1993 Eighty Eight - A/C issues

[Locai]

I have a '93 Eighty-Eight with some A/C issues. I have the electronic climate control system. I apparently have a slow leak somewhere in my system. I took it to the shop and they couldn't find the source. They wanted $100 to put 2 lbs. of R-12 in it. I said, "No Way"

They actually went ahead and put the freon in it and tried to check out the A/C, but they said that their computer was showing that my computer had shut down the compressor due to low refrigerant. The problem was that they couldn't get the computer in the car to reset the compressor. They went ahead and took back out the freon and didn't charge me anything.

I bought an "EZ Chill" kit by Interdynamics from Wal-Mart for $30 to switch the system over to R-134A.

My question, though, is how do I get the compressor to reset? Or will it reset on it's own once I get the system recharged?

I've heard before with other cars that you can reset certain things on the computers by doing things like turning the key "on" and "off" a certain number of times and things like that. I don't suppose I'd get lucky and be able to do something easy like that to reset the system? Or is all of this just "bunk"?

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks

 

[Pastalaskan]

I am not exactly sure about your 88 but I do know chevrolet a/c computers are reset by disconnecting the battery for 30 seconds and I would guess Olds to be the same. Upon inital charge you then get a few seconds to continue the charge before the computer shuts off again, and then guess what you have to do!

What ever you decide to do I will guarantee you this: if you system leaks R12 it will leak R134a 10 times as fast. You NEED to flush the mineral oil of the system first. you should check all O-rings and lub them with the new R134a oil and then you should draw a good vaccume on the system before even thinking of charging with R134a. No matter what brand of refrigerant you use make sure one of the cans includes UV leak detection DYE. (the leak indicator in those kits is poor at best) which can be traced with an handy kit sometimes sold at WalMart and at most better auto parts stores. I got mine from O'Reilly Auto Parts or Advance Auto Parts and I guess Auto Zone might have the same for about 15 bucks. You said you have a leak with R12 the leak will be much worse with R134 so get ready to find all the dye leaks, FIX them and then you might get a fair charge.

Before you dive in educate yourself, or you will find the 30 you spent to be a mere pitence of what you are in for. The instructions on the package you purchased make it sound easy, its only easy IF your R12 system wasn't leaking and if it wasn't leaking you wouldn't be trying to save money going on to R134a.

Good Luck!

Mark

PM me if you have any other questions I am willing the share the information I spent several hundred dollars at WalMart to obtain.

 

[Locai]

UGH. That's what I was afraid of.

I just want to sell the damn thing. I'm thinking that I may just have to sell it "as is".

Thanks for the advice.