Sucking out some freon from a friend's car

[Shehzada]

I have a friend who has a well maintained R-12 system in his 1993 Accord. He is planning on going to the dealership to get it retrofitted to R-134a and pay all the associated costs because he is paranoid about the high costs of R-12. The dealership have brainwashed him into getting R-134a and no matter what he wants to take their advice.

My 1989 Accord is a little low on R-12 and I was wondering can I directly connect the hoses to his car and recover some free freon? If yes......do I connect to the high side or low side? Do I start the cars or leave them off? I will be using a manifold set to do this.

If anyone has done this.....please chime in!

[rebels]

i don't think you can do that because the gauges you use to fill the car is what pulls the freeon from the cans or bottles you use. all of the air is highly compressed in the cans and i don't think the compression is high enough to take from another car.

just convert yours to r134a man.. you just need the fittings and to run a vacummn on it. it's much easier than you think..

[mrhonda]

First off, I work at a dealer and I can tell you this, if your friend has a good working R12 system don't even mess with it. The only time I recommend R134a as an option is if all the R12 has already leaked out. If its working fine, just leave it alone. As far as recovering freon whether it be R12 or R134a, you need a recovery machine. If you want to evac the system, just take it to a shop and have it sucked out, go home and fix whatever you you have to fix, then go back to the shop and have them recharge it back up.

[Shehzada]

The only reason I suggested this is because the dealership is going to get his R-12 no matter what. I have tried talking him out of it....but he is a stubborn idiot. So since he has already made up his mind....I thought perhaps I could transfer some of his good R-12 to mine. My R-12 (89 LX-i) is in good working order, only a little low. So basically, I am trying to get some free freon that has been offered to me.

This is what a friend suggested:

1. Hook my high-side hose to his car's high-side
2. Hook my low-side hose to my car's low-side
3. Start both cars with the A/C on
4. Open the high-side, then charge my car by opening the low-side a little at a time.
5. Disconnect his condenser fan and spray my condenser with a hose.

The center hose on the manifold is not used in this case.

[mrhonda]

no no no no.....as soon as you disconnect any of the lines all the freon is just gonna shoot right out, you will not be able to salvage any of it. As far as you'r friend, I just don't understand why he would want to spend money on something that already works well, probably better now than after its converted.

[FishyMan]

from what i've read and gathered, a well working a/c should never need to be charged if it has no leaks. charing often and tampering w/ it = bad a/c, = some problem somewhere, evaps, or lines. etc etc.

i seen some 90 accords, 3rd gens as well on r12 and they are ICE COLD and run good. definately no leaks.. definately well taken care of.though u have those w/ shot compressors like mines ..

[xaxis360]

This is what a friend suggested:

1. Hook my high-side hose to his car's high-side
2. Hook my low-side hose to my car's low-side
3. Start both cars with the A/C on
4. Open the high-side, then charge my car by opening the low-side a little at a time.
5. Disconnect his condenser fan and spray my condenser with a hose.

The center hose on the manifold is not used in this case.

OMG!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? I would NOT do that!! Something is going to go very wrong if you do. Take it to a local shop and have them hook a recovery machine up to it and take it back out. Screwing with the high side of an AC system like that is dangerous.

[accord91lx]

I actually had a simmilar thought about the R12.... I have a 91 EX that the AC does not work... and i wil have it check for leaks blah blah blah...but i was thinking...to keep it R12, could i possiably find some OLD ASS air conditioners... like for houses... you know what im saying like one from the 80s that people junk cuz the fans die or whatever....could they be taken somewhere, had their R12 reclaimed...and put into say, the 91 EX? ... that was my random thought for the day...hmm...

[BlackAndTan]

your friend should leave it alone, but if he is hell bent on doing it, you should take both your cars to a shop. tell the shop that you'll let them have the extra r-12 if they top yours off. as long as yours only needs a little they may do it.

[mrhonda]

I actually had a simmilar thought about the R12.... I have a 91 EX that the AC does not work... and i wil have it check for leaks blah blah blah...but i was thinking...to keep it R12, could i possiably find some OLD ASS air conditioners... like for houses... you know what im saying like one from the 80s that people junk cuz the fans die or whatever....could they be taken somewhere, had their R12 reclaimed...and put into say, the 91 EX? ... that was my random thought for the day...hmm...

Sorry dude, residential and commercial A/C systems use R22....its completely different from R12 and R134a in automotive applications.

[iamanonymous]

apparently oreiley's can get r12 cans for like 50 bucks, you may need only one...if that

[accord91lx]

Sorry dude, residential and commercial A/C systems use R22....its completely different from R12 and R134a in automotive applications.

argh...figures!! thanks for the info!