[Steve]

I just got my car about 10 months ago with vary little history so I really don't know if this car was converted to 134a refrigerant or not. Most probably not but it's worth a try. What does an R134a input fitting look like?

Also, if it does have R12, do I really have to replace ALL the seals?



Thanks

Steve

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[jpk]

Only the '92's had R-12, 93 and on were all R-134 from the factory.

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[Steve]

[quote name='jpk' post='39546' date='Aug 7 2007, 05:00 AM']Only the '92's had R-12, 93 and on were all R-134 from the factory.[/quote]



Mine is a 92

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[Ryan]

If a conversion was done, a sticker should have been placed in the engine compartment stating so. I converted my 944S and the fitting looks pretty much the same only larger as I recall. My 968 was converted by the PO and it has the sticker.



Too bad the low side valve is in such a pain area or you could just get a shop to peek under and tell you. As it stands you have to have the car lifted and the plastic tray removed to get to it. No seals need to be replaced.

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[flash]

so far, anybody i know who has changed over has had to replace the seals - not sure why, just that they have had to - could easily be that the system leaked it out, therefore needing seals anyway - everybody i know that has changed it over, has done so related to a system failure

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[Steve]

[quote name='Ryan' post='39573' date='Aug 7 2007, 11:46 AM']If a conversion was done, a sticker should have been placed in the engine compartment stating so. I converted my 944S and the fitting looks pretty much the same only larger as I recall. My 968 was converted by the PO and it has the sticker.



Too bad the low side valve is in such a pain area or you could just get a shop to peek under and tell you. As it stands you have to have the car lifted and the plastic tray removed to get to it. No seals need to be replaced.[/quote]



Thanks Ryan,



I was hoping that (if I had to) it would be pretty simple to just do myself.



Steve

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[Richard]

My 92 was converted to R134A by the previous owner and it has never operated well. My mechanic who has worked on and owned many Porsches said that conversions are hit and miss. R134A operates at higher pressures so the seals on a compressor and other fittings that were designed for R12 will be hard pressed not to leak. I am going to replace my compressor and dryer and revert back to R12 as it is still readily available and only costs a little more than R134A. The down side is that I can't just go out and buy R12 like I can R134A and add it to my system myself but if my system doesn't leak I don't have to worry about it.



I will also second the comment above about a sticker being put on the inside of the hood or engine bay if the conversion has been done. By law a sticker has to be put on and an R12 to R134A conversion fitting must be put on the low side valve as well. The R12 fitting is a screw-on fitting where the R134A is a quick-disconnect fitting (IIRC). The high side valve may have a red cap and the low side valve a black one. My low side fitting is behind the compressor down by the manifold on the driver's side.



Others may have had a conversion work well but mine has not so my advice would be to keep the R12 on the 92 models.

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[Steve]

[quote name='Richard' post='39602' date='Aug 7 2007, 07:45 PM']R12 as it is still readily available and only costs a little more than R134A.[/quote]



Where do you get R12?

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[968workaholic]

[quote name='Steve' post='39603' date='Aug 7 2007, 10:59 PM']Where do you get R12?[/quote]

In order to get R12 you would have to order it from DuPont or another similar company directly. As for changing the seals, the molecules of 134a are smaller the R12 hence the need to give your a/c system a "tune up" every spring. Also, R12 is a much better refrigerant than R134a, that is the reason why most people think that their system doesnt work as well after they have it converted. The fittings on a r12 system will look like a fitting that you would find in a valve stem on your tire. While the fittings on a R134a system are most likely aluminum pieces with a quick disconnect style. Bottom line, if you are converting, changing the seals at the compressor, condensor, and the reciever/drier aren't brain surgery. But the wise thing to do is to get a new reciever/drier while everything is apart, just to make sure no R12 is hiding in there.

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[Richard]

R12 can't be sold retail in the U.S. but R134A can. However, shops can use supplies they have for A/C repair as is being done in my case.

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