Evacuating the A/C System

Inexpensive A/C Vacuum Pump
http://www.harborfreight.com/c...taf?Itemnumber=96677


A/C Manifold Gauge Set
http://www.harborfreight.com/c...taf?Itemnumber=92649

Garth's suggestion is the cheapest. And will provide the minimal required tools to maybe make it all work. The gauge set Garth referenced is only for 134 fittings. If still stock, your Pantera has R-12 fittings.

And while you didn't ask, trying to resurrect an R-12 system with the Freeze 12 retrofit is just a roll of the dice, IMHO.

Things to consider.

Is your system working, at all, currently?

If not, do you know why?

Is your system leak free? You can only know this if you pull a vacuum and then can observe it will hold for at least 30 minutes.

Do you know what a proper fill amount is for the Pantera system with Freeze 12?

And about three dozen other possible problems and questions might need to be addressed.

If you are just going for a Hail Mary type of resurrection, then go for it. You can't really hurt things too much.

Good luck.

Larry

P.S. - Once you introduce the Freeze 12 into your system, you will create a bastard system. Shops will not want to contaminate their R-12 or r-134 equipment while servicing it. Most good shops have sniffers to check what a system is filled with.

I suggest you might want to seek advice from a local A/C shop before going down the Freeze 12 road.

Well, you have me re-thinking this. Maybe I'd be better off taking my car to Pantera Performance and have them do it with R-12 -- since they are within driving distance to me. A/C was working as of last June. I was driving the car with the A/C on the day before a car show in early June when the A/C suddenly got warm. I immediately shut the A/C off and when I got home I lifted the deck to see what was up. Car was upgraded with a rotary compressor a while back but still had the original dryer, etc. There is a little plug-like thing on the top fitting of the dryer that looks like it may be a too-high-of-pressure relief? Anyway, there was a pinhole in the middle of the plug-like thing where all the freon and oil had blow out -- making a big mess of my engine compartment. I'm guessing it was old and just failed? -- remember I'm guessing here. I bought a new dryer and installed it, and the freeze-12 thinking I could recharge it. I probably read too many rah rah articles about recharging yourself with freeze 12 and how easy it is. So now you have me re-thinking.

quote:

still had the original dryer

Whenever a system is opened , such as in replacing the compressor, a new drier should be installed. They are cheap, No more than $30 online.

quote:

freon and oil had blown out

Loss of oil means that amount needs to be replaced.

If in fact it did pop a high pressure relief, the reason for that high pressure should be found. Often high pressure is an overfilled system, or a system that manages to freeze and block freon movement.

I'm sure Dennis can troubleshoot a stock system, but it will not be cheap - no matter where you take it.

R-12 is still very available online for $20-$30 a 14 oz can - eBay or Craig's list - though shop prices will be $50 a pound, or more.

It does cool better than r-134, but a 134 system can be just fine. Bear in mind 134 is going to be banned in short time so either system will enter the expensive to retain arena.

Larry - who still remembers when R-12 cans were 99¢ at Pep Boys.

My high pressure plug blew because of condenser fan failure. A binary switch inline with the compressor clutch relay will prevent the compressor from engaging if there is either too much or not enough pressure in the system. The receiver driers have a fitting on top to accommodate the switch or the sacrificial plug.

And like Larry said, the R12 is easy to get. Not cheap, just easy. I bought some on Ebay on a Saturday morning and it was hanging on my mailbox Monday.