If ONLY the OP can be here. Well phrased.

Competent shop and inexpensive are mutually exclusive. How much is inexpensive, $200, $300, $500 or $1K? I find $200 for A/C work is expensive as I have not spent that much on A/C repair doing it myself, even with changing out the compressor.

Did you read my disclaimer, read it at your own peril? May be I am, so beware.

I read the OP again and I did not read that he tried it 'cheap'. Did you have your glasses on or you can read others' mind?

I am sure there will be exceptions that a few shops will touch R12. Why don't you recommend one to the OP, hopefully it is somewhere near where the car is. Don't ask the OP to drive it to your area. That would be disingenuous.

Good advice from you?? That will make my day.

As long as one has either of the standard refrigerants... R12, R134a...
there should not be a problem in normal places... meaning not in the far reaches of the boon docks where there is only one AC shop within a hundred miles.. finding AC service.

If you are satisfied with the cooling capacity, why mess with it. The additional cooling will be minimal compared to the extra cost, especially if the system springs a leak (which inevitably happens). I've converted several cars with no ill after effects. I usually get the air temperature at the center vents to a little above or below 40 degrees, which I'm sure is a few degrees more than factory, but still plenty cool. I'm from an area that gets down to 30 below in the winter and up to 105 in the summer, and I've been satisfied with R-134a performance. I do agree with others that say getting the heat away from the condensor is important in any A/C system.

P.S. I see a good way to start a fight on this forum to to start a thread on R-134a conversions. Definitely not a subject people should be fighting over.

Don't know of anybody in my area that still stocks or sells R-12. Does the NAPA in your area require a license to buy R-12, and how much does a can go for?

Don't you dare. I posted a long/short answer scenarios similar to your reasoning and 'senior' members are all over me.

In Southern parlance, "so so cool" means "not so cool." (Which is completely different than "so, so cool.")

In my opinion, the addition expense of R-12 is a tremendous bargain in the overall scheme of things. In my experience with an '82 300D, the performance improvement when converting from R-134a to R-12 was nowhere near "minimal." "Incredible" would be a far more accurate description.

Since it's federal mandate to have that license, I would assume that they do require it. Haven't purchased it from them so I don't know. NAPA is but one source of r12 for the local shops.

But remember that the test is OPEN BOOK..
can be taken over the internet..
and last time I checked only cost $20...
They just want to know that you know how to read and what some of the rules are...
If you can not pass the test... You should not be dealing with AC stuff anyway...
and always wear goggles when handling any refrigerant work...

Already back-tracking from what is often mis-information from you! :rolleyes: {"Crawfishing" is another term. For Tyler's benefit......} :P

The more I see of your posts regarding AC related issues, the more I am slotting you as either vocally mis-informed, or just one of those "if you don't do it like I do it then you are an idiot" types. {Forced comes to mind. ;)}
Either way, while I don't do everything the same as the more seasoned AC guys do, I at least respect their presentation of the facts for the most part.
You are not garnering respect for your positions. Quite the opposite......

Amen Jimmy.

I am sorry that I mistakenly ' AMENNED' Jimmy's statement..
Clearly Larry is correct...
AMEN LARRY !

R12 is about $10 a pound. I can get easily. Supply is good. Demand is low so supply is high.

Is that in large containers ? or small cans? are those cans 12 ounce and you are able to buy them where the lb price is $10 ?
I certainly think R12 is worth the price for many reasons... just wanted the overall picture to be clear to those who might be needing it...
So many people have this kneejerk reaction when R12 is mentioned.. because at one time several years ago garages were hedging their bets ...or taking advantage of customer's belief that it was expensive and have never updated their ' knowledge/myth ' base....
So please be specific about the sizes and costs... so we can quote this when another one of those ' R12 is too expensive ' people show up in a thread...
Thanks,Greg

LNGFish
 

I live in NC so I know kind of temps and humidity you are dealing with. I also lived in South Fla. and LA (that's Lower Alabama for those out of the loop.)

The statement "R134a works fine for me..." is all well and good from anyone who lives OUTSIDE the southeast of the USA (or places comparable.) What you and I both know is half the comfort factor comes from the dehumidifying ability of the A/C system. It will blow cold but in the South, that is just too weak with 134a in a W123 car. Unless you have a W123 made for the Middle East or Sub Saharan Africa market you have the same design cooling & A/C parts as the European cars. Put simply, the system was engineered for R12, when you put in R134a you reduce the capability of the system.