i'm guessing it would be something like this:

compressor used/reblt $85
drier and misc parts $65
3 lbs R414a $65
labor $150-200
+tax title and insurance:rolleyes:

= about $400 :eek:

that's if the condenser and hoses and other stuff is all ok which i don't know.
i fear it's a thing i just don't wanna get into ..

if i was living in fla. or tx or any other place down south it would be another matter entirely but here in new england you really only need a/c about 1-2 months out of the year.
the heater is the thing we can't live without up here ya know, lol..
:)

"only need a/c about 1-2 months " Now that is Cool ! ( pun )

That is the amount of time we Don't need it....

All this typing on this thread... and you weren't even committed to Having Air conditioning ? That is funny.

Update to my information about the GM gastank problem..

the history :
http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=94&did=504

It was announced today that GM settled for One half Billion Dollars to those injured or thier familes...
1800 people burned to death in those pickups... 20 times more than the Pinto gastank problem caused. They also agree to correct the design.

This forum is great to offer our individual experiences for exchange of techniques and offer alternatives to the mainstream, that's America!
Passing blame on those who may contaminate an artificially suppressed supply of R12 thereby taking your "portion" is disengenuous. The freon 12 scare like the oil supply scare is based on junk science. Many of us know there is not scientific consensus on the effect freon and we are being spoon-fed one side of this agenda.
I believe most members of this forum are able to study the facts and determine their own course of action regarding which cooling product to use.
I know very little in general, (':confused:')however, in learning from others experience on this forum, I chose R12a (duracool). Duracool cools fantastically wihout modification in the A/C on my 300D. Another coolant may be your preference and work for your Mercedes as well. You may want to check this site; www.toad.net/~jsmeenen/index.html
-Thanks to all forum members who contrubute to our knowledge base of experience!

well greg, after a while i thought i opened a can of worms, lol;)
but you guys were having such a good time debating i figured i would stay in the background and observe the party. i did learn a lot that's for sure!! wow!

as to being commited to having a/c - sure i was loving the thought of getting the system charged and having it work for less than $100. it didn't work out that way, unfortunately for me. in new england it really is not absolutely necessary to have, unlike say houston in the summertime; i know having been there good a/c is not a luxury, and is just as essential as great heat is in the winter/spring/fall here.
take care and stay kOOl :cool:

bob in ct

Scott, that is a good site... you are really into HVAC !

Bob, the thought of someplace that only needed AC a couple of months a year is pretty much my idea of heaven . We once had a 100 degree day in Feb... one of the two months I am counting as not needing AC here !

lorentztl,

It is your right to use Duracool as long, of course, as you live in one of those states where it is not illegal. (Hmmm, R12 is not illegal to have in an air conditioner in any state.) It is also your right to take a chance on contributing to the contamination of our remaining R12 supply.

I stated my position regarding snake oil refrigerants and you stated yours. What's wrong with that?

BTW, I totally agree that the "R12 scare" as you correctly call it is based on junk science. This was all a hoax put into us by environmental "extremists." I am an environmentalist to a degree, but I am not an environmental "extremist." As a landowner, I feel a responsibility to see that it is taken care of, and not polluted in any way. This could make me be termed and environmentalist. The R12 being outlawed was driven by "extremists."

Have a great day,

Definition does not apply to R12a "Duracool". The term snake oil would be appropriate for a worhtless product that does not work as advertised. Duracool greatly outperforms R134a by volumne and efficiency transferring heat energy, and does not require modification to the A/C system. Therefore R134 is snake oil and is not a "green product" since it is wasting additional valuable resources. Snake oil would appropriately describe R134 as a replacement of R12 which it does not. R134 in the opionion of a number of scientists does more harm to the ozone, however since the train is down the track it is very difficult to turn it around.
Question is, since CFC's are heavier than air how does it rise to the ozone layer??? http://www.toad.net/~jsmeenen/index.html
Have a great day!

Larry

If our product was snake oil as you often stated the Canadian military would not be testing it their vehicles and our 22a in their chillers. I have personally sold it to city governments, they use it in patrol cars and other city vehicles. I sell about 20 canisters a year to a company in Arkansas that maintains 480 vehicles. He told me in january that using my product saves him about 50 compressors a year over 134a. We have it hospital units that is saving them 16% to 36% in energy costs over R22. I have invoices and canceled checks to prove my track record. I also sell over 100 cases a summer to a Ford dealership in Gallatin TN.

