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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / August 2003

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r12 to r134A retrofit question

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Yumeshan Pillay - 24 Jul 2003 16:20 GMT
I want to convert the ac in my 1990 300 SEL to r134a.  Can anyone tell
me where I can find a retrofit kit to do this?  Also, any advice or
instructions on the procedure would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike Pillay
pillayyu@msu.edu
Stratman - 24 Jul 2003 17:00 GMT
> I want to convert the ac in my 1990 300 SEL to r134a.  Can anyone tell
> me where I can find a retrofit kit to do this?  Also, any advice or
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Mike Pillay
> pillayyu@msu.edu

Check out this site. Very informative:-    http://www.ac4cars.co.uk/

Good luck
DD
Stratman - 24 Jul 2003 23:25 GMT
> I want to convert the ac in my 1990 300 SEL to r134a.  Can anyone tell
> me where I can find a retrofit kit to do this?  Also, any advice or
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Mike Pillay
> pillayyu@msu.edu

Try here:-    http://www.vacs.co.uk    Click on "Installation Prices"

DD
Stratman - 24 Jul 2003 23:28 GMT
> > I want to convert the ac in my 1990 300 SEL to r134a.  Can anyone tell
> > me where I can find a retrofit kit to do this?  Also, any advice or
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> DD

Apologies. I gave you the wrong link (although they will carry out the
conversion). The following link will give you some more background info.
http://www.ac4cars.co.uk/

DD
Rockman59 - 25 Jul 2003 20:19 GMT
Why convert.  Just fix your current system and stay with teh R-12.  It cools
much better.  R-12 is coming down in price daily.  You will end up spending
as much or more to change than to fix your AC.  And many conversions just
don't hold up.  Stay with the R-12.
Daniel - 26 Aug 2003 06:38 GMT
I've just had my A/C upgraded from R-12 to R-134A. The conversion kit costs
around $40 in the US, and to have a decent mechanic do this for you,
provided there are no other problems with the A/C, will cost you around $200
(kit price included). While I was told that R-12 cools better than R-134A, I
have not noticed a difference in cooling performance. Additionally, the new
refrigerant (R-134A) runs at 20% less pressure (or so I was told) than the
old refrigerant, therefore making leaks in the future potentially less
likely. Furthermore, R-12 is actually being *phased out* completely, and
will disappear from the market in a few years (aside from just driving to
Mexico or something). So it's actually a good investment if you intend to
keep your Benz for a while. Staying with R-12 may be the better option
depending on your needs, but I can actually say that I'm quite happy with
the conversion in my car and it's been keeping me cool all Summer now (in
Southern California, where I use it every day).

   Daniel

> Why convert.  Just fix your current system and stay with teh R-12.  It cools
> much better.  R-12 is coming down in price daily.  You will end up spending
> as much or more to change than to fix your AC.  And many conversions just
> don't hold up.  Stay with the R-12.
Paul McKechnie - 26 Aug 2003 14:38 GMT
Pressures are higher with R134,  the amount by weight is 20%less.

Paul McKechnie
84500SEL

> I've just had my A/C upgraded from R-12 to R-134A. The conversion kit costs
> around $40 in the US, and to have a decent mechanic do this for you,
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> > as much or more to change than to fix your AC.  And many conversions just
> > don't hold up.  Stay with the R-12.
Rockman59 - 26 Aug 2003 17:02 GMT
Pressures are higher with R134,  the amount by weight is 20%less.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That's true....your  converted  system is more likely to leak with R-134.
And with the higher pressure you can expect much shorter life on your
compressor and related parts.  Unless you are replacing your entire AC
system conventional wisdom says fix your R-12 system leaks and recharge with
R-12 which is coming down in price nicely as there is less and less demand
for it since all new cars are R-134 now.  R-134 does a great job in factory
AC systems...the problems have been in the conversions.  Many conversions
are not done properly and that's where the trouble starts.  For $200 most
cars with R-12 systems can be fixed and recharged so why take the chance to
convert to R-134 just because it is cheaper to recharge?
MCAS NV - 26 Aug 2003 21:05 GMT
Just fix all the leaks, get a new compressor, flush everything, use the new
synthetic compressor oils, and stick with R12.  Nothing cools or works as well,
or ever will.  Rebuilt compressors, IMO, suck.
fred_emmerich@sbcglobal.spamnet - 26 Aug 2003 21:21 GMT
Some cars do well with conversions, others don't.  Depends on the
compressor.  The GM A6 compressor in the 6.9 does not.  But supposedly 107
cars do well with 134 conversions.

>Just fix all the leaks, get a new compressor, flush everything, use the
>new synthetic compressor oils, and stick with R12.  Nothing cools or
>works as well, or ever will.  Rebuilt compressors, IMO, suck.
Signature

-----------------------------------------------------------
Fred Emmerich
fred_emmerich@sbcglobal.net
-----------------------------------------------------------

Bill - 27 Aug 2003 23:47 GMT
How about 124 cars? like the 1987 models. Can they be converted to R134 with
good results?

>Some cars do well with conversions, others don't.  Depends on the
>compressor.  The GM A6 compressor in the 6.9 does not.  But supposedly 107
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>new synthetic compressor oils, and stick with R12.  Nothing cools or
>>works as well, or ever will.  Rebuilt compressors, IMO, suck.

bfdiamonfd@gflocfk.net
remove all "f"'s from address
Scott D - 29 Aug 2003 13:42 GMT
I had our '87 300D converted many years ago including new compressor and new
combo hose (which caused failure in first place).  It was done by an
proessional MB independent.  It has been ice cold (I live in high
heat/humidity) and trouble free.

Scott D.

> How about 124 cars? like the 1987 models. Can they be converted to R134 with
> good results?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> bfdiamonfd@gflocfk.net
> remove all "f"'s from address
Bill - 30 Aug 2003 22:27 GMT
Thanks for the reply.

>I had our '87 300D converted many years ago including new compressor and new
>combo hose (which caused failure in first place).  It was done by an
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>> bfdiamonfd@gflocfk.net
>> remove all "f"'s from address

bfdiamonfd@gflocfk.net
remove all "f"'s from address
Curmudgeon - 27 Aug 2003 02:49 GMT
Uhhh....you used the wrong word....you DOWNGRADED to R-134A...any way you
slice it, lower performance.

> I've just had my A/C upgraded from R-12 to R-134A. The conversion kit costs
> around $40 in the US, and to have a decent mechanic do this for you,
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> > as much or more to change than to fix your AC.  And many conversions just
> > don't hold up.  Stay with the R-12.
 
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