"mazda616" (mazda616)
04/17/2019 at 14:05 • Filed to: Air Conditioning
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"mazda616" (mazda616)
04/17/2019 at 14:05 • Filed to: Air Conditioning | 4
| 10 |
It was 82° here yesterday, and on a whim, I drove the Sunbird to work. Tried the A/C (nervously, I might add), just for the heck of it.
Voila! Works fine. It’s very cold. But, it makes the car even louder and slower than it already is in the first place.
The son of the original owner paid to have the entire system rebuilt and converted to R134a in September 2017. Lucky me!
Som eone in my Mazda club asked if this car has enough power to get out of its own way. I said “No. but I still love it.” I honestly don’t understand my infatuation with an old J-body, but oh well.
My wife drove it last night and said “Cars have come a LONG way in thirty years.” I was amused and insulted a t the same time.
ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> mazda616
04/17/2019 at 14:19 |
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That’s awesome that the previous owner had the car properly converted to 134a. That is expensive work to do right if you’re paying someone else labor to do it.
My X-type is too a real Jaguar
> mazda616
04/17/2019 at 14:49 |
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Ahhh old GM Air Conditioning, cold enough to build igloos in July but will take half the engine HP to do it.
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mazda616
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
04/17/2019 at 15:11 |
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It was close to or over a grand to have it done, I think. He also replaced the timing belt, headgasket, front brakes, idle air control valve, and the radiator. Also did a tune up with new cap and wires and replaced the muffler.
I’ve replaced the serpentine and A/C belts, changed the oil, changed the air filter, replaced the valve cover gasket, changed the amplifier for the factory radio, replaced the non-functioning cassette player with a working eBay unit, and I replaced the cracked coolant reservoir tank.
I had the windshield replaced as well, since it had a large crack.
Needless to say, this car lives quite the pampered life.
66P1800inpieces
> mazda616
04/17/2019 at 15:41 |
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I followed the belt direction to determine spin and hand rotated the compressors on my car before kicking it on for real. Just to make sure there as no play and it was smooth. Much easier to replace a compressor on a clean-ish system then having it disintegrate itself.
Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
> mazda616
04/17/2019 at 16:18 |
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Let me just say again, I love this car!
Captain of the Enterprise
> mazda616
04/17/2019 at 16:27 |
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I’m so happy you enjoy this car. It’s great that the A/C works too!
MiniGTI - now with XJ6
> mazda616
04/17/2019 at 22:57 |
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All similar to my experience with my (‘85) Jaguar bought about 18 months ago-
-AC works arctic blast cold but robs a lot of power
-Pretty slow by modern standards but I love driving it (floor it pretty much every time)
-Bought an extra car seat for my son (who was about 6 months) so we can all enjoy. Actually whole car was bought for this reason since he won’t be riding in the TR6 any time soon.
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mazda616
> Captain of the Enterprise
04/19/2019 at 11:47 |
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Kentucky’s hot and humid summers require A/C when you’re a big guy like me. I’d be saving up to fix the A/C if it didn’t work! My S10 that I sold to get the Sunbird didn’t have working A/C and driving it in traffic was MISERABLE.
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mazda616
> Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
04/19/2019 at 11:47 |
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Thanks, man. Me too! We are driving it as a family to church and all of our get-togethers on Easter Sunday!
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Captain of the Enterprise
> mazda616
04/19/2019 at 15:38 |
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Totally with you there. The crown Vic I used to drive had broken a/c and it was miserable on my 1 hour drives to and from work. I would drive there in a t shirt and gym shorts change into work clothes for my shift and then change into t shirt and gym shorts for my drive home. Eventually I got it fixed but it sucked so bad when it was broken.