Anyone know what a stock 93 legacy wagon came charged with as far as refigerant (sp)? I am looking to do a re-charge and don't know if I can even do it!

You are probably running R-12 Freon. I have 93 Impreza and I have R-12 Freon. If I remember it says on the AC pump in small writing. I think Subaru switched to R-134A in 1996 or 1997. R134A you can recharge on your own with a little direction reading and cheap.

 

 

R-12 is more expensive, and unless you have a good HVAC friend it needs to be rcharged by someone qualified. In many cases it might be cheaper to transfer from R-12 to R134A. Then you can always recharge yourself in the future. I still have the stock r-12, never recharged! I usually live with the heat due to the power loss on the engine. I do use it, probably once a week when it gets really hot. But I always run it at least once every 1-2 months just to keep the oil circulated. Basically just turn it on for a few minutes ever month even if you don't need it, just to keep your refrigerant fowing freely!

 

Max

The fill connectors for R134 are the large snap on type, and usually have red and blue plastic caps on them. R12 has small threaded connectors like tire valves.

there will be a sticker on the radiator core support that will say. Plus the connectors will be a certain color, which again should tell you what you have.

You can still get R-12 most everywhere, it is a bit expensive but if you convert to r134 it will not work as well as r-12. Vehicles designed to use r-12 that are converted do not work very well with r134. So take it to a shop, have them test for leaks then refill with r-12.

Vehicles designed to use r-12 that are converted do not work very well with r134. So take it to a shop, have them test for leaks then refill with r-12.

That is not necessarily true. If done right, it will cool just as good. My conversion it actually cools better. I basically cleaned the system out. added specified esther oil, replaced receiver/dryer and charged the system to 3/4 of the specified r12 refrige amount and she cools very very well.

True! the old r-12 needs to be evacuated correctly. At least if you want the r-134A to work like Legacy777's. Some people will get the press. read, and since it is low, just put R-134A in it. And some people relieve the pressure out by letting it go out in the atmosphere. One thing about that is that the valve will not let all pressure out, just like a tire, if you keep holding the valve down it will let air out, but the PSI will not go to 0 because of the valves resistance to the atmospheric press. and what is in the tire, You will probably have 4 PSI in there.

 

 

Max

Not that it's right....but just loosen one of the a/c lines....that'll depressurize everything. You'll still need to have a vacuum pulled on the system.

That is not necessarily true. If done right, it will cool just as good. My conversion it actually cools better. I basically cleaned the system out. added specified esther oil, replaced receiver/dryer and charged the system to 3/4 of the specified r12 refrige amount and she cools very very well.

I am not saying it will not work, just will not be as good. If you convert you will see about 5-6 degree drop in cooling effectiveness. I know this because I have converted on of my cars and it works fine, but nowhere near as good as originally with r12. Most good shops here in Colorado will not convert because they know this also. Even today my 91 with r12 will cool way faster than any new car I rent while on the road.

Even today my 91 with r12 will cool way faster than any new car I rent while on the road.

Oh I agree with that statement. My legacy with the r134a retrofit cools MUCH better then today's cars.

 

It's really in how the system was designed. I'm sure mine would probably work better with R12....but the difference really was pretty negligable. The summer of 01 I had the system recharged with r12. It cooled well. However after doing the retrofit it cooled just as well....

In my 93 Impreza, I still have the stock R12. Never been recharged yet! Amd 215,000 miles

 

I'm a big fan of R12

 

max