overconsolidated@gmail.com

I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
was
low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
summer.

Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.


What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
stopping abilities. Do those work?


I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.


Thanks

Woody

If it took a year to go down just add a can of coolant and see if it runs
for a while. Or take it in and pay $$$$ to have it fixed. I have had a
couple cars that would bleed off over a year. Worked that way for about 10
years...


<overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> was
> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> summer.
>
> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
>
> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
>
> Thanks
>

Woody

If it took a year to go down just add a can of coolant and see if it runs
for a while. Or take it in and pay $$$$ to have it fixed. I have had a
couple cars that would bleed off over a year. Worked that way for about 10
years...


<overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> was
> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> summer.
>
> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
>
> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
>
> Thanks
>

Woody

If it took a year to go down just add a can of coolant and see if it runs
for a while. Or take it in and pay $$$$ to have it fixed. I have had a
couple cars that would bleed off over a year. Worked that way for about 10
years...


<overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> was
> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> summer.
>
> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
>
> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
>
> Thanks
>

Michael Pardee

<overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> was
> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> summer.
>
> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
>
> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.

If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
(because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
but a proper job is pretty expensive.

Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
into the passenger compartment?

Mike

Michael Pardee

<overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> was
> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> summer.
>
> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
>
> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.

If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
(because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
but a proper job is pretty expensive.

Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
into the passenger compartment?

Mike

Michael Pardee

<overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> was
> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> summer.
>
> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
>
> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.

If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
(because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
but a proper job is pretty expensive.

Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
into the passenger compartment?

Mike

satmech

On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:24:03 -0700, Michael Pardee wrote:

> <overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
>> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
>> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
>> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
>> was
>> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
>> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
>> summer.
>>
>> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
>> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>>
>>
>> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
>> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
>> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
>> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
>> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>>
>>
>> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
> In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
> it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
> trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
> destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
> but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
> down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
> the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
> which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.
>
> If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
> (because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
> stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
> sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
> but a proper job is pretty expensive.
>
> Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
> dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
> Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
> into the passenger compartment?
>
> Mike

1994 is the first year for r134a on Accords (Hondas).

satmech

On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:24:03 -0700, Michael Pardee wrote:

> <overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
>> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
>> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
>> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
>> was
>> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
>> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
>> summer.
>>
>> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
>> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>>
>>
>> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
>> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
>> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
>> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
>> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>>
>>
>> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
> In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
> it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
> trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
> destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
> but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
> down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
> the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
> which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.
>
> If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
> (because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
> stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
> sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
> but a proper job is pretty expensive.
>
> Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
> dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
> Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
