a/c recharge
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 493
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a/c recharge
what does it cost for an r-12 removal or full conversion to 134a. does anyone sell a recovery kit or do i have to go to a shop. i found a r134a conversion kit at wal mart for 30 bucks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
I just had mine done this spring for $375, including fixing the leak, which was at the pressure switch.
I highly recommend letting a pro do it. Or, you could end up like I did on my last truck, throwing money and parts at it (without the proper A/C tools), and still not have a working A/C.
Leaks don't go away or get smaller, they only get bigger and worse. Once your system is open (leak), you have to replace the drier (~$75), and the pros can look at the filters and tell you whether the compressor is on its last legs or may have some life left yet.
That $30 kit is NOT a deal in the long run.
Jason
I highly recommend letting a pro do it. Or, you could end up like I did on my last truck, throwing money and parts at it (without the proper A/C tools), and still not have a working A/C.
Leaks don't go away or get smaller, they only get bigger and worse. Once your system is open (leak), you have to replace the drier (~$75), and the pros can look at the filters and tell you whether the compressor is on its last legs or may have some life left yet.
That $30 kit is NOT a deal in the long run.
Jason
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Clermont county, Ohio
With changing the system over the system has to be completely evacuated because r-12 and r-134a do not mix, also the oils for the two are different and not compatable with each other or the other refrigerant. A shop has all the neccessary tools to do this and can check to be sure the system is in good operating condition or needs attention as jroehl said. Trying to use the $30 kit could cost alot more to get the system straightened out after. Remember the self charging kits you could buy to charge your system before they started requiring a license to buy r-12, there were countless dollars made by shops fixing over charged systems because inexperianced backyard mechanics were fixing their own and friends systems. I'm not saying you don't know what your doing, but it's insurance to go to the pro.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: California Central Coast
I just did this over the past couple of days. There is more to it than what is explained in the kit. A shop charged me $40 to evacuate the r-12, I dont know if thats a great deal but I thought it was, and most shops I went to wouldnt do it, they wanted to do the entire process e.g. recharge, conversion, tell me that it would cost $900 etc. One shop quoted $266 for the conversion and charge, leak test, etc. but thats if everything works. I bought a kit and the adapters were wrong so I returned it and found the right one. It was $45, came with 38 oz. of a 134, oil and leak stop mixture. I bought an o-ring kit for three bucks and replaced all the o-rings. With the help of this forum I charged it up and have ice cold air and so far all is well but its only been one day. My thought was I cant really afford to replace any major A/C components if they need replacement so why not throw $90 total at it and if it works then great, if not then I can live without A/C. So far I am happy with the decision and I dont see any leaks.
