After making it through last summer without A/C, I decided this winter I would look into my system come spring.

I bought this manifold set http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92649 from Harbor Frieght.

My car has a sticker on it saying it was converted to R134a in 2001.

I just went and tried to hook the gauges up and the connections would not fit.... I attached a pic of the RED High Side connector from my car so that hopefully someone could tell me if this truly is a R134a connection or if it is still the old R12 connection.

My question...why won't my gauges fit onto the connection? Do I need to buy some sort of converter?

Thanks! I'm sure I'll have tons more questions once I get the darn thing hooked up!
-Ryan

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I think it is the R134 connector... perhaps they sold you the R12 guages ? or left out the fittings they list in the ad ?

That is an r134 fitting. Your gauge set connector should fit onto it without issues.

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Jim

I bought a set of the Harbor Freight gauges and the high side wouldn't fit. I returned them, exchanged them for a different set, and the low side wouldn't fit. I returned them for a refund [they asked it I wanted to try another set]. Only bad thing I have ever gotten from them, but it sounds like they have serious issues with their supplier of those

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Thanks for the replies....

The connect from the gauges is literally a screw on. It looks like to me that they are for a different attachment.

I added a pic with the gauge connection next to the red high side on the car. They don't even come close to fitting. Makes me think it is the wrong hose attachment??

I bought them 2 months ago online when I ordered something else. There is a 90 day Guarantee Certificate in the case. I'll bring it into the store and see what they say.

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I was referring to the hi side connector shown in pic of your link as being the correct one. I did not realize that you only had the screw on fitting. Something is not riot right with your kit.

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Jim

the best set by far is from autozone it is a universal set with R12 hoses and 134 adapters that screw into the hoses... think of the possibilities... about 70.00 IIRC... WELL worth it, but DO NOT DROP THE MANIFOLD... the gauges are cast brass, and they break off at the manifold... very hard to remedy.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The quick connect I have on my r-134 hose looks much like a small air hose fitting. it has a small sliding collar and balls inside the opening that engage the ring on the connector on the car.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

I am sure you are not the only person that has done that....

Okay, I got the gauges hooked up. The blue low side went on rough but got it on after a little wiggling.

Ran the car and started it up, opened the valves. Let my car run on full cooling for a few minutes. Neither gauge moved. Both sat at 0. Pretty sure everything was hooked up correctly....this time.

Does my compressor need to be working in order to register pressure? Or is there another reason why nothing registered?

Thanks!

Perhaps there is no refrigerant left in the system? Maybe it all leaked out...

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

That is a possibility. It may not have a charge.

I had thought the PO had told me he unhooked the compressor. Didnt' ask what that meant. The belt is still on and it spins. He told me the A/C had never worked since he owned it. He had it for 2 years I believe. He also told me he never looked into why it didn't work.

So before I add refrigerant, how do I check if the compressor is working? What else should I check?

Thanks!

Look real close at your hose connectors where they connnect to the car. Does it look like there are knobs on it? Turn them all the way clockwise and see if you get a reading then.

There is nothing like teaching a/c repair over the internet.

__________________
Jim

Yep, they were open. That was the first thing I thought of! But seeing how I couldn't get them on in the first place, I understand the suggestion!

If you have a refrigerant charge you should see some pressure even with your compressor not turning... after hours it will equalize on both sides of the TxValve....
It should not read zero if you have a charge... then if the compressor is running it should read more on the downstream side.... towards the condensor....