134a retrofit question

134a A/C retrofit question

I have a 4.0 93 and Texas is way hot, even for May. My a/c blows just a hair cooler than ambient. I purchased a kit from "the zone" for $40 . The web site nor the directions that came with the kit specify where my high side/low side connects are located. I searched the Forums and I can't find what I need to be sure I will retrofit my Jeep correctly. Anybody in Cherokeeville have the answers?

I will let you in on something. Save yourself the time and trouble and take that kit to a professional ASE certified mechanic. I can't tell you in the last two months or so how many retrofit kits I have seen botched up that come in to my shop. Whether it came with an accumulator or receiver drier, you will never get out all the old freon and moisture unless you put it on a machine that will apply vaccum to the system. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but if you don't have the equiptment to properly retrofit your system, then bite the bullet and have it done. A professional should have it done in an hour or so. you will be better off in the long run!!! And you live texas come on.

LT1 said:

I will let you in on something. Save yourself the time and trouble and take that kit to a professional ASE certified mechanic. I can't tell you in the last two months or so how many retrofit kits I have seen botched up that come in to my shop. Whether it came with an accumulator or receiver drier, you will never get out all the old freon and moisture unless you put it on a machine that will apply vaccum to the system. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but if you don't have the equiptment to properly retrofit your system, then bite the bullet and have it done. A professional should have it done in an hour or so. you will be better off in the long run!!! And you live texas come on.

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X2
Wayne

LT1 said:

I will let you in on something. Save yourself the time and trouble and take that kit to a professional ASE certified mechanic. I can't tell you in the last two months or so how many retrofit kits I have seen botched up that come in to my shop. Whether it came with an accumulator or receiver drier, you will never get out all the old freon and moisture unless you put it on a machine that will apply vaccum to the system. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but if you don't have the equiptment to properly retrofit your system, then bite the bullet and have it done. A professional should have it done in an hour or so. you will be better off in the long run!!! And you live texas come on.

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my AC doesnt work at all and i was thinking about taking it to get retrofitted. about how much does it usually cost?

Don't bother. A retro fit kit at Autozone is like $40. You are better off finding someone that has some R414B. Its also known as Hot Shot. Its a direct replacement for R12, and cheap as hell. I use it daily on refridgeration equipment.

all the "retro kits" i have seen are just a few cans of R134a and some fittings.. i did that on my old trail rig and it worked well enough i just dumped a can in it once a month... but the research i did really pointed toward replacing some of the real hardware like the accululator and such. and also some unfounded "rumors" that the R134a and R12 can/will interact with eachother and "create some kind of acid" in the system that will kill your system.... if i were going to do this to a daily driver i need to depend on i'd go to a shop.....

Thank you all for the help. Off to the shop, after my refund for the bunk kit.

The R-12 systems use mineral oil for lube...it mixes well with R-12. R-134a systems use PAG oil. It is vital that the oil type matches the refrigerant for long-term reliability. In my opinion R-134a is garbage when used in any system that has marginal condenser capacity. (all automotive applications have marginal condenser capacity). Under high discharge temps the PAG oil will break down and form "goo" that plugs up everything. (don't run the a/c if you have mud or other debris plugging the condenser). Mineral oil will break down too but the carbon contamination is much easier to deal with.

Proper system evacuation: If not evacuated properly, the moisture in the system will cause several problems...the water will react with the metals and cause corrosion and rust...it will also react with the oil and refrigerant under pressure and form a variety of nasty acids which will "eat stuff up". The end results in a worse case scenario will be that in order to have reliable A/C, you will have to replace all of the system components...nothing will fix a system if it has "black death".

Dawg....R.S.E.S. 21 year member and HVA/C system rehabilitation specialist.

back to the r414b stuff... where can a person get it???

For the cost of 134a these days I would just keep the r12.

Re: 134a A/C retrofit question

Dark93 said:

I have a 4.0 93 and Texas is way hot, even for May. My a/c blows just a hair cooler than ambient. I purchased a kit from "the zone" for $40 . The web site nor the directions that came with the kit specify where my high side/low side connects are located. I searched the Forums and I can't find what I need to be sure I will retrofit my Jeep correctly. Anybody in Cherokeeville have the answers?

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Y'know, I don't know what part of Texas youre in but if youre along the border R-12 is still sold in Mexico, still manufactured by DuPont and is readily avaliable at any autopart store down there. A 1lb container is less than $4. Beats the $70/lb price here. Anyway you could take it to a shop down there or just get the connector and cans and DIY but don't bring them back as its not legal.