R-134 conversion
 

Has anyone in here converted to r-134 freon? If so i'd like to know what all do i have to buy and how that went.

My shop does it for $210.
Don't bother trying to find the correct info on the net, as I just spent an hour reading all kinds of bogus crap on how to convert.

One 'official' sounding article (bad info) said to just let out the remaining R12 and put on the fittings, and add the R134a.

There is more to it than that. Thats why I always recommend that you ask around for the best shop in your area to do the conversion.

If you are in a big city, you may want to find that shop in a nearby sub-burbbbbbbb.....

is there a way to tell if a car has been converted cus i have no clue if need to convert or just recharge mine.

Why?
 

Why do you want to change over?

i thought you had to change to the new system. is this incorrect?

My 2 cents on R12
 

Ive been told that R134 isn't as efficient as R12 at getting cold, the compressor is bigger for R134 thus maybe more power loss for your engine unless you get a nice one like a Sanden which supposedly doesn't take much power to run and is really efficient.
The main reason people want to convert is R12 is so damn expensive and you need a License to purchase it where as R134 you don't so you can buy it at your local AutoZone and charge it yourself.
Well there is hope.
Freeze 12.
You can keep your existing system and buy Freeze 12 and charge it yourself because Freeze 12 doesn't have any CFC's and its about one dollar more than a can of R134.
I would make sure that your system is intact and up to snuff though i.e. no leaks.
The only problem is that if you do need service on your AC system, at least in Arizona, they "Say" they can't service an R12 system with freeze 12 when they fill it back up but the person that serviced my Blazer had a couple of cases by the soda machines that he must have forgotten about. I asked him if mechanics from other establishments service up a system with freeze 12 but charge for R12 and he said "Absolutely".
As far as Im concerned Hip-huggers and freeze 12 are godsends.(in that order)

Is there anyway someone can tell me what steps you have to take and what you have to do?

Buy a conversion kit, follow the instructions...not that hard
you can get a kit with all the nozzles and hoses and refrigerant for like 35 bucks and do it yourself...Im sure the kit has at least basic instructions.

Conversion
 

If your going to go through with it then it is essential that you have a professional do it. Just about every component will have to be replaced with the exception of the condensor and the lines which will need a thorough cleaning as the compressor oil for 134 and R12 are NOT compatible. For more info see this link.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/retrofit.htm
I think its pretty accurate. Im not an A/C mechanic so I don't know all the particulars but read the article as it makes sense.
mrnickleye said his shop does the conversion for 210 dollars, thats probably the labor cost without parts which seems very reasonable but can vary slightly depending on the vehicle. It seems whenever I ask about the swap Im usually told 500 dollars from places like pep boys and other chain stores,
and also just for fixing a leaky system.
I got my Blazer done there before and the total cost was over 800 dollars. That was changing the old compressor with a rebuilt one changing the receiver/dryer and charging the system. The only good thing that came out of it was the mechanic left his cheap flashlight in the engine bay, and my system worked for about 3 months till I went back to Arizona and found out that their Rebuilt compressor was leaking.
One other thing, the article mentioned an oil that is compatible to both R12 and R134 but the old oil will still have to be thoroughly cleaned and any old refridgerent properly evacuated.
Let us know what you do and how it works out.

So if need be, i can fill my system up with freeze 12 and its compatible? i dont think mine leaks. But my motor wont even turn on. I think the relay is bad

Freeze 12 for R12
 

Freeze 12 is for R12 systems. I use it in my mercedes and Blazer.
Link is here for the product.
http://www.freeze12.com/

I think your being overly dramatic about what needs to be done and how much it costs. Most mechanics will tell you what they want you you to think so they can get the work out of you. Perpetuating the fear and mystery if the A/C system so they can profit from it.

My mechanic said its easy to convert, and not to pay some overblown price for what you can essentially do yourself.

As for the compressor oil, ya do know they make a 134a bottle that has the proper conversion oil right in it dont you?

You still have to get the old R12 oil out by flushing it. The two oils are not compatible so your looking at problems by mixing the two like early compressor failure possibly. I don't see a backyard mechanic with the proper tools to flush and evacuate an AC system.
I just mean if your going to go to the trouble to do the job then do it right the first time.
Im an aviation electrician and work on military jets so maybe I'm a little to over zealous about doing preventitive maintenance when possible.

This is possible, when I was told by my mechanic he knows me for one and what Im capable of, and two, we were talking about a system that is currently open on my car (meaning, I have to do a compressor swap as is, so my new (used)compressor will be empty)

so my information was in regards to something in the middle of both ends of the spectrum.

I just did a conversion on a suburban this past weekend and the oil that comes with the conversion kit is definetly compatible with the r12 oil. just go to the autoparts store and buy the kit for no more than 35 dollars, you might have to buy the extra cans of R134 refrigerant to make up the amount that your system requires. Remember to look up the amount in ounces of refrigerant that your system requires,that total includes the oil that you are adding with the kit. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO OVERCHARGE THE SYSTEM... as the kit also informs you to only fill up to 80 percent. follow the instruccions on the packaging, its is very simple.. the amount required for your system should be on label on top of the accumulator/dryer it itll be in lbs. good luck..

Does anyone know how cold the supras AC is when converted to r134? i heard its not as effective. And the ones they sell in like kmart and parts stores have a pressure gauge. Does it do anything good or bad if its over filled? like to the top of the "safe" range? Im guessing more pressure would mean colder air....haha. But maybe not. I dont really know anything about AC.

not necesarily, it'll over saturate the system and posible cause problems, since the compresor is supposed to only receive low pressure vapor on the low side, remember that liquids can not be compressed. if liquid gets in to the compressor it will create high head pressure and posibly lock it up. thats is why there is always a accumulator,receiver/dryer before the ac compressor. this is why overfilling is not recomended..

R12
 

I have 3 cans of r12 in my garage left over from years ago. Here is my problem. My compressor is seized, so I bought one of ebay the guy swears is good but it has already been converted to 134a. He shipped it open nothing to keep the oil in it and the R12 nipple with 134a adapter snapped off leaving me a problem. OK I can take the plate off my old seized one and use it to get the nipple back in shape but the compressor oil leaked out all over the package the compressor was shipped in.

I don't know how much oil to put back in the compressor cause I can't pour it out and measure it. I suppose I could measure the oil out of my seized one and try this amount. Also I want to do this myself, so I am hinging on sticking with the R12 and 3 cans I have and doing a leak down vacuum test before I add R12. I can convert later if and when needed.

Now, my system is R12 and all the components, the compressor I just got was using r134a the seller says worked great when removed. He removed it cause he put a V8 in his car.

Obviously I don't know if he ever changed the oil. It appears to be green in color in the compressor I just got.

What do I use to clean the compressor and do I use mineral oil if I stay with R12 and also if I evacuate the system is that the same as flushing it? I really don't want a lot of expense.

Tips would be appreciated. Thanks