Auto Air Question

[ancient-one]

I have a 91 Nissan Pickup that the A/C is not putting out any cold air. Last summer it was getting less cold. The compressor is engaging. It has not been serviced for a long time and supposedly will require the new type of freon and a new accumulator and dryer.
There is a freon that is called Freeze 12 and is supposed to mix with R12. They also recommend changing the accumulator and dryer. Has anyone had any experience with this product or have any suggestions for the most economical solution. Thanks.

 

[ancient-one]

I have a 91 Nissan Pickup that the A/C is not putting out any cold air. Last summer it was getting less cold. The compressor is engaging. It has not been serviced for a long time and supposedly will require the new type of freon and a new accumulator and dryer.
There is a freon that is called Freeze 12 and is supposed to mix with R12. They also recommend changing the accumulator and dryer. Has anyone had any experience with this product or have any suggestions for the most economical solution. Thanks.

 

[ladder13]

Last summer, at the peak, my 2002 Mazda started blowing warm air. I took it to my mechanic, who I trust 100%. The schrader?? valves were leaking, and when Jim replaced the 2 valves the A/C ran great the rest of the summer.
The problem is more than likely a leak somewhere and refilling the system won't last very long. Best to have dye injected into the system and find/repair the leak.
Or do like I did and buy a new ride.

 

[2Loud4You]

Just get it to converted to R-134a. R-12 cools better (by a few degrees) but is WAY expensive if you can find a shop that has it. We do, at $4 an ounce vs. $1.60 an ounce for R-134a. Once you're converted any other AC repairs will be cheaper because you're bound to have another leak down the road and R-12 will be that much harder to find and even more expensive. Maybe you can find a shop that has R-12 to refill it and add dye BUT you're still going to have a leak somewhere and that's money you're losing as it seeps out. If you're lucky it's a line but pray it's not the compressor or evaporator.

Expect to spend a couple hundred at minimum.

Also, don't be a jacka** and put some off the shelf crap in your system. If a customer tells us that, we send them on their way because we can't risk contaminating our machine with whatever is in there. There's a reason AC machines cost thousands of dollars.

 

[Spotteddog]

Every word of what 2L4Y said, +1.

 

[Landpimp]

lucked out and found a box of R12 cans at a garage sale, $1 can....for a guy with old Cruisers that used R12 I was happy

my old 86 Cruiser will still cool down to 10deg....damn coldest AC I have ever felt

 

[shovelwrench]

Originally posted by Spotteddog:
Every word of what 2L4Y said, +1.

+1

 

[zercool]

2L4Y is spot on... but since the truck is coming up on eighteen or nineteen years old (has it registered to vote??), if it were mine I'd be very hesitant to drop a few hundred more dollars into a comfort fix.

I'm a big fan of 50/50 air ... roll the windows down halfway (50%) and drive 50mph.

I have air in my 07 Nissan truck, but it only comes on on the absolute hottest days of summer.

 

[2Loud4You]

Originally posted by zercool:
2L4Y is spot on... but since the truck is coming up on eighteen or nineteen years old (has it registered to vote??), if it were mine I'd be very hesitant to drop a few hundred more dollars into a comfort fix.

I'm a big fan of 50/50 air ... roll the windows down halfway (50%) and drive 50mph.

I have air in my 07 Nissan truck, but it only comes on on the absolute hottest days of summer.

I don't use my AC much either but I seem to remember the OP being older (hence the name) and therefore he may need AC.

 

[ancient-one]

Thanks for your comments. 2Loud4You, you are right, old men need A/C. I did some investigating and found a place to do the changeover.
Years ago I would sit in a boat on a hundred degree day in a shortsleeved shirt and a ball cap and thought nothing of it. Not smart, it caused a lot of skin cancers.
I drive the pickup most of the time for several reasons. One, it gets around in city traffic good. Two, my wife had a stroke in 96 and it is easier for her to get in and out of than our Olds. Besides, it is like old shoes or a good dog, you don't want to ever get rid of them.

 

[onegunshort]

A couple years ago when I worked as a mechanic at a Mazda dealership I had to replace the condenser on my 91 mazda truck so I just refilled it with R-134. It doesn't get as cold as R-12 but it's still cold enough for me.

Isn't there an R-12 substitute available that's much cheaper? I haven't heard if it works or not.

 

[ladder13]

Originally posted by Spotteddog:
Every word of what 2L4Y said, +1.

++++
My mechanic will NOT touch your A/C system if it's been contaminated by off the shelf crap. It happened to him once, back in the beginning, but won't happen again.
The excavation/renewal of the system is absolutely critical for proper functioning.