Need Trustworthy A/C guy.

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phxtlc

phxtlc

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
May 19, 2006
Threads
109
Messages
583
Location
Plano, TX
Since it was the first day of summer here in the Valley I need to find a good A/C shop that's Honest. EAST VALLEY or S'DALE. Don't need someone telling me I need an evaporator when it's simply a seal.
 
Not blowing cold. I don't know if it just needs recharging or it actually is leaking. Freon foams in the glass. Compressor works and I had the evaporator changed about 3 years ago.
 
About 3-4 years ago when they did the evaporator.
Yes still R12.
 
A 3-4 year leak can be very difficult to find. Look closely at the system fittings, most of the time some oil residue will be on the fitting where it's leaking.

You could add a can of freon with dye and gamble, it may work for a while. If your going to discharge it, I would replace all of the o-rings and drier.

Don't know of a good shop to recommend, do this type of work myself on my junk.
 
Biggest issue at this point is getting a hold of the R12.
 
I have used Dacorte Auto Repair on OAK and 36th Street in Phoenix. He was able to fix my AC on my wife's van after several attempts by others. I have used him since and he has worked good for me. I have however only taken my Chev, or Chrysler products to him.
 
r12 is pretty easy to get in tucson.

If you were here I'd say John at Tucson Auto Center and if you need lines made Magill's about one mile away can rebuild everything.

John finished up my 70 series a/c (all o rings and charged, infact evaporated the truck before engine conversion) and Magill's modified my new (2005) hoses to fit the lines on the 1985 fittings.
 
I have used Kevin at Service Techniques in Chandler before, but now I work on my own (Freeze 12 in the FJ60, and R134a in the 80). Honest, but not the fastest guy ever, and has (had?) an FJ60 and knows a little about cruisers. 961-1483. Chandler Blvd, between 56th St. and Kyrene.
 
re_guderian said:
I have used Kevin at Service Techniques in Chandler before, but now I work on my own (Freeze 12 in the FJ60, and R134a in the 80). Honest, but not the fastest guy ever, and has (had?) an FJ60 and knows a little about cruisers. 961-1483. Chandler Blvd, between 56th St. and Kyrene.
Click to expand...

How has the Freeze 12 worked? did you have to evac / clean the R12 out? any other issues or steps?
 
Freeze 12

FYI, Freeze 12 is a blend of different gasses, including R22 which is a commercial refrigerant, and it attacks rubber in an automotive system. Commercial systems don't contain rubber. The EPA certifies Freeze 12 as a replacement for R12, but their only concern is safety, not how it performs in the system or the long term effects to the system. Because it is a blend, reputable A/C shops will not work on the vehicle without first recovering the contamination-required by law-and that will add $$ to any other repairs. I'd stick with R12, but first find and repair the leak(s). I was just at a A/C seminar in Phoenix and I talked to some guys from Arizona Mobile Air and they seemed like good, decent people. I don't know about their Cruiser experience, but the phone number is 602-233-0090. I work for a group of A/C shops in Tucson, and we have some experience with Landcruisers, so if you have more questions, call or e-mail me @ 520-918-3604 or manager@coolstreamac.com
Good luck, Rex
 
1972FJ55 said:
FYI, Freeze 12 is a blend of different gasses, including R22 which is a commercial refrigerant, and it attacks rubber in an automotive system. Commercial systems don't contain rubber. The EPA certifies Freeze 12 as a replacement for R12, but their only concern is safety, not how it performs in the system or the long term effects to the system. Because it is a blend, reputable A/C shops will not work on the vehicle without first recovering the contamination-required by law-and that will add $$ to any other repairs. I'd stick with R12, but first find and repair the leak(s). I was just at a A/C seminar in Phoenix and I talked to some guys from Arizona Mobile Air and they seemed like good, decent people. I don't know about their Cruiser experience, but the phone number is 602-233-0090. I work for a group of A/C shops in Tucson, and we have some experience with Landcruisers, so if you have more questions, call or e-mail me @ 520-918-3604 or manager@coolstreamac.com
Good luck, Rex
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Can you PM me with the make up of Freeze 12? you say it has R22 in it but I can't find a breakdown anywhere. I'm confused because everyone is saying it's specifically formulated for vehicles and I've received feedback from people saying they run it for 3 years with no ill effect.:confused:
I'll try the guys from mobile air and see what they'll quote me as an option.
 
