Whatever you decide to go with, get the leak fixed. Usual suspects are
any hoses. You can get it refilled and add a fluorescent dye which will
pinpoint your leaks. Log them and once the system is empty or has been
drained and the freon recaptured, replace the hoses and go with your
final choice of refrigerant.
On Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at 10:58 AM, Automatic digest processor
wrote:

> Date:    Tue, 29 Jul 2003 08:41:13 -0700
> From:    "Mike D." <md03@XOCHI.COM>
> Subject: R12 or R134?
>
> Hi all...This list is great!  My first post:
>
> I've got an 85 Westy, purchased about 4 months ago.   When first
> purchased, the AC worked poorly.  After being in the shop and not
> getting much driving, I recently discovered the AC didn't work at
> all.  It sounds like the compressor engages, but when I tested the
> valves there was no R12 pressure at all.
>
> So my theory is that there is a slow leak (6 months or so to fully
> discharge).
>
> So, any advice on the pros & cons refilling with R12 or converting to
> R134?  My theory is that if there is a slow leak, I'd rather be
> leaking R134 than R12.  Cost is definitely an issue, so the $40
> do-it-yourself R134 conversion is attractive (assuming that having a
> mechanic fix the leak and refil with R12 would cost hundreds of
> dollars