Larry

I also sell to the Kentucky Center for the Arts. They have been buying from me for 6 or 7 years. If you would provide me with a Fax # I will send you copies of invoices and checks.

Larry

You have also said that is illegal in some states. Duracool is legal to sell in all 50 states. The LPG board has drawn up regulations to try and slow the sale of our product in certain key states, but that does not make it law. Do your homework. In FL I am not supposed to promote it for MVAC, but Vicki O'neil the bureau chief admitted to me in her office in Tallahassee last september that it is legal to sell in FL. I have become somewhat famous in her office over the last 6 years. FL is one of the states that refrigerants are very important. Her # is 850 921 8001. If you have any questions and you want to pay for the call my # is 615 865 6251.

Redfox, Would you agree with these two statements ?

1. Duracool is better than 134a.
2. R-12 is better than Duracool.

This is the impression I get from your willingness to compare 134a and Duracool.. and lack of enthusiasm for facts when dealing the the comparison of R-12 with Duracool....

You still have a chance at any time you wish to present whichever criteria you think is most valid for comparing R-12 with Duracool...if you do not agree with number two above...

leathermang,

Very perceptive. You are on your toes. Were you on your high schools' debate team? If not, it was their loss.

redfox,

Everybody's gotta sell somethin', and most people that sell somethin' know how to spin their product and company in its best light. You do it well.

Have a great day,

Leathermang

I have never said that R12 wasn't a good refrigerant. Do I believe Duracool 12a is better? Yes. Hydrocarbons transfer heat better, that is why they run a lower head pressure and less product. The expansion of the product is better, thus able to transfer heat better. Do we agree that R12 is corrosive if it comes in contact with air or moisture? Duracool does not. It has no chlorine or fluorine. Duracool is available for anyone to buy without a lisence. You can release it into the atmosphere because it is a natural product. In refrigeration systems it reduces amp draw and shortens the cycle time, thus saving energy. I can tell by your 2600 posts since September 2001 that you love to debate. I don't. It is not that I don't have answers. I do or can get them on short notice, but why waste my time. You never intend to try the product you just want to run it down because you obviously have nothing better to do.

Larry

I'm not sure why you take the position you do. You must be a mechanic or shop owner by your posts. Most mechanics are interested in trying new products on their personal vehicle to see if it saves them time and money. The only times that I've seen your attitude is when a shop owner is afraid he will lose business to people doing their own work. What is your position?

leathermang,

I neither sell Duracool nor do I have any finacial interest in it.

For your first statement, I agree. I took a temperature measurement of the air vent when my 240D had been converted to r-134 then I took a measement with the same thermometer after the conversion to Duracool on the same day. Results: 7-10 degree drop under the same conditions while the car was idling. Going down the road the vent temperature drops now to around 42 degrees as opposed to the 60 degrees I was getting with r-134. 42 degrees may not be cold compared to some other cars but as we all know the 240D isn't known for their air conditioners.

For your second statement, I can't tell you honestly whether r-12 or Duracool is better in terms of performance. I can't tell because when my car had r-12, I was comfortable when the temperatures outside were hot. Now lately, as we've been having temperatures here in the 90's here in Texas, I'm very comfortable inside the car with duracool....the vent temperatures are cold. But that is just what I'm after anyway. If Duracool that I put in didn't perform, you bet I'd be retrofitting back to r-12 and pay the premium price for it. Also, my decision to use duracool was because I wanted to avoid having to flush the pag, ester, or whatever oil was put into my system when it was converted to r-134. Duracool is compatible with all oils. If I reconverted back to r-12, how is anyone 100% sure that all the pag, ester, poe oils will be removed during a flushing or vice versa which from what I've hear causes corrosion with r-12? All I wanted was a time and cost effective way of getting those vent temperatures down compared to r-12 in terms of interior comfort ....that was my only objective and it has been achieved and demonstrated.

I was skepticle at first when I bought the stuff but I thought to myself I had nothing to lose because the r-134 that was installed in my car wasn't working. Vents were just cool.

Herb
'82 240D
'87 300SDL
'92 300D 2.5 Turbo

Side point. I don't quite believe that R-12 with mineral oil becomes corrosive when exposed to air or moisture. Other oils, yes, and other refrigerants can react with mineral oil, either can create acids. But R-12 with mineral oil?? Does anyone have a LINK to a WEBSITE that states this is true? No more anecdotes, please...