Seem to have lost my charge with the A/C R12. Obviously if there is a leak I believe I would have to convert to the R134. Is this correct or ?

Could the leak be detected by DIY?

Would that be a DIY or indie cost. What would be a good price point for the work?

Thanks.

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Norm K.
'97 E420 Sport
'06 E350 Sedan
'67 Mustang Coupe
'70 F-250
'15 VW Jetta

Finding the leak is the hard part. Perhaps you could find it without a sniffer, but probably not.

How hot does it get in Fallbrook? You may want to consider repairing the system and keeping R12 in there. If the leak isn't too involved to repair, it would cost less to remain with R12, and your AC would work better.

I heard R12 is not available anymore. Is this true?

Fallbrook can get around 100 in the summer at times but we are about 15 miles of the beach and average is about 90 degrees.

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Norm K.
'97 E420 Sport
'06 E350 Sedan
'67 Mustang Coupe
'70 F-250
'15 VW Jetta

Most shops do not carry it, but it is far from unavailable. It is not manufactured here any more, but ARI-spec recycled R12 is just fine. You need a 609 license to buy it; the license is available by taking an open-book online test that costs $15.

I had my 92 300E A/C converted to 134a in 2002. At that time the shop rate was $40.00 per hour. The total project cost me right at $2,000. The shop manual called for 20hrs labor. I had to put in a new evaporator, dryer and hoses in order to use the 134a. My entire dash was removed in order to do the job. I could still get R12 but it was VERY expensive. Good Luck.

tarheel75

R12 doesn't cost $2000 for enough for any car, but if your evaporator was bad, it was bad anyway. 134a may make it fail a bit sooner, but it was going to fail anyway.

R12 is expensive compared to 134a. But the labor that you pay for AC service puts the difference in refrigerant price to shame. Who cares if you're putting $100 worth of refrigerant into a car rather than $20 worth when you're paying thousands in labor?

I live in North County, about 30 miles south of Fallbrook and I have converted all my MBZ to 134a for < $50. I find it cold and comfortable even in idling traffic. But I do not know what it should be like with R12 as A/C was not working when I bought the cars. Kragen sold the conversion kit. Personally I would not pay $2000 as you can get an used car for that price, with AC working if you are lucky.

You need to locate the leak first. If the R12 is lost over a number of years then probably there is no leak, so to speak. Most A/C loses a bit of freon per year.

If you are an above DIY then you could attempt to do the conversion yourself. If you want to stay with R12 then get some quote and make an educated decision. You can PM me you need some help.

Good luck.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

I have 4 cans of R-12 I don't need. PM me for info.....

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1989 300E

2005 Acura TL

2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited

Swing hard! Take chances!