1972FJ55 said:
FYI, Freeze 12 is a blend of different gasses, including R22 which is a commercial refrigerant, and it attacks rubber in an automotive system. Commercial systems don't contain rubber. The EPA certifies Freeze 12 as a replacement for R12, but their only concern is safety, not how it performs in the system or the long term effects to the system. Because it is a blend, reputable A/C shops will not work on the vehicle without first recovering the contamination-required by law-and that will add $$ to any other repairs. I'd stick with R12, but first find and repair the leak(s). I was just at a A/C seminar in Phoenix and I talked to some guys from Arizona Mobile Air and they seemed like good, decent people. I don't know about their Cruiser experience, but the phone number is 602-233-0090. I work for a group of A/C shops in Tucson, and we have some experience with Landcruisers, so if you have more questions, call or e-mail me @ 520-918-3604 or manager@coolstreamac.com
Good luck, Rex
Click to expand...

I'm not in the AC business, but according to the EPA's site, Freeze 12 is 80% R134a, and 20% R-142b. Not sure if there are minute amounts of R-22 in there or not. As to your evacuation questions, my mechanic did the original conversion, but I can't see any way to "do it right" without evacuating it...
 
Evacuation and recovery is mandatory no matter what's in there. And they have to treat it all as contaminated because there is no guarantee as to what's in the system regardless of what the owner claims. If they want more money than the the next guy for doing what's required by law, go to the next guy.
 
1972FJ55 said:
FYI, Freeze 12 is a blend of different gasses, including R22 which is a commercial refrigerant, and it attacks rubber in an automotive system. Commercial systems don't contain rubber. The EPA certifies Freeze 12 as a replacement for R12, but their only concern is safety, not how it performs in the system or the long term effects to the system. Because it is a blend, reputable A/C shops will not work on the vehicle without first recovering the contamination-required by law-and that will add $$ to any other repairs. I'd stick with R12, but first find and repair the leak(s). I was just at a A/C seminar in Phoenix and I talked to some guys from Arizona Mobile Air and they seemed like good, decent people. I don't know about their Cruiser experience, but the phone number is 602-233-0090. I work for a group of A/C shops in Tucson, and we have some experience with Landcruisers, so if you have more questions, call or e-mail me @ 520-918-3604 or manager@coolstreamac.com
Good luck, Rex
Click to expand...

It's my understanding that Freeze 12 contains R-134a and R-143b, it's Autofrost that contains R-22 along with R-124 and R-142b?:confused:
 
Sorry about the mis-information concerning the make-up of Freeze 12.

Two things to consider:
1) Why introduce something into the system that it was not designed for? Ask any compressor manufacturer about a warranty on their product if you use something other than R12 or R134a.
2) Any reputable A/C shop will use an identifier on the system before the hook up to it. If they don't, they risk contaminating their equipment, as well as every vehicle they work on after that. If the system is pure R12 or R134a, they can recover it, no prob. If it's not, that's when they will charge extra, as it requires a dedicated piece of equipment and there is a cost associated with disposing of the contaminated refrigerant.

Thanks,
Rex
 
OK, to recap and R134a conversion: need to evac and clean the system, change out o-rings (would BAP have these or only Toyota?) new drier (BAP) add correct oil (BAP?) and then fill to spec with R134a from anywhere.

How much should I pay for the evac and clean?

Thanks for all the help guys!
 
Interesting tidbit that helps me...just spoke to AZ Mobile Air and they highly suggested NOT going with the 134a becuse of it not being as efficient and leaking out of the older systems faster.
 
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