Air conditioning units on old mercs

[Quick Silver]

I have just had the air con unit serviced on my cab and decided to take in my 1990 300SL (129) to have that done as well to find out that it can't be done as it contains R12 refrigerant which is now illegal to use . To have it converted and replacing the pressure valves is going to cost a fortune as the garage has to get in a specialist recovery firm for hazardous substances and they want to charge £240 just to drain the system and dispose of the refrigerant . The cost of the conversion is relatively minor in comparison .
On the slam panel is a red label indicating that the AC unit uses R12 refrigerant and the valves are also different . So if you have an old Merc with A/Con check it out as you could be in the same position.

Any ideas anyone how I can overcome this

 

[alindsay81]

if you took it to them already empty to have the conversion done

 

[carabind]

find an indie A/C engineer. They should be better value, particularly the one man bands

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Have you inspected and tested your gearbox oil cooler pipes lately Chris? Do make sure you remove the correct ones as they look very much like A/C pipes

 

[Quick Silver]

Hi,
Have you inspected and tested your gearbox oil cooler pipes lately Chris? Do make sure you remove the correct ones as they look very much like A/C pipes

It was definatley the A/C pipes thats why the pressure valves are different to todays allowable refrigerant .(one on the nearside in front of the radiator and the other on the nearside of the fuel injection unit....location of pressure valves that is)

Why check the gearbox oil cooler pipes Andy are they prone to failure ?

 

[bigasotonuk]

Well it was if you were to pick the wrong pipes to undue you would lose your A/C gas, and you have to get it recharged!

 

[Quick Silver]

Any ideas anyone how I can overcome this ?

Problem solved , found a man who can using original R12 refrigerant NQA cost me £45 . Thanks for the info guys.

 

[alindsay81]

Quick Silver - I think that what some of us may have been suggesting is that if your system somehow became empty, perhaps by you undoing the 'wrong' pipe then you wouldn't have to worry about the £240 hazardous substances charge and you could proceed with the conversion/re-gas/whatever

 

[mike102]

Just a quickie.
Would this R12 refridgerent be in my air-con system, car being a 1990 300 E.
Thanks.
Mike.

 

[Quick Silver]

Just a quickie.
Would this R12 refridgerent be in my air-con system, car being a 1990 300 E.
Thanks.
Mike.

Quite possibly, if it has there will be a red label on the nearside of the slam panel indicating that it has R12 refrigerant . Also the pressure valves will be different (ie the connections where they connect up the regas) Check the pressure valves on a more modern car then check yours if there is a subtle difference of the nipples then your car will have R12 refrigerent, its done to avoid cross connection and contamination of the permissable regas equipment .

 

[mike102]

quick silver.
Thanks for that, I'll make a comparison when i can.
Least i now know what to look for regarding the red label.
Regards.
Mike.