W124 - Is this my air con valve?

[ModMan]

Hello all. Is this valve in the centre of my pic for the air con? If so I may give it a bash at filling it up myself with one of teh DIY kits on eBay/Halfords. Is there a particular type of kit I should be looking at?

The car was stood for 4 years, so it's not working. I pushed the little valve under the dust cap and nothing happened, so assume it's empty.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[walsi]

Hi ya, it looks like one of them, there will be 2. You will be lucky if it works, if there is no pressure it probably has a leak or the seals have gone after standing all these years

Martin

 

[jaymanek]

Also that its an old style R12 port so you will need to upgrade the port with a R134 conversion kit.

 

[ModMan]

Thanks Jay, I've been reading and it seems I can no longer get the old recharge kit and the conversion isn't cheap it looks like.

 

[jaymanek]

CAR AIR CON EAZY CONVERTER FROM R12 to R134a N022135B | eBay

and then you will need to have it serviced at your local £35 recharge place.

Remember its unlikely not to have leaks if it hasnt been used.

 

[ModMan]

Wow, that's handy. So after fitting that, if I wanted to do it myself (Just for arguments sake) then I could use this: Halfords | EZ Chill Auto Air Conditioning Recharge

 

[jaymanek]

I wouldnt use anything like that...

You need a machine to accurately clean out your system and put exactly the correct weight of gas back in.. besides its the same price as using your local garage to do it properly with a machine.

 

[ModMan]

Thanks Jay. Do you do it? I'm only in Lutterworth.

 

[scillyisles1]

If the car has been stood for 4 years then it is a racing certainty that the aircon will need more than just a re-gas to get it working.
The seals will most probably have gone and more than likely other compoents will need overhauling/replacing. Typically, the a/c system is filled with a mixture of refrigerant gas and lubrication agent(oil) which keeps the internals nicely lubricated.

 

[jaymanek]

Thanks Jay. Do you do it? I'm only in Lutterworth.

Yes we can, but you will need to convert your ports first.

 

[ModMan]

Just bought the kit Jay. Shall be in touch when it arrives for you to charge/fix. Cheers!

 

[SJX]

Just to add: Jay should just do a quick vac out the sysyem first before adding any gas. Air is not the AC systems friend!. A vac out with a gauge attached, will see if the system loses its vac (ie returns to atmospheric pressure over time) if it does - you have a leak. Compressor seals a certainty in a long standing vehicle. I predict a big component bill to get this all in order. Take a stiff drink with you.

You did only actually need a single schrader valve to quick connect adapter to do a vac test before investing more.

Hope it all works out for you and that I am wrong.

All the best Steve

 

[DRBC43AMG]

Take a stiff drink with you.

Will probably need more than a stiff drink when he sees the bill

 

[ModMan]

Oops, now I'm scared!!! I only paid a small amount for the car when I bought it a couple of months ago. Looks like I may be selling sooner than I thought if I can't get everything sorted for reasonable money.

 

[SJX]

In the UK, A/C bottom of the list on a budget me thinks.

 

[ModMan]

I agree, for the 'coolness' factor, however it's handy to demist the windows

 

[millo777]

I'm wearing my orthopaedic shoes, so stand to be corrected, however isn't an R12 to R134a conversion a little more complicated than changing the port?

I remember doing it to an old Volvo many years ago and all the O rings had to be replaced with r134a specific items along with hoses and removing the compressor to drain the old oil ready to fit to R134a compatible lubricant. Of course having opened the system, a new reciever drier was required.

Using an r12 compatible gas would be a far easier solution imho

 

[walsi]

You could well be right, never thought of that one

Martin

 

[jaymanek]

technically there are a whole host of things that need to be changed including every rubber seal in the system... these kits come with some special lubricant that helps the seals..

Ive done a few using these kits now and mine all tend to last a year at least before needing a service.

 

[SJX]

Interesting point that to run 134a on an older R12 system requires a shed load of physical upgrade work.

The pipework (not just seals) - rubber flexible hoses did not often have the modern plasticised barrier tube within their cross section that is needed for R134a. Its nothing to do with pressure, the R134 having smaller molecules actually migrates through the older rubber manufactured hoses (where as R12 did not)

There are differences with the oils, R12 oils not being comparably soluble with those used for R134 (mineral vs synthetics)

There are sold 'drop in replacement gasses' that are supposed to be compatible with older R12 systems. If you actually read the contents of such gasses its majorly just R134 - and we have just said that migrates in older pipework ! - so how that is supposed to work, goodness knows!

So unless you want to take the compressor off and clean out the old oil (a significant amount of oil volume resides here), then replace the hoses for new barrier type hose, replace the seals, fiit a new filter/dryer...... I think thats got the measure of it if you wanted it done properly.

I wont go into the benifit of using 'propane' as a refrigerant in older AC systems as its far too dangerous to use... but it is an excellent replacement!

There is really more to it than just adapting the high and lo side ports if you want the perfect conversion