AC Question - Does my 80 use R134 or R12? (1 Viewer)

[Andres G]

Hello All,

Newbie here. I have a 97 LX 450 and was wondering if it would require R134 or R12 gas to replenish the circuit...

It has worked fine for a long time (more than 3 years I have had it) but I noticed this summer that it is starting to show signs of low charge. Considering it is a 97 and I suspect it has never been recharged, I would expect this to be a reasonable period for it to go without one.

In any case, can I please ask for a cut-off or switchover year between the two types?

Thanks in advance!
Andres G

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

in 1997? R134.

AFAIK 1994 was the year everything switched.

Also there should be a sticker under the hood somewhere.

 

[toyotaFJ]

I have a 91 with R12, ust had SSC P01 done. I am sure your are R134

 

[86tuning]

All Toyota vehicles from 1996 onwards used R134a as far as I know.

Look under your hood for a yellow sticker somewhere, it will tell you the amount and type of refridgerant.

HTH

 

[Paul_L]

From Slee's website:

Somewhere in 1993 the AC system changed from R12 to R134. With the R12 systems the dryer unit was in front of the battery and with the R134 it moved to behind the bumper. Might have been in 1993.

 

[bysiklest]

I have a '93 that came from the factory with R134a but from buying some AC parts lately I know some '93s had R12.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

also, welcome to ih8mud

 

[spurcap]

As a universal rule (for all vehicles, not just Cruisers) the way to tell the gas is to look at the charging ports - r12 will have two ports that are small and look similar to the valve on a tire; r134a will be large ones similar to what you would see on airtools.

The only way I can see this not working would be if someone converted to r134a but didn't change the ports but this would be a weird work-around that I have never seen (and a professional shop would always change).

As mentioned above, the law requires a sticker to show the retrofit if it was done but I don't have the greatest faith in this. Also, as mentioned in this specific example it is almost for sure 134a as it is well past the change over.

 

[harrydunn]

I have a '93 that came from the factory with R134a but from buying some AC parts lately I know some '93s had R12.

My January-build '93 is rocking R12 and blows very cold. Found a can of R12 on eBay yesterday for only $15 and snagged that up. Most 12 oz. cans are $30 or more on eBay. I've had several people tell me to convert it but I don't see the point as long as it keeps blowing cold and I can find R12 reasonably priced every couple of years for a top-off.

 

[Andres G]

Thanks to all guys! And thanks for the welcome.

I will get under the hood this afternoon and check out the sticker, but I am now 100% sure it will use the 134.

Like I mentioned, I am the second owner (got her with a bit under 100K on the odo a few years back and it looks to me like the AC had never been recharged. I also have to deal with a CEL that came up recently, and based on the code from the OBD reader there is some cleaning to be done to the EGR system, and the rear wiper that just wouldn't come on last time I turned the stalk...

Other than this and some marginal rust underneath (that darn chain system for the spare tire), absolutely everything has worked flawlessly in it. I was used to my buddy's HDJ80 back home (Argentina), which has 250k miles of intensive use and still goes strong, so getting on board of the LX was a pleasant familiar feeling.

I will be back here with more questions, but thanks again for the responses.

Andres