A/C Survey

[wprice@neo.rr.com (Warren R. Price)]

WHAT I STARTED WITH:

Factory AC as originally configured.  Low enough pressure that the
compressor would not run.  As a result, nothing but hot air.

HERE'S WHAT I DID:

Thought about getting R-12 recharge.  Firgured it would cost a lot and work
for a couple weeks then quit.  I also assumed any reputable shop would look
at my sad and rusty A/C system and recommend lots of prudent yet expensive
repairs.  Since I considered A/C more of a luxury than a necessity I was
willing to consider a very cheap yet more risky alternative.

SO,

I bought a Walmart R-134A "Conversion" kit.  Cans of R-134A allege to have
some sort of stop leak in them.

I evacuated the system of R-12.  (I plead the 5th on the means I employed to
do this)

I put the new R-134A compatible fittings on.

I filled the system per the directions.  I used 3 entire cans.

I did nothing else.  No new seals, new drier, evaporator...no new nothing.

THE RESULT:

The air is ice cold...  36 degrees coming out of the vents.

The air has blown this cold for about 2 months.

The A/C is on almost constantly.  There are no problems so far.

THE DISCLAIMER:

I am told by people that know a lot more about A/C than me that new seals, a
new drier, and new this and that should be used to do this job right.

This may be true, but the means I employed have had the best results of any
A/C tinkering on older vehicles I've done including work done by the
professionals.

So, if I really did need to replace something, it's no big deal, becuase
I've had two months of A/C and counting for 30 bucks and if the compressor
explodes into millions of little pieces or the entire A/C system melts
because it has been irrepairably contaminated with the evil R-134A oil then
I can always use the sunroof which I generally have open anyway.

I do not recommend my own simplified version.  I am only sharing it for the
purpose of the survey and to say that it has worked for me for a couple
months.


Warren Price

----- Original Message -----
From: "Calimus" <calimus@techography.net>
To: "Scirocco ML" <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 2:45 PM
Subject: A/C Survey


> OK, I know there has been some commenting about all this already, so if
> everyone wants to keep this off list, just e-mail me directly.
>
> I just converted my A/C over to r-134 and basicly is't cooler then the
> outside air, but it's nothing to write home about.  I don't have a
> digital thermometer or anything to check whats coming out of the vents,
> but let's just say it's not enough for Ga heat.  Now I only put 2 can's
> of coolent in the system and there are no leaks.  Would another half a
> can or a whole 3rd can help make a difference?
>
> William
> --
> http://www.techography.com/scirocco (s.org forums)
>
> 88' Scirocco 16v (the void)
> 89' Cabriolet 8v (pretty bunneh)
> 71' Karmann Ghia (air sucker)
>
>
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