R12 A/C regassing

[BrianRA23]

In a Commodore do need the entire dash removed to get to either the heater or the air conditioner and therefore generally when they die the owner carries a blanket or drives with the windows down.

The toyotas I have played with only need the glove box removed and two pressure lines under the bonnet undone before the unit can be removed from its position between the blower on the left and heater core and vent ducting on the right.

[Bananaman]

Am i the only one that thought that having someone in the car to test if he got a red face was a slightly retarded idea when igniting gas inside a car?

[love ke70]

sorry, what? did i miss something?

[CrUZida]

Apparently we all missed it ?

[Bananaman]

HR12 is an LPG based refrigerant. It is a flammable gas.
Have a look at this video.
http://www.vasa.org.au/images/movies/hc_demo.mov (it's 7.66mb so 56k beware)
It is a movie of a test conducted at UNSW to prove that these refrigerants are "safe".
They simulated a leak in the evaporator and struck a match to prove that it was safe. They were wrong . Apparently the test was actually conducted for Hychill by Dr Ian Maclaine Cross.

I would not use this in my car, no matter how cheap it is.

Haha it seems i was watching a video from 2007

[wa5]

Seriously, they had all the expensive measuring equipment (to detect the correct concentration of gas) and they couldnt set up a remote ignitor..... instead they used a person inside the car with a box of matches? Epic Fail.

[Z2TT]

On a hot day, doing a highway trip at 100kph, the missus' excel will lose AC after about an hour or so of driving, and won't get it back until half an hour after you turn the bugger off (by which time the car is stinking hot again).

I drove a Pulsar N13 that did this, The A/C switch had a bad contact and would turn off the A/C sometimes, I had to fiddle with it clicking it on and off.

Also, any tips on maintenance to do to the evaporator while it is out of the car other than wash the exterior of the core??

Just make sure no insects make their way inside, block off the inlets and outlets.
Maybe you could use a vacuum pump to suck out any dirt from the inside of it?

[BrianRA23]

Just make sure no insects make their way inside, block off the inlets and outlets.
Maybe you could use a vacuum pump to suck out any dirt from the inside of it?

Just attaching a vacuum pump will only work if the stuff inside turns to vapour when the pressure has been lowered.

We cleaned out the AC on my Cressida a few years ago and I was amazed at the gunge we saw come out. With the pump disconnected we used an old pressure cylinder and put some solvent in and then chased it through the system with pressure and out out the other end. Seeing the rubbish (collected in a bottle) made me happy we had taken the time for the flush and I had to believe it resulted in an increased efficiency of the system.

If every time you had your AC re-gassed the guy added Xml of oil you would get an undesirable volume after a period of time so a old car might be in need of such a clean and more so if it has been open.

[Z2TT]

Hi,

Does anybody know what places sell A/C O-ring kits. I'm going to be replacing my Compressor and Reciever Drier soon, and while I'm at it I might as well replace the O-rings.

Thanks.

[Dale]

Just try an auto elecs (preferably a friendly one), they should give you some... I think by memory they're not meant to be put on dry, you are meant to use a special lubricant

[Z2TT]

Hi Dale,

What type of Special Lubricant?

What's the reason for putting them on using the lubricant, is it so the seal puffs up a bit and creates a better seal?

Thanks.

[allencr]

... is it so the seal puffs up a bit and creates a better seal?

No, it's so it can slide when it gets assembled & conform to the pieces being mated together without rolling, kinking & hanging up, and then again when it's pressurized

[Dale]

As above - and I'm pretty sure the lubricant you use is the same as what is used in AC systems (where to obtain it is another question!)

[Z2TT]

Ah,

Then I wouldn't need to use the lubricant when putting the O-rings in I guess, as once the system get's regassed, they will add oil along with the gas.

[CrUZida]

Thats completely the opposite of what he said.