A/C Retrofit
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Modesto, CA
1992 400E (86 300E, 98 S420) - Retired
A/C Retrofit
Well to sum it up. it's hot. my a/c does not work however my compressor and all that good stuff is working. as much as i can tell there is a leak in my system. there is a sticker for tracer dye. when i look through the little window in the engine bay. i see bubbles. i was told it should be solid.
On to my question. it would cost me $70 to have our home A/c guy fill her up with R12 but with no guarantee that it will be there next year, or even later this season. at the moment i'm extremely poor so has anyone effectively used a R134 retrofit kit on their W124? i figure that i could pick up a can of R134 for a few bucks if needed when i feel that i'm getting low.
it seems easy enough to do but i'm leary on doing it on the benz. i dont want to be in the middle of it and need like a German Spec Connector of some bull**** like that.
any help would be appreciated.
On to my question. it would cost me $70 to have our home A/c guy fill her up with R12 but with no guarantee that it will be there next year, or even later this season. at the moment i'm extremely poor so has anyone effectively used a R134 retrofit kit on their W124? i figure that i could pick up a can of R134 for a few bucks if needed when i feel that i'm getting low.
it seems easy enough to do but i'm leary on doing it on the benz. i dont want to be in the middle of it and need like a German Spec Connector of some bull**** like that.
any help would be appreciated.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 696
Likes: 4
From: Motor City
95 E320 Cabriolet, 108K
The first step is to check the pressure in the system with a set of manifold gauges.
Since last summer, the price of r134 has at least doubled while the price of r12 has gone down. This makes retrofitting less attractive. If the radiator shops are charging an arm and a leg for r12, you can point this out or go to another shop.
$70 isnt too bad for a shop to top off your system and check the pressures. Since the shop put tracer dye into your system, your next visit should include looking for leaks with a UV light. The leak should be found at that point and the mechanic will quote for the repair.
I have retrofitted a couple systems in the past. I have all the necessary tools. The systems are on their third summer of service. Retrofitting, at minimum, will include the following steps:
- Repairing the leak
- Taking the hoses off and flushing the system to remove old lubricant
- Replacing all o-rings to r134-compatible ones
- Replacing the receiver/dryer
- Vacuuming the system to remove air
- Charging with new r134-compatible lubricant and refrigerant
Anything less is a shortcut that may work, but will severely shorten the life of your system, reduce efficiency, and will probably damage the system.
Since last summer, the price of r134 has at least doubled while the price of r12 has gone down. This makes retrofitting less attractive. If the radiator shops are charging an arm and a leg for r12, you can point this out or go to another shop.
$70 isnt too bad for a shop to top off your system and check the pressures. Since the shop put tracer dye into your system, your next visit should include looking for leaks with a UV light. The leak should be found at that point and the mechanic will quote for the repair.
I have retrofitted a couple systems in the past. I have all the necessary tools. The systems are on their third summer of service. Retrofitting, at minimum, will include the following steps:
- Repairing the leak
- Taking the hoses off and flushing the system to remove old lubricant
- Replacing all o-rings to r134-compatible ones
- Replacing the receiver/dryer
- Vacuuming the system to remove air
- Charging with new r134-compatible lubricant and refrigerant
Anything less is a shortcut that may work, but will severely shorten the life of your system, reduce efficiency, and will probably damage the system.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 32
From: Germany
'00 S320 W220, '98 A160 W168/ sold in 2005 '86 260 E W124 '90 260E W124
I had my A/C converted from R12 to R134a, since in Europe you can't get R12 anymore due to environmental reasons. I had it done by the MB-Shop (in Germany) They charged about $300 each car and eversince it works very well, if not even better than before. But if you system leaks this needs to fixed first, which can cost, if it is the evaporator inside the dash. As the previous poster says, it needs to be done right, technically no problem at all.
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