My car A/C needs regassed, how do i tell if it's new type or old type of gas?

[dug777]

It has what looks like a bike tyre valve on the fitting after it comes through the firewall, dude at the shop i just rang said that meant it was the old type so they'd have to retrofit me for the new type, $150 AUD instead of $130...but the other week my mazda garage said it was $130 for the new type, $500 if it was the old type....

advice?

EDIT: valve pic.


http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dug777/ACvalve2.JPG

 

[crab]

R12 - old type. Its on a sticker in there. It'll be R134A if its new.

 

[sswingle]

How much more recently? You probably have the old type, but $500 to change is WAY too high. The 150 quote is much more reasonable.

 

[dartworth]

Look around the compressor?it should tell you the type of refrigerant and how much your systems is charged with.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: dartworth
Look around the compressor?it should tell you the type of refrigerant and how much your systems is charged with.

there's a metal bracket covering the sticker

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: dartworth
Look around the compressor?it should tell you the type of refrigerant and how much your systems is charged with.

there's a metal bracket covering the sticker

it should be visible...sometimes they are on the fan shroud...or near the battery

 

[mchammer]

Sticker should be in front when you open the hood or "bonnet" bwahaha.
Near the sticker that shows how to route the accessory drive belts.

 

[dethman]

if it smells like ass it's old gas.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: dartworth

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: dartworth
Look around the compressor?it should tell you the type of refrigerant and how much your systems is charged with.

there's a metal bracket covering the sticker

it should be visible...sometimes they are on the fan shroud...or near the battery

i'll have another look in a second, it's pissing down with rain and my gf's car is in tha carport so i'm not keen to get soaked

looks like the rain is stopping now actually

 

[mchammer]

It rains in AUS? hehe

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: mchammer
It rains in AUS? hehe

yeah

i got wet, and didn't find any helpful stickers

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: mchammer
It rains in AUS? hehe

yeah

i got wet, and didn't find any helpful stickers

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

 

[SuperSix]

The newer fitting caps (R134) are blue and red, and are nearly 1/2" wide. If it's the smaller (bike tire) size, then it's probably R12. (much more expensive)

BUT. you may want to pay a reasonable amount MORE for the R12, your system may work better. Due to the older condenser designs, they are less efficient with R134, and may not cool well. you should also replace/adjust the low (?) pressure swith, R134 needs different pressures to work the best.

If it's low - there's a leak, (albeit possibly small) and it's a waste of money to recharge it w/o finding and fixing the leak.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
The newer fitting caps (R134) are blue and red, and are nearly 1/2" wide. If it's the smaller (bike tire) size, then it's probably R12. (much more expensive)

BUT. you may want to pay a reasonable amount MORE for the R12, your system may work better. Due to the older condenser designs, they are less efficient with R134, and may not cool well. you should also replace/adjust the low (?) pressure swith, R134 needs different pressures to work the best.

If it's low - there's a leak, (albeit possibly small) and it's a waste of money to recharge it w/o finding and fixing the leak.

here's a pic of the valve and cap for you

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dug777/ACvalve2.JPG

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: SuperSix
The newer fitting caps (R134) are blue and red, and are nearly 1/2" wide. If it's the smaller (bike tire) size, then it's probably R12. (much more expensive)

BUT. you may want to pay a reasonable amount MORE for the R12, your system may work better. Due to the older condenser designs, they are less efficient with R134, and may not cool well. you should also replace/adjust the low (?) pressure swith, R134 needs different pressures to work the best.

If it's low - there's a leak, (albeit possibly small) and it's a waste of money to recharge it w/o finding and fixing the leak.

here's a pic of the valve and cap for you

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dug777/ACvalve2.JPG

That's R134 - Cheap to refill - but you should find the leak first.

 

[Shawn]

That'd be really odd for an 89 to be R134a. But I guess it's possible...

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: SuperSix

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: SuperSix
The newer fitting caps (R134) are blue and red, and are nearly 1/2" wide. If it's the smaller (bike tire) size, then it's probably R12. (much more expensive)

BUT. you may want to pay a reasonable amount MORE for the R12, your system may work better. Due to the older condenser designs, they are less efficient with R134, and may not cool well. you should also replace/adjust the low (?) pressure swith, R134 needs different pressures to work the best.

If it's low - there's a leak, (albeit possibly small) and it's a waste of money to recharge it w/o finding and fixing the leak.

here's a pic of the valve and cap for you

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dug777/ACvalve2.JPG

That's R134 - Cheap to refill - but you should find the leak first.

sweet thanks mate.

it's been fitted in the last 5 years i think, but the documentation is missing for that, done properly, genuine mazda a/c too.

 

[Kelvrick]

You can try just spending 30-40 bucks on a recharge kit that'll help "fix" any leaks.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
You can try just spending 30-40 bucks on a recharge kit that'll help "fix" any leaks.

put that in AUD and it's not a huge step up for me to get a garage to do it all for me

 

[dug777]

bump

 

[Aquaman]

I have some gas for you...... all you want......... free............ just pay for my airfare to Aus

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by: Shawn
That'd be really odd for an 89 to be R134a. But I guess it's possible...

It looks like it has been retrofitted.

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
You can try just spending 30-40 bucks on a recharge kit that'll help "fix" any leaks.

Not really a good idea. It a band aid fix, and they very rarely work. The best way is to find the leak, fix it, then evacuate (vacuum) the hell out of the system (to remove all moisture) and refill. If it's OUT of freon, you should also replace the dryer (accumulator).

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: SuperSix

Originally posted by: Shawn
That'd be really odd for an 89 to be R134a. But I guess it's possible...

It looks like it has been retrofitted.

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
You can try just spending 30-40 bucks on a recharge kit that'll help "fix" any leaks.

Not really a good idea. It a band aid fix, and they very rarely work. The best way is to find the leak, fix it, then evacuate (vacuum) the hell out of the system (to remove all moisture) and refill. If it's OUT of freon, you should also replace the dryer (accumulator).

Yeah, i'm gunna get the whole thing checked out/serviced as they regass it, none of the places i tried just regass, they all service as well.