Took my 84 GSL-SE for an A/C charge. They want $975 to replace the compressor, dryer,expansion valve, etc. WTF, the car is barely worth that as it is. Anyone have a system they want to sell? Otherwise it'll have to sit most of the summer and that would suck. Any ideas???

 

I see you're in the US. I was quoted $950 CANADIAN for a whole new system including all parts, conversion to the new refrigerant, and installation. Your wrench bender is trying to rip you off.

You shouldn't need to replace the parts - there are conversion kits for the new refrigerants and it's unlikely it's leaking EVERYWHERE. There's also a gas they add to find leaks and fix just that bit.

 

My brother just got quoted for over $1000 for a leaky compressor that still works, and some other minor leak on his 86 jetta. It doesnt get too hot here in Ohio, so I just ripped it all out of my rex, its cool enough for me just having the windows down. It seems like A/C people always try to rip you off anytime durring summer, I bet if you went to get a price for it in the middle of winter it would be a lot lower.

 

Do w/o I do

Well when I needed a compressor I got one from a 96 Nissan truck, it was the same compressor as far as mountings, the fittings were a little different but the local hose shop made new hoses and fittings for like $50

 

I don't think there's much inside the compressor itself that'll go bad in the lifetime of the car. But at each junction where all the hoses connect are tiny rubber O rings.
I'll bet if you chased all them down and replaced them yourself, and then had it charged with refrigerant, it would be leak-friggin-proof!
Crack open one of the hoses, and get the O ring. There's such a variety of those things at good hardware/auto parts stores, I'm sure you find ones that fit!

Hell, for $500, I might make a house-call to fix someones AC!

BTW, if someone you trusts says that you have a bad AC hose or component, I've got a collection of ****. I would like to throw it all out, but I just can't bring myself to do it!
Cheap.
But I don't think you do need anything aside of the o rings. I think that guy is trying to screw ya.

 

Maybe people part out the AC systems when converting to track cars. I am doing this if interested? PM me if you want the compressor.

Thanks,
Mark
83 GSL

 

Sterling, if I didnt think Air Conditioning was the devil, id invite you to do a house call, sniff.

 

Let them evacuate the R-12. They say in my state that if my system is leaking then by law they have to reclaim all the remaining R-12. Once they have all the R-12 out of the system then do the R-134a conversion using a kit from walmart or your favorite parts store. It cost about 40-50 dollars. Then you'll have air conditioning. Look at it this way, if your system leaks a can of R-134a cost about 5 dollars. I could keep replenishing the system for a long time before I even came close to that $950. The choice is yours but what do you have to lose. I put this in my boinger over a year ago and it is still cooling fine.

Don

 

If your system has leaked for a while, all the oil may have leaked out and the compressor may be failing.

In A/C systems, there are oils who's molecules attach to the refrigerant molecules. There's one type of oil for R134a systems, I think it's called PAG oil or something... And there's another type that attaches to R12. The oils will not adhere to the opposite refrigerant. This is one of the major reasons that you can't just fill an R12 system with R134a... You need to drain thr R12 oil and put in PAG oil...

On top of that, some rubbers used in R12 systems are not compatible with the oil in R134a, or the refrigerant itself. This is why most shops will not do a R134a conversion without at least flushing the system, putting in a new Reciever/drier/accumulator, O rings, and an inline filter... Simply warranty purposes.

In addition to all that, R12 eats the Ozone layer. It has since gone out of production. All remaining supplies are strictly rationed by the EPA. There are substitutes that are less dangerous to the atmosphere, but they are in short supply as many vehicles still have R12 systems.

NOTE: I am not reccomending the following, but it is for informational purposes only. If you use this information, you do so at your own risk.

There are some gasses that work just as well, if not better than R12. These include butane, propane, or any number of readily available condensed gasses. Many people use these in areas where R12 is not available. The risks are abvious, but they cool great. Like I said... Your OWN risk.

 

Take the whole system out. Reduce the weight of the car and gain back a few horses. I've only removed the a/c pump so far and that sucker weighed in at 18lbs! Shipped it out to another forum member who had to have a/c. I have another pump now from a parts car I just picked up. It is an 82 GSL. Not sure of the condition of the pump but will accept offers for it

 

Lucky my uncle used to own a air conditioning/refrigeration/heating type business, and has like 50 gallons of that R-12 sitting around in the cylinders. Along with all the evacuators, collectors, and installers to make it all work. He even has a few gallons of that nitrogen they put through there to test for leaks, and has the geiger counter looking thing that look for leaks by taking air samples from around fittings and stuff...I mean, this guy has EVERYTHING from his old company, so its all industrial grade expesive ****...Too bad my car doesnt have A/C anymore...

~T.J.

 

he also has the license to buy more R-12 (I bet you didint even know you can still get it ), or any other "restricted" chemical like that, its kinda nice to have him around . He fixes the A/C in our house all the time, makes it nice. My Mom just pays him with brownies, and I get to livce in a nice cool house all summer, while everyone else on my block (and 90% of my friends with $300,000 homes) SUFFERS!!

~T.J.

 

if the compressor is siezed, like mine was until 2 weeks ago, but a rebuilt compressor, have some shop flush the system, and install an inline filter, buy R134a refrigerant, and some PAG or ether oil, and a R12 to R134a conversion kit. It cost me about $200 for the compressor, $20 dollars for the refrigerant, I already had a conversion kit, and a system flush cost $40, so for $260 I have working A/C again.

 

I took mine out, it was to heavy. I've got it sitting in my garage, I cut some hoses, but everything is intact, the compressor looks pretty good. I will sell it for a song.