Post
by wurlycorner » Thu Jun 25, 2020 4:57 pm
I've sorted out the air-con system on 3 of my 4th gens, over the years.
There are 2 systems out there, depending on the age of the car - early ones were R12 systems, later ones were R134a systems.
You can't use/get R12 any more because it's a bad CFC, so you have to use R134a.
You can run R134a in R12 systems, but they do work at a different pressure (R134a is less efficient) and have different lubricity properties, so when you run R134a in an R12 system you can get problems with seals leaking and the compressors can wear out - there's an oil (also a die) they can add to help resolve that.
The 'fast fit' type places can't handle the R12 systems - R12 used a different type of connector/valve to connect the recharge machine to and the fast fit places don't have adaptors, so to avoid wasting time, check which yours is and if it's an R12, check your garage can work with them.
I've never managed to find a good used condensor, they're always pretty corroded, with the fins disintegrating or causing the top/bottom brackets to burst off (as in Toads recent pics). New really is the way to go, if you have any concerns about the condition of yours.
If it's still in good nick and you/your garage are thinking of replacing seals in the system, beware that the front connector on the condenser is almost certain to shear off. It's a bolted joint that faces forward, right at the front of the car (in front of the rad/behind the bumper) so gets exposed to all the weather. Worth getting in there in advance, to wire brush the threaded part that sticks out really clean and start spraying it all with penetrant. That way there's a chance it might come undone without breaking (otherwise if you try it and it shears, you will have to replace the condenser anyway!).
--
Iain.
Super Secret 1G (not really super secret!)
