The previous owner told me the A/C was working before a shop replaced the heater core. Now it doesn't. I suspected they drained the feron and never bothered to put it back. Or at least, I hope that is my case.

Is there any way I can diagnoise that the A/C system is working okay, just no feron without the treehuggers wheezing down my back?

Also, does any shops still put R12 in it? Or do I have to buy those cans myself? I'm aware of the EPA certicate, and I am certified.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-Jul-02 AT 12:27 PM (EST)]There are shops that will put R12 in. You just have to find them. R12 is still available, but 'spensive. About $25-30 for a 12oz can, and you'll probably need 3 cans...
R134a will work, but you need to change the internal lube to Ester or Texaco HFC100 (not PAG), change the accumulator to get new dessicant and flush out as much as possbile of the old oil. Probably would work better with a new condenser-parallel flow instead of serpentine.
It's your choice. If the system was open to the air for any length of time, you MUST replace the accumulator/receiver-drier, or there will be acid on the inside of your system... whether R12 or R134a.

You can test the system for leaks using R134a, but you cannot run the compressor or lack of oil will eat it up pretty quick. Of course, you should recover the R134a after testing. If you want to use R134a, you can, not recommended, just add Ester oil to the oil that you have in there, and vacuum the system down, and throw in the R134a. It'll probably work, but who knows for how long. The oil quantity spec should be in the shop manual, or you can get it at www.ackits.com or maybe its www.aircondition.com, one of these sites has a tech spec for the oil quantity...on 'Matt's tech pages?'
tom