O.K...So my 92 RS has been converted to 134A and when Ibought the car a few months ago the guy said it leaked. Today the compressorlocked up!!! So my plan was to replace the compressor, A/C Hose Assembly, OrificeTube and maybe all the o-rings. However, all the new parts come with o-rings.So I have a few pictures and would love to confirm what was leaking and causedthe failure. Check out these pics!!!

I need help!!!

Thanks
Bill

 

Few more pics...After replacing the parts I'll have it professionally charged!

 

The only way to find exactly what was leaking is to charge the system with about 300 PSI of nitrogen then spray everything with a soapy water solution. That way you only need to replace the bad components that are leaking. It might be something as simple as an o-ring.

When switching from R12 to R134, the accumulator needs to be replaced and the oil needs to be changed in the compressor to a R134 compatible oil. Adapter fittings for R134 can be installed but when I converted my 91 pickup truck, I found the fittings always leaked so I had a local AC shop weld on some proper R134 fittings right onto the lines. It only leaked once after that and it was the o-rings on the back of the compressor. Replaced them, sucked the system back down into a deep vacuum then recharged and it's been fine for years now.

It helps when I have the proper AC tools at work.

 

Thanks for the reply and info!

 

Hey AlkyIROC, excuse me if this sounds like a stupid question, but can you really use the same ac compressor when the car was R12 and its been converted to 134a ???? I had mine "changed over " and my compressor took a crap on me today.

Also, when I go buy me the replacement, what do I ask for ??? i.e a 12R compressor or a 134a compressor ?

Stone

 

yes. like he said though the oil needs to be switched (the entire system needs to be flushed and fill with the 134a oil), they don't mix well. and the accumulator needs to be replaced. (all the compressor does is compress, it doesn't much care what it compresses)

the compressor will be the same. im not sure if there is oil in it b4 you buy it or not, but if there is oil in it, since r12 isn't used anymore good chance its 134a oil in it, again if it comes with oil in it. when you buy it, ask the person to check, should also say if there is oil in it.

if there is no oil you hook the system back up and add the oil, just like if you where recharging the system yourself (or tell the a/c shop its a new compressor and it needs oil)

 

If you buy a "new" compressor, it will usually come prefilled with oil which is normally more than enough for a system. I always see training to fix overfilled systems with oil but I'm usually doing compressor replacements because of not enough oil in the system. I also work on systems that are regularly being repaired so it's easy to recharge a system and not put any oil back into it.

When an AC system is being recovered, a small amount of oil is also being taken out. To put some oil back into a system, it can either be added to the compressor before the system is pulled into a vacuum or injected into the low side port after the system has been pulled into a vacuum. There's a special attachment to inject the oil and keep the system containment free.

 

So I've finally got all the pieces together to fix my A/C. I plan on replacing the o-rings but don't have any o-ring lube. Can I use PAG oil to lube the o-rings?

 

O-rings should be lubed with mineral oil. At work I use baby oil which is 100% mineral oil.