert Cool-it 1992 model 968's did not have internally wired rubber hoses and therefore cannot have R134a gas which would cause bursts and leaks. The only way to have the R134a would be to replace all the rubber pipework with the new braided rubber type ( 1993 onwards ). This option would have been too expensive for me so I opted for the lower performance gas.

The air-con is now fairly cool but not as cold as the original R12 gas which as you know is no longer available.



As you have a 1992 Cab I suggest you check out new rubber pipework for R134a . I think this would require removal of the dash to access some pipes.



Cheers Shaun[/quote]

I just got off the phone with my intrepid AC expert and he said he had never heard of R416A which is a bit disturbing. He filled it with R134a and I drove it around like that for a month or so before it started to leak. Has anyone else seen this?

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[banditsc]

Yes, the R12 systems do not have barrier hoses, or the proper o-rings for R134A. I'm suprised a Automotive AC expert wouldn't know know that R12 rubber hoses are not suitable in a R134A system.

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[Steve]

[quote name='banditsc' post='58565' date='Aug 28 2008, 03:51 PM']Yes, the R12 systems do not have barrier hoses, or the proper o-rings for R134A. I'm suprised a Automotive AC expert wouldn't know know that R12 rubber hoses are not suitable in a R134A system.[/quote]



I did pull the car.

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[Kim]

Just a couple of comments,



I did the rebuild at the Porsche dealer locally from R12 to R134a. I needed the drier, a change of all the oil and also eventually (ie a week later) a new compressor (three actually but that was just crummy luck). All in, and including the screw-ups, about $2800. No mention was made of hoses and they showed me the Porsche approved update method. I was told that if the oil wasn't changed the new oil mixed with the old was very acidic and would eat hoses and other parts. I had it changed.



I always get a bit higgley-piggely when I hear all this talk about how you can get this part used, that part free, crawl on your back for a week after work, get oil in your eye and save big money. It's probably true. However, for some of us, MYSELF INCLUDED, this is NOT an option. I have no garage, no time, and no ability. That is why others do what they do and I do what I do. I certainly don't mind some folks telling other similarly inclined folks how to do it the cheap and easy method but just remember that some of us need to pay for this crap. This site saves us money since we are better armed with information where we go to see our services guys. It isn't a crime. We like the cars - I sometimes want a Cayman S and have fought hard over the last week to not buy an unsold 2007 that is sitting there at a discount - but I keep coming back to the fact that I LIKE my car. They are like lots of other things - tremendous fun to have but cost a fortune to keep (kids, wifes, girlfriends, etc). Just ease up a bit on the lectures - we would do it if we could.

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