The AC has sucked for the past couple summers, and I'm pretty sure the freon needs changed. However, I've been told by a couple different import shops that the kind of freon I need is no longer available, I suspect due to new EPA standards. Perhaps I can order it from overseas? Anyone know exactly what I need? I think if I can get the freon myself that I could take it to the shop and have them install it if I'm not up to it. The AC is currently a glorified fan.

 

It sounds like you need R-12. And BTW, you don't need to change it, you need a recharge. It should still be available to properly licensed techs, but at a high cost. Of course, you need to find and correct any leaks that caused the original charge to dissapear first. Converting to the new R-134A requires a lot of upgrades to your current system to handle the higher operating pressures.

 

Yep, that looks like the solution. Do you know approximately how much it costs for a recharge? All I can find are vague relative figures :/ Thanks.

 

if you plan on keeping the car you might as well change to R-134a its about 55 bucks for a kit that they sell at napa that will change all your service ports and give you pag oil

once you change the ports you add the pag oil to the compressor to make the correct oil for r-134a the r-12 system works off mineral oil adding pag to it will correct the mixture the only real problem is the r-134a runs at higher compression so if the compressor is old and doesnt work well your gonna have to get a new compressor and if you get a new compressor your gonna have to get a new dryer or they (where ever you get it from) wont warrenty the compressor

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by galneon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yep, that looks like the solution. Do you know approximately how much it costs for a recharge? All I can find are vague relative figures :/ Thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

they don't see it to average joe, you need a EPA certification showing that you know how to handle those stuff.

they runs like 80 dollar per oz, so freaking crazy

 

THE IMPORT SHOPS ARE LYING TO YOU!!!! Your '96 Accord takes R-134A, same as my '94 Accord does. Sounds like they want to charge you a whole lot of money and just put in a $5 can of refrigerant. Go to Walmart, buy the $20 can of refrigerant, it's a tall one with a pressure guage at the top, and recharge it yourself. I did mine, and it works fine. Just follow the directions and you should be ok. The refrigerant lines are even marked, H for High and L for Low. You will put it into the Low pressure side, while the car is running with the AC on full blast.