Many years ago, after blowing a ton of money on my 84's AC system, I
decided to never go that route again (Freon 12, shop labor). So, last
summer I converted my 90 Westy's AC system to 134a. It was checked by
an AC guy and vac'd out. He said it was plugged up and would cost a lot
to get it up and running either with 12 or 134a. I ordered a 134 kit,
dryer and blew out the lines with compressed air. Also removed the
compressor and drained it. Installed new O rings, the dryer and
tightened all the connections. In went the oil and then I charged up
the system with MaxiFrig which blows colder air than R12 and much
colder than 134a, is environmentally friendly and way cheaper (about $2
per can). When I was done, the total cost was less than $200 (half of
that went to the AC guy for his labor).

MaxiFrig has been working fine in my van for a year now and if I had to
do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. So, for all of you out
there thinking it better to keep the old R12 system going, think again.
You are allowing freon to escape into the air depleting the ozone layer
and spending a stupid amount of money for what? Please reconsider your
options and choose wisely.

My 2 cents...

Keith O.

On Jun 26, 2007, at 9:00 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:38:30 -0700
> From:    Rob <becida@COMCAST.NET>
> Subject: Re: A/C resuscitation - where to start?
>
> At  6/26/2007 04:11 PM, mordo wrote:
>
>>> There is nothing wrong with R134a - if you have a system built for
>>> it.
>>> But old Freon systems converted to the higher pressures of R134a can
>>> be
>>> problematic. And I don't want problematic in the dog days of summer.
>>
>> After sitting over-winter last year, mine was blowing lukecool. I put
>> one
>> 12oz can of 134a in with leak seal and oil included. It got the system
>> pretty darn chilly even at the front vents.
>
> I read somewhere that the 134a molecules are smaller than the 12 and
> will leak out of the hoses (from the walls of the hoses) sooner than
> 12 would.