AC converted to R134

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rallyak
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AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

Well my wife wants her AC fixed, it's never worked since we owned it. Her car is black and does get much hotter than mine. First off it has a zexel pump and I believe someone opened the system to replace the heater core so no more R12. I've read Josh's write up and very informative. So this is what I'm planing on doing.

I'm replacing the condenser, drier, expansion valve, o-rings, and while I have the dash out heater core. I will clean the lines out , compressor and evaporator.

I believe I read that peg oil was the best for compressors. Should I buy R134 with sealer in it? Is there anything I'm missing? Also I have access to a vacuum pump.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
Legacy777
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by Legacy777 »

Are you replacing the condenser or the evaporator? The evaporator is in the dash and the condenser is in front of the radiator.

If it's the evaporator, do you know if the evaporator leaks or are you just going to replace it because?

Yes, I would recommend using PAG 100 oil. Haynes makes a decent AC book that lists refrigerant & oil amounts for various cars. What year is your wife's Legacy? I'm out of town at the moment, but if you'd like I can check the book for oil & refrigerant amounts when I get back this weekend.

Regarding the O-rings, I was able to replace most of them with O-rings from a generic r134a o-ring kit, however there were a couple that I just reused due to not having the correct size.

I will say that if the compressor has not been run in a very long time, it will more than likely will not last too long. I would definitely recommend draining the old oil, and flushing the compressor with new PAG oil by turning the compressor by hand. That will hopefully reduce the impact to the internals from not being used for a long time.

Personally, I try and by r134a without the sealer in it, but that's me. I guess I'm a little wary about it clogging the inards up....but it may be perfectly fine.

Make sure when you get the system back together and after you've pulled a vacuum for a good hour to boil off any moisture to let the system stabilize to ensure there are no leaks. It's better to find out before you charge up the system and lose the refrigerant.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
rallyak
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

I'm replacing the condenser, I'm sure it fine but has been thru a front end collision and has lots of road debris. When I removed it to change the cam seals I notice that a little suction when I removed one of of the lines I figured that was from the cold.

I thought about replacing the compressor so I know it works but I figured I would try the one on the car first. The reality is I live in Alaska and only need on the sunny days (65-80 degrees) so the demand on it won't be hard. So if works for a few years I will be ok with that.

This is on a 92 and aren't all the systems the same capacity, just a different compressor? Be honest I have recharged lots of cars at the body shop but never really knew the capacities on any of them. Vacuumed them and brought the system to a safe pressure on my gauge, they all seemed to work but don't know for how long.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
Legacy777
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by Legacy777 »

The oil capacities are a little different between years. The Zexel compressor capacity for 92 is 5.10 oz vs. the Calsonic compressor's 8 oz.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
rallyak
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

Thanks Josh, I'm currently in the middle of doing this job and need to grab some oil. I think I read to clean out the compressor you flushed it out with the oil PAG 100 oil or can I use some kind of solvent like brake cleaner,then flush with oil?
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
Legacy777
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by Legacy777 »

I'd just flush it out with some pag oil. I don't know if I'd trust putting solvent in there.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
rallyak
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

I figured I would update with pics
Image
All apart what a mess I will say it was easier to change the heater core with the A/C box out.
Image
This is all cleaned up with a new expansion valve and sealed for installation.
Image
Image
Found my cold air leak in the heater box, my heater case is warped so I filled the gap with foam.
Image
Image
I pulled the new condenser out and it's the wrong one, apparently I needed one for a 90-91. The car was built in sept.of 91 so I think they was using up the old parts.
Image
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
Legacy777
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by Legacy777 »

Thanks for the pics.

Are you able to exchange the new condenser for the different model?

