I checked craigslist and see people selling the 14oz cans of r12 for $25 each, so it is available for those who need it. I took my car out for a drive last week and found the ac compressor didn't turn on, so it is probably time for me to add more freon, which is usually needed once a year. I have a large container of r12 that is maybe half full and it will outlast my 16v easily. I've replaced the seals in the ac system but there is still a leak somewhere I haven't addressed.
On a related 16v note... I wouldn't be surprised if my car ends up sold within the year. I just don't get to drive it much anymore. I saw this post the other day for an 89 6v gti for sale http://jalopnik.com/for-4-200-this-1989-vw-gti-16v-could-blow-you-down-1726090743 On Thu, Aug 27, 2015 at 10:32 PM, <charlier...@gmail.com> wrote: > > As many of you know I have a 1987 GTI 16V. It has the original AC System > which is still running the R12 refrigerant. > > Back around 1997 I purchased a 1985 4 door Golf from a friend of mine who > was/is a VW Tech at a dealership. At that time it had 67,000 original miles > on it. Unfortunately a deer ran into it causing damage to the hood, fender > and passenger side door. The deer also managed to damage the A/C system as > well. > Since this Golf was going to be a Daily Driver I decided to fix the A/C > system (ie New Receiver/Dryer & evaporator) and convert the system to > R134a. After the conversion was done I was curious about the temperature > difference between R12 & R134a so I decided to do a little test. I put the > Golf and the GTI 16V side by side in the driveway on a hot summer day (both > systems fully charged in in good mechanical condition). I ran the A/C in > both cars using the same fan settings with the same vents open and measured > the temperature coming out of the same vent positions with the same battery > operated thermometer with a wired probe. I did the test multiple times > because I could not believe the results. There was less than a two degree > difference between the GTI 16V with R12 and the Golf with R134a. This might > not be the most scientific test but the results were interesting. > > Now fast forward to the present time. My 1985 Golf is no longer my Daily > Driver but I do drive it on my days off. I am still running the R134a in > the system. Nowadays I do have a slow leak in the system which requires me > to add refrigerant about every other summer. This summer I noticed on a hot > day the A/C was not all that cold. After adding refrigerant the system was > back to ice cold again. > > One word of caution. I live in eastern Pennsylvania. This summer our temps > got into the low-mid 90s. With a high dew point we got close to 100 degrees > (real feel) only a couple of times. I would imagine that where you are > located you have 90+ temps a lot more often. Call me strange but on very > hot days I will open all the doors on my vehicles for a few minutes to let > the super hot air (120+ degrees) inside the vehicle out. Even if the temp > in the vehicle only drops 20-30 degrees to equal the outside temperate that > is 20-30 degrees less the A/C system has to try to cool. > > When I need more R134a I go to the local Walmart and get some. IIRC a 12oz > can is under $20. I think they also still sell conversion kits as well. > > In case you are wondering the A/C in my GTI 16V did work the last time I > ran it. A while back I found an R12 system recharge kit somewhere. That kit > has two unopened cans of R12 and I have a third can that is open and has > the hose and valve system from the kit attached. At least I have the option > of charging the A/C system in the GTI 16V with R12 if I would need/want to. > > Charlie > > On Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 10:43:38 PM UTC-4, Larry Velez wrote: >> >> I know many have ripped out their AC systems but where I am (Tampa) it is >> just not an option. >> >> How are you all keeping your AC systems working these days? Which newer >> refrigerants are compatible now that R12 is no longer available and any >> tricks to get a nice cold system? >> >> I wonder if swapping in a modern compressor is an option? >> >> Planning ahead to fixing my AC system. >> >> Thanks, >> >> -Larry >> 91 GTI 16V >> >> >> >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MK2-16v" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to mk2-16v+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to mk2-16v@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mk2-16v. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mk2-16v/f7ea6929-1f20-4c00-b85d-0243f1fd58ed%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mk2-16v/f7ea6929-1f20-4c00-b85d-0243f1fd58ed%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MK2-16v" group. 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