I'm curious if anybody knows if there were any *specific* differences in the a/c systems as equipped by Honda on the 92-95 Civics regarding those that came equipped with R12 and those with R134.

My '93 was originally R12 equipped but professionally retrofitted in the late 90's to R134. I saw a '95 today that had an OEM R134 system and the entire system looked pretty much identical.

I know on most OEM R134 cars they use a different type of barrier hose than those that came with R12, but for those who are thinking about an R134 conversion it seems that the typical evac, flush, oil and recharge may actually work pretty well on these cars. For an ideal retrofit, swap the suction and discharge lines and it would still be relatively inexpensive.

More specifically, does anybody know any particular differences in the a/c systems on the later model EJ cars that came with R134?

The OEM part numbers are different for most everything, but they *look* identical except for the obvious stuff like a Matsushita vs Sanden compressors

 

I'm not sure, but i'm up for finding out..

I've ''heard'' that r-12 refrigerant is cooler, but i have no proof to back this statement up.

 

It's been my experience (and nearly everybody else I have talked to) that it is colder than a car that has been retrofitted - but the 94/95 Civics with OEM R134 systems are just as cold in my experience as the 92/93 cars with R12.

Look at all the new cars with a/c - they use R134 and they have a/c systems that blow ice cold. R134 is great if the system was designed around it as the refrigerant source.

I'm trying to find out exactly what's different in these 92/93 and 94/95 systems. Capacities should be about equal, parts *look* identical, although part numbers are different. What's the variable I'm missing?

 

I believe the fittings are different which is why you need to change out when converting. Systems use different oil obviously.

 

Yes, but the lines look absolutely identical, in which case you could just buy the high and low side adapters to function with R134.

I'm wondering if there is something fundamentally different between the two systems - i'm not seeing one in any diagram which leads me to believe that an R134 retrofit done right on a '92/93 could be virtually as reliable as the '95 Civic system.