I've found they changed the ports/hoses as a way to differentiate which ones had which compressors and refrigerents.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
rallyak
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

They said would change it out and give me back the deference. The one that I need is only 54$ instead 120$, but it has to be shipped in from Washington.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
James614
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by James614 »

I need to do exactly this on my car. Except my A/C is in pieces because I was an idiot and thought "RACECAR!!!!". But I have all the pieces needing to be cleaned and put back in there, and then charged with the 134a.
93 Touring Wagon (EJ20G 5spd Swap) -- Finally back and running strong as ever!

05 Outback 2.5XT 5spd -- Now the wife can have her SUV and get in on the turbo Legacy goodness at the same time.
rallyak
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

I received the new condenser today and that was wrong too. After doing some research and going thru the parts catalog I realized there's no oem part # for 90-91 wagon. If someone could find one for me that would be great.

The condenser that I keep getting will fit sedans from what I found out 90-91 and oem # 73020-AA030 and it supersedes to 73020-AA080 with calsonic system.

Now the other #s I found that don't fit is 73020-AA060 and 73020-AA040 that fits ones with diesel Kiki compressors.

What's the part #s for the condenser for zexel compressors? And why is there different ones for sedans and wagons for 90-91?
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
rallyak
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Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:02 am
Location: Anchorage,Alaska

Re: AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

I guess what I posted earlier wasn't compleatly correct. Here it is: wagons in 90-91 uses part #73020-AA040 and 73020-AA060 that's for the diesel Kiki system which apparently uses a zexel compressor. I have a list of aftermarket numbers for this condenser that I can post up, but what I'm going with is a Spectra Premium part # 7-4268 and order it from amazon. I sure this one will be correct, going by the pics I've seen.

I've been dealing with performance radiator and I believe their putting the wrong sticker on the box. The two that they had was not correct for the application. The one that's in the box that they keep selling me fits the calsonic system.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
Legacy777
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by Legacy777 »

Yeah, based on what I have found the 73020AA040 should be the correct part # for the diesel kiki system. The 73020AA060 is showing to be for the calsonic system (both sedan & wagon).
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
rallyak
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

Update: the condenser I received from amazon was correct. I put the whole system back together and put 1oz of peg 100 oil in the drier and 4oz of oil in the compressor and vacuumed the system for 2 hours at -34 lbs and left it over night. Pressure held over night so I charged it up with 24oz of 134a and wow, it blows really cold air. I would say its every bit as cold as my r12 system in my car.

List of things I bought:
Condenser (spectra premium 7-4268) from amazon....124.68
O-rings (santech MT2650) eBay................................11.99
Expansion valve (3411248) performance radiator........12.00
Accumulator/drier (1411563) performance radiator.....15.95
134a three pack 12oz at Walmart.............................25.00
Peg 100 oil 8oz x2 local part store............................12.50
Total 202.12

Making my wife happy.................................. Priceless
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
MrTodd
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by MrTodd »

Very nice. Thanks for posting your results!! Also, glad the wifey pooh is happy with it - that's what really matters.
Legacy777
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by Legacy777 »

rallyak wrote:I would say its every bit as cold as my r12 system in my car.

Yup, everyone thinks their AC won't be as cold when converting to r134a, however when done properly it blows just as cold.

Also, to help keep everything lubricated, you should run the AC system at least once a month.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
wtdash
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by wtdash »

Legacy777 wrote:
Also, to help keep everything lubricated, you should run the AC system at least once a month.

Hey Josh,
Wouldn't running the Defrost work too? Seeing as they are in AK, that would likely be a given from Sept-May. :-)

TD
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'87 GL-10 Turbo - SOLD
'90 BJ EJ22T/DOHC & 5speed swap - SOLD
'04 FXT, Forged internals, VF39, STI TMIC, Cobb AP- SOLD
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rallyak
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by rallyak »

I actually remove my belt in the winter and put it back on in the spring. I haven't had any problems, but I would think running defrost counts for turning the a/c on.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
Legacy777
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Re: AC converted to R134

Post by Legacy777 »

Yes, running the defrost counts since the AC compressor runs.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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