Recharge A/C w/R-12 or convert to R-133?

[trs80]

Should I have the AC recharged with the R12 or is it better to convert the
system to R133? About what $ would a shop charge to do each of these?
(assuming no leaks)

Its a 1990 LS400 with 220K miles on it so I want to be frugal about money I
put into it. But the AC is completly depleted. I would have this done by
auto repair specialist

Thanks for any tips

[oklaman]

a conversion kit is not too expensive. in addition, r12 is getting hard to
find and is expensive.
"trs80" <***@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:***@news.boeing.com...
Should I have the AC recharged with the R12 or is it better to convert the
system to R133? About what $ would a shop charge to do each of these?
(assuming no leaks)

Its a 1990 LS400 with 220K miles on it so I want to be frugal about money I
put into it. But the AC is completly depleted. I would have this done by
auto repair specialist

Thanks for any tips

[Jerohm]

Post by trs80
Should I have the AC recharged with the R12 or is it better to convert the
system to R133? About what $ would a shop charge to do each of these?
(assuming no leaks)
Its a 1990 LS400 with 220K miles on it so I want to be frugal about money
I put into it. But the AC is completly depleted. I would have this done
by auto repair specialist
Thanks for any tips

Last time I checked R-12 is about $50/lb or more and they can't just
recharge the system. They must check for, and fix leaks first. Many years
ago, customers were told that a conversion MUST include the replacement of
the expensive components (dryer, compressor). It has just not been proven
true. Gaskets DO seem to give out. I paid less than $200 for a conversion
5 years ago (1990 LS400). It worked great until last year, when a gasket
gave way. I 'assume' the shop ruined one of the sensors (there are at least
two) when replacing the gasket (because the parts are not all that easily
accessible). That repair was about $300 parts/labor. That should give you
a basic idea of what things cost and potential future issues.

[ib]

Post by Jerohm

Post by trs80
Should I have the AC recharged with the R12 or is it better to convert
the system to R133? About what $ would a shop charge to do each of
these? (assuming no leaks)
Its a 1990 LS400 with 220K miles on it so I want to be frugal about money
I put into it. But the AC is completly depleted. I would have this done
by auto repair specialist
Thanks for any tips

Last time I checked R-12 is about $50/lb or more and they can't just
recharge the system. They must check for, and fix leaks first. Many
years ago, customers were told that a conversion MUST include the
replacement of the expensive components (dryer, compressor). It has just
not been proven true. Gaskets DO seem to give out. I paid less than $200
for a conversion 5 years ago (1990 LS400). It worked great until last
year, when a gasket gave way. I 'assume' the shop ruined one of the
sensors (there are at least two) when replacing the gasket (because the
parts are not all that easily accessible). That repair was about $300
parts/labor. That should give you a basic idea of what things cost and
potential future issues.

You can still use R12 in the states? Wow, it was banned in Europe years ago.

We use drop in replacement RS24.

[Jerohm]

Post by ib
You can still use R12 in the states? Wow, it was banned in Europe years ago.

Yup, the shops can reuse whatever they recover (i.e., system purge). Just
no more (new) is supposed to be manufactured. Of course, they don't credit
($$) the consumer for "safely" disposing of any R-12 that they remove
during a conversion ;-)

[Mike Piacente]

I don't know if this is still true but years ago when R-12 was banned (only
existing stock could be sold, no more production) and replaced with R133 (if
that is the correct designator -- my memory isn't what it used to be), it
was reported by several automotive experts on radio and TV in the
Washington, DC area that the new refrigerant was 1) not as efficient at
cooling as R-12 and 2) the new refrigerant necessitated a complete A/C
system replacement in existing cars because the new refrigerant was
extremely corrosive and would dissolve the A/C system seals as well as rust
out (from the inside) the compressor. Back then, a completely new A/C
system replacement cost between $800 - $1,200.

Post by trs80
Should I have the AC recharged with the R12 or is it better to convert the
system to R133? About what $ would a shop charge to do each of these?
(assuming no leaks)
Its a 1990 LS400 with 220K miles on it so I want to be frugal about money
I put into it. But the AC is completly depleted. I would have this done
by auto repair specialist
Thanks for any tips

[Ray O]

Post by Mike Piacente
I don't know if this is still true but years ago when R-12 was banned (only
existing stock could be sold, no more production) and replaced with R133
(if that is the correct designator -- my memory isn't what it used to be),
it was reported by several automotive experts on radio and TV in the
Washington, DC area that the new refrigerant was 1) not as efficient at
cooling as R-12 and 2) the new refrigerant necessitated a complete A/C
system replacement in existing cars because the new refrigerant was
extremely corrosive and would dissolve the A/C system seals as well as rust
out (from the inside) the compressor. Back then, a completely new A/C
system replacement cost between $800 - $1,200.

The new automotive refrigerant is R-134-A. There are conversions that can
be done for a lot less money. Shop around!
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Post by Mike Piacente

Post by trs80
Should I have the AC recharged with the R12 or is it better to convert
the system to R133? About what $ would a shop charge to do each of
these? (assuming no leaks)
Its a 1990 LS400 with 220K miles on it so I want to be frugal about money
I put into it. But the AC is completly depleted. I would have this done
by auto repair specialist
Thanks for any tips