AC Charging (Update)

"Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness" (long-voyager-2nd-edition) 07/30/2019 at 06:53 • Filed to: question

1

27

I want to get the AC recharged on the 1992 Caravan, unfortunately it’s R12. It still works, it’s just not as cold as when we got it, so I’m assuming after 27 years its just lost some of it’s charge.

Question is, where can I get this done?

Or can I just get something like this:

And do it myself?

I’ve never messed with AC, so help would be appreciated.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Update:

So it turns out my AC still works perfectly, my Grandpa who was using it at the time didn’t know you had to push the button above the fan control to turn it on. I picked it back up last night, hit the button, and cruised home in cool comfort.

So crisis averted for now.

Nibby > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 10:23

2

inject the refrigerant directly into your bloodstream and you will always feel cold

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 10:24

0

There are a few ways to do this number 1 you can try a can like that if you can find the filler fittings which will be difficult, number 2 have it done by a professional, number 2 have the system evacuated and convert it to modern 134a and fill it yourself, option A is the cheapest, the other options will cast at least $200.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 10:30

1

You will need an EPA license to legally bu y R12 . May even need the DNR license, I haven’t worked in WI in a good bit. You can get “alternatives ” for it, however . May or may not need a license to purchase those, depends on the retailer. They are not as good, as sometimes don’t mix well. Being the system is still R12, I have a suspicion that it has been changed out by now. You can charge it yourself, do it through the low side only with the engine running an d A/C on max. I recommend using an actual set of gauges, this is science after all, and winging it and just putting stuff all willy nilly in there isn’t a good idea. Over charging it can be worse than being a bit under charged, though even that has its own issues. Or you can spend some money and convert to R134A.

benjrblant > Nibby 07/29/2019 at 10:32

0

but it would leak out every time you got a cut. you’d be recharging pretty often.

facw > benjrblant 07/29/2019 at 10:35

10

Nah, I’m pretty sure it would last you the rest of your life.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 10:48

3

If you don’t want to mess with a conversion and are having trouble finding someone to do an R12 recharge (you will have trouble finding someone to do R12), you can do a homebrew recharge with a product called Freeze12 which is a DIY-safe formulation for R12 systems. I’ve done it before to decent results, although at this age the system probably has a substantial leak and that means you will still be leeching chemicals into the atmosphere, however safe or unsafe they may be, and it’s unlikely to be anything more than a short term solution (if it works at all). But, in a pinch, it’s worth a shot.

Sovande > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 11:00

2

I have a can of R12 in my closet.  Has the cost gone up enough that I can sell it and put my kid through college?

For Sweden > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 11:13

2

Converting to R-134a will be the easiest solution:

https://itstillruns.com/convert-r12-r134a-system-6616048.html

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 11:25

1

The one thing to understand is the refrigerant leaked somewhere. It doesn’t go bad. So if you try to take it to a shop to charge with R12, they will likely discharge the system and check for leaks and not recharge if you don’t repair the leak. So if you can get by for a little bit by adding a small amount of compatible refrigerant, that may buy you some time.

I used to dump a can of 134a every month or two in my Dakota until I finally decided to fix the leaks I had.  But if it’s working at all right now, and you don’t want to replace parts, you can just limp it along for a short time.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Sovande 07/29/2019 at 12:09

0

Doesn’t look like it.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 07/29/2019 at 12:10

0

It’s more a get it through the next couple months kinda fix. At that point I will replace whatever, but in all honesty, I’m very doubtful it’s actually leaking anywhere unless the compressor itself is seeping.

Sovande > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 12:46

1

Well then I have no use for it at all.

just-a-scratch > Nibby 07/29/2019 at 13:17

0

Y es. You will get cold, and stiff. You won’t really move around much, and after a bit of initial panic, you’ll be relaxed in the extreme. Death is very effective for these things.

Nibby > just-a-scratch 07/29/2019 at 13:20

1

nothing like the cold embrace of a corpse

MM54 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/29/2019 at 21:37

0

If you have a manifold set and a can tap you can charge it with R12 (it is not made anymore but cans are out there). The long-term solution is to convert it to 134a, but that is a decent amount of work (to do correctly at least).

If you don’t have the tools/desire/knowledge to charge it, I’d find a good a/c shop and see what they’ll do for you. Some places will still charge R12 systems (at great cost).

In either case, keep in mind the refrigerant went somewhere. It could be a very slow leak that would take years to cause problems again, or there could be a hole in the condenser which will prevent evacuation of the system, let alone charging it. I typically check a system by making sure it holds vacuum for a bit, then making sure it will hold a small amount of refrigerant for at least a few days without significant pressure change (engine off).

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/30/2019 at 07:14

2

Good to hear it was a bit of operator error and nothing more.  That’s about the best you can hope for.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 07/30/2019 at 07:16

1

I didn’t have the van in hand to test for myself and it’s not the first time he’s borrowed it, so I was trusting he knew what he was doing. Oh well, problem solved, no money involved, happy day.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/30/2019 at 07:43

1

Me and your Grandpa have at least one thing in common...

Me: it doesn’t fucking work! Rant, rave, rant etc....

Not me: have you pressed the button?

Funktheduck > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/30/2019 at 07:47

1

Free fixes are the best

RacinBob > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/30/2019 at 08:00

2

Hard to believe the last cars that used R-12 were built in about 1993. 26 years is pretty incredible long time for a bunch of O rings and a compressor shaft seal to hold that charge.....

Nibby > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/30/2019 at 09:04

1

i’d still say drink it

Brickman > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/30/2019 at 10:02

0

Thats excellent to have a working R-12 system from 92!  I had to work on my 96 caravan 4 times to fix leaks. Even had to pull that titanic sized dash to change the evap coil.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Brickman 07/30/2019 at 10:06

0

I mean it only has 73k miles, so that helps.....

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > RacinBob 07/30/2019 at 10:10

0

I mean it only has 73k miles, so that helps, but it’s still super impressive everything works perfectly.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 07/30/2019 at 10:11

0

I think we all have those moments.

Brickman > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 07/30/2019 at 11:19

0

mine had only 63k :\

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Brickman 07/30/2019 at 12:09

0

What can I say, 2nd gens are damn stout....

This van was owned by a little old lady prior to the guy I got it from, it had been dealer serviced at the same dealer since new.