I have a Accord LX 1990 and teh A/c have been warm lately. I have checked the site glass and it is foggy >> which leads me to conclude that I'm low on refirgerant ...
How can i know if my A/c is still using the old R-12 or the R134a? (got the car a few months back and it doesn't say if it has been replaced to R134a?I was hoping ot recharge it by myself.

Where does teh high pressure located? where doe sthe low pressure located for my Accord LX 1990 .
ANy help would be higly appreciated thanks a lot and more power

 

check your manual, it should say which type.
I think it's still R12 because i drive a legend with r12, same year as you accord

 

i believe its R-12, coz one of my friend had a 90 accord too, and he used R-12

 

R12

You can do 2 things

1. Have the system flushed with chemical solvent and convert it to R134a after replacing the hoses with new barrier style along with the receiver dryer and all of the O-rings

2. Add leak detector dye and check for leaks, repair along with replacing the hoses with new barrier style ones, and the receiver dryer. recharge with R12

In BOTH cases you will have to replace the receiver dryer.

pro of converting to R134a you can always add more yourself

Cost of R134a is considerably cheper than R12

cons of converting to R134a,

1. you will loose about 10-15 % of your cooling capacity

2. the system has to run at a higher pressure

3. R134a does NOT have the reserve capacity that R12 does..this means even if you loose a little bit your coolintg capacity will suffer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YeuEmMaiMai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

1. Have the system flushed with chemical solvent and convert it to R134a after replacing the hoses with new barrier style along with the receiver dryer and all of the O-rings

</TD></TR></TABLE>
That sounds expensive, i'm glad it's not nessessary. You don't have to do any of that to convert it to 134a. Honda sells a nice little kit that includes PAG oil, low and high side adapters and an underhood sticker. You supply the 134a and the equipment to recover, vac, and charge the system.

 

first of all thanks for all the replies!!!
How can i get that HONDA kit?
can i DIY ?
i guess right now i have some leaks coz when i checked the site glass its foggy.
how would i be able to know if the refirgerant in my system is still an R-12 and not a R-134 coz im already the 4th owner thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turrismaldon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">first of all thanks for all the replies!!!
How can i get that HONDA kit?
can i DIY ?
i guess right now i have some leaks coz when i checked the site glass its foggy.
how would i be able to know if the refirgerant in my system is still an R-12 and not a R-134 coz im already the 4th owner thanks
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Honda sells the kits. If it was allready converted it should have a sticker under the hood saying so. It should also have 134a presure ports.

 

there should be a sticker under the hood that states what type of AC system it is and what the required charge is on the system..........

 

i dont see any sitkcer that tells me thats my A/c has R134 any way how do i know if it has 134 pressure ports?

can i just have the auto repair shop suck all the R12 and replenish mine with the R134?
any ideas? does the kit sold only by Honda dealers?
thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turrismaldon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

can i just have the auto repair shop suck all the R12 and replenish mine with the R134?
any ideas? does the kit sold only by Honda dealers?
thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes, an auto shop should be able to convert it for you. ( If it hasn't been already.) There are aftermarket conversion kits also, but i've never used one.

 

After I converted to R134a the A/C doesn't run as cool as when I had R12.

 

you shouldnt have converted it in the first place you should have just used Freeze 12 it is a replacement for R12 and i actually like it more then R 12 i install this in at least 2-3 cars a day ... everyone is happy no complaints yet

 

read my previous post and you will see that I have it listed as a con for converting to 134a... R134a does not have the cooling capacity of R12 nor does it have the cooling reserve of R12 (meaning that if you start to loose your charge you will notice it right away)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YeuEmMaiMai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">read my previous post and you will see that I have it listed as a con for converting to 134a... R134a does not have the cooling capacity of R12 nor does it have the cooling reserve of R12 (meaning that if you start to loose your charge you will notice it right away)</TD></TR></TABLE>

i understand your post but i am just saying to me it is a waste to even put 134a in a r12 system because the replacement freeze 12 is avail. (and it is cheap) without a license and you can add it yourself if you had to and it gets as cold or colder then R12 and i havent replaced any reciever driers when i have converted to freeze 12 and have had no problems .. been using it for 3 years installed it in more then 200 cars ....

 

sorry my post was meant for the guy saying that his a/c isn't as cold as it used to be.... just clicked on the wrong reply button..


It is highly recommended that you replaced the acumulator dryer when doing any A/C work.....due to moisture that may be introduced into the system by it being exposed to atmosphere....

 

how many people have owned it before you?? u will have to take it in to have it recharged and they will end up puting in 134a anyway so...

 

and about what YeuEmMaiMai said about doing it your self... um sorry wrong! its illigal to do anything with refrigerant (r12, r134a, r22 ect) unless you are certified!!!!