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Sounds then like the valve leaked (or cracked). And really a completely empty A/C system should only have about a once of oil in it, any more can cause problems.
Rick
93 968 (My summer car), 06 Jetta (My winter car)
79 924 (Wife's summer car), 02 C230K (Wife's winter car)
00 Passat (Son's car), 02 Trailblazer (Daughter's Car)
67 Honda Mini-Trail (familiy toy)
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Well there is now a new twist. I don't know what the fluid was that was under the car - I presumed it to A/C oil since the A/C had stopped working - but I removed the fuse box cover tonight to be sure that the A/C fuse wasn't blown, discovered that there was an A/C compressor relay that was loose, probably since all the work was done in that area. Pushed it back in and - presto - I had A/C. So the oil could have been blow off from the newly filled coolant reservoir (it looked clear but I suppose it could have been pink, that would have been the place to find it), something else (not sure what, nothing else on that side of the car except the A/C reservoir) or some other peckerhead with a junko truck was in my driveway visiting kids, leaked oil, and I simply didn't see it when I parked. Who knows. WHO EVEN CARES? Life's been good to me so far.
Kim Strong, Nova Scotia
Baron of Bugtussle and Lord of Wigtownshire, Scotland
2022 Mustang Mach-E
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Nice, we all like the easy fix.
Rick
93 968 (My summer car), 06 Jetta (My winter car)
79 924 (Wife's summer car), 02 C230K (Wife's winter car)
00 Passat (Son's car), 02 Trailblazer (Daughter's Car)
67 Honda Mini-Trail (familiy toy)
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I went to my local AC fix em up shop and asked about the R12. In CT you can't buy it. He said the replacement for R12 is PROPANE based. Driving a bomb anyone?
Ross
Ross Carley
Newtown, CT 06470
1992 968 Tip. Cab. (Slate Gray) purchased 4/2008
1965 356 SC Coupe (Iight Ivory) purchased 10/1976 $2500 ( now undergoing complete restro help me chose a color)
1970 914-6 (Irish Green) purchased new March 1970 $6800 sold it 10 months later a real POS
1964 356 SC Coupe (Irish Green) purchased 1969 $2700 blew it up on the Tapanzee Bridge 3AM at 90+
1966 Austin Healy 3000 (BRG) purchased 1968 They came as a set $1200 for both
1966 Austin Healy 3000 (Guard Red) purchased 1968 " " " " " " "
1961 Austin Healy 3000 ( Silver Blue) purchased 1967 $400
1953 Le Francis (Le Mans White) 3 speed twin overhead cams purchsed 1966 $600
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I just went with ES-12A in my newly aquired car. It is CFC based, but has a higher ignition point the R134a, so it catching fire shouldn't be a concern. This product is also environmentally friendly the EPA deemed it as not needing to be regulated and Greenpeace is endorsing it. They even put in a pine scent to detect leaks to go along withere enviromental theme. The stuff is suppose to cool better then R12 and R134A and cause less of a load on the compressor. People are actually swapping R134a for this stuff. Another nice point to this stuff is the molecules are larger then R12 or R134a so it's less likely to leak. I'm actually thinking of swapping it in my 968 which has R134a, in hopes it actually does reduce the load on the compressor. I also learned from researching R12 substitutes that one of the long term health issues with R134A is Testicular Cancer, I sure hope it hasn't been leaking into the cabin..
Tech Details here.
http://autorefrigerants.com/Envirotechnical.htm
I got mine from here,
http://autorefrigerants.com/co00033.htm
The Manufacturer is here,
http://www.es-refrigerants.com/
Current:
2016 Cayman S
Former:
94 968 Cab 6 Spd. Black/Cashmere D1R SC
86.5 928 Garnet Red Metallic
(This post was last modified: 07-18-2008, 06:08 PM by
banditsc.)
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Just out of curiousity, the conversion kit I bought for $40 bucks works great. No leaks-Blows cold. Why would anyone spend $1000+ to switch out the various components. Am I missing something? I spoke to the A/C mechanic at my local repair shop, and he said he's done both methods - both work equally the same in his opinion. Even if you plan to switch everything, he tells people to try the R134A recharge kit first. What is the catch?
'94 Midnite Blue Metallic cab, Classic Grey interior.
Gone, but not forgotten....'95 Polar Silver cab, Light Grey w/ Deviated Midnite Blue interior
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Correct, the Envrio gas I posted above is compatible with both systems.
The main differences with the two system are the oil and the hoses. The oil that R12 uses is not compatible with R134A, so you really need to pull a full vac on the system and replace with the proper oil. Failure to do this will result in the compressor eventually failing, you also can not mix the oils. The other issue are the rubber hoses, the R134A system uses barrier hoses, putting R134A into non barrier hoses will eventually cause the gas to leak out thru the hoses. The o-rings should be compatible with the R134A, but given the age and heat in the engine bay they are most likely getting old and hard, so replacing them would assure a good sealed system.
So yes, a R134A kit will work and blow cold air in a R12 system (though not as cold), but will eventually leak out and can cause compressor failure if you don't change the oil. Or the other solution is ES-12A gas which is compatible with both systems, hoses and oils and blows as cold or possibly colder. It's price is also on par for R134A kits.
Of course if your doing any of this changing out the drier should be done if your making a change or the system has gone dry. Also if the system has gone dry pulling a vac on the system is recommended.
Current:
2016 Cayman S
Former:
94 968 Cab 6 Spd. Black/Cashmere D1R SC
86.5 928 Garnet Red Metallic
