Usually have to have the system charged a little every couple of years- I am curious about this AC PRO stuff
A friend of mine used it on a couple of his vehicles with great results that seemed to last, but I have some concerns


1. It apparently has some kind of leak sealer in it. That is bad, right?

2. I've read that the fitting can be defective and cause me to lose any real R12 I have left in there

3. The gauge may not be accurate and I could overfill the system and kill my compressor


Has anyone tried this stuff in an accord? Is this the same thing as that freeze12 I use to hear about? How in the world is this kind of stuff compatible with all systems- isn't 134a really hard on compressors meant to use R12? Isn't some stupid conversion kit necessary?


My a/c is still cold, but not ice cold, you know? When it's over 90F or so outside, it definitely doesn't keep me cool.

Also- Is running the a/c when it is apparently a bit low on freon going to burn the compressor up?

 

I moved your thread. Please read the forum rules and do not post help questions in the DIY section.

 

Okay, I won't.. I didn't realize that I wasn't supposed to do that.

 

sounds like you have a small leak, if everything else works fine when it's charged properly, have some UV dye put in next time (if it hasn't been done yet) then bring it back in 2 to 3 weeks and have the shop put a black light on the fittings/components and check for leaks. my opinion on the ac pro stuff...would only use it on a saturday when the car was being sold sunday.

 

This one AC shop said they could evacuate and refill the system for $70, but they were not very clear about what they put back in... I'm pretty sure R12 is coming out, right? What are they going to do, just put 134 in there and hope for the best? They just kept telling me that their machine is compatible with all cars. I'm no AC expert but I don't even think they knew what I was talking about when I asked what type of refrigerant was going back in

 

Seems to me that a good AC shop would not be afraid to tell you what kind of refrigerant they would use.

 

Exactly!! That is what I was thinking!!! They kept treating me like I was asking stupid questions.. And as I've said, I am NO air conditioning system guru over here, but if I ask them what refrigerant they're slopping in there they should be able to come up with a coherent answer. I don't think I am stupid or wrong for asking that.

Now my shadetree guy at this independent shop I always go to is telling me he just slops 134a into R12 systems all of the time for people and it doesn't hurt anything and lasts and works just fine- is that right? I thought one had to change some kind of things called receivers and dryers or whatever else?

Can you really just add 134a to an R12 system? If that is a bad idea, and if the miracle in a can stuff could hurt the system, I'd rather sweat for now until I can afford to do it right. . I suppose. . but good lord it is over 100F a lot of days here lately .... Some places I don't want to show up to dripping sweat!! Ha!

What I would really like to do is hold out trying to find a place that still has real R12. R12 cools the air SO VERY well. It's night and day. Is there ANY decent substitute for R12? Anything that acts like R12?

 

R-12 can be found (e-bay, in my garage and a few other places). You will pay a pretty penny for it.

There are retrofit kits that you can purchase to convert from 12 to 134.

 

Retrofit involves more than replacing R12 w/ R134a. Done right, you get decent cooling for long term. Done wrong and you may damage the compressor.

Check autoacforum.com for tips on charging and retrofitting.

good luck

 

One last question guys I found someone who will put some R-12 in there for me- do I need to also add any oil or anything?