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1992 Buick - Conversion Kit?

Mulder on Mon June 17, 2013 1:13 PM User is offline

Year: 1992
Make: Buick
Model: Park Avenue Ultra
Engine Size: 3.8l
Refrigerant Type: R12

This is my parents car and has
They had it checked at a service station who charged them $99 for what the description says is checking function small amount of refrigerant and check for leaks. In the end they said that it needs refrigerant and they no longer sell r12, therefore they will need to do a conversion. The shop gave them an estimate for $599 for a "Conversion Kit" that is made specifically for that car. and $99 for labor to install the kit.

I'm not totally ignorant about conversions, I converted a 85 Monte Carlo about 8 years ago using the recommendations of this board. So when I heard about the estimate I was a little taken back, not necessarily by the price, but by the split between the conversion kit and the labor. I would have thought that a conversion kit would be the oils, 134a, and new fittings. The labor I assumed would be flushing everything well and recharging the system. Are there different types of conversion kits and if so how is the labor so low?

I'm considering repairing the system myself, either repair and recharge with R12 or convert the system to 134a. If I do a conversion is it still recommended to replace the rubber hoses?

94RX-7 on Mon June 17, 2013 3:37 PM User is offline

$700 for a conversion? Wow! It would be cheaper to find someone who does sell R-12, have the leak fixed, and have it recharged with R-12.

wptski on Mon June 17, 2013 4:37 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: 94RX-7
$700 for a conversion? Wow! It would be cheaper to find someone who does sell R-12, have the leak fixed, and have it recharged with R-12.
I'm in the middle of about the same situation although I'm doing my own work. Assuming it's a compressor shaft seal leak. What would/should a R&R of the compressor, charge, etc. cost?

mk378 on Mon June 17, 2013 7:15 PM User is offline

Did the place at least tell them where the leak is for their $99.00? My opinion you shouldn't go back there.

Edited: Mon June 17, 2013 at 7:16 PM by mk378

Mulder on Tue June 18, 2013 1:37 AM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: mk378
Did the place at least tell them where the leak is for their $99.00? My opinion you shouldn't go back there.

Funny you should ask this, I was thinking the same thing. They did not tell them where the leak is. I suspect that they didn't do anything at all for the $99 other than a visual inspection. If I remember what I have read in the past correctly, EPA you have to use separate equipment for each refrigerant. Therefore if they don't work with R-12 it's unlikely that they have any R-12 equipment and unlikely that they even hooked up gauges let alone checking for leaks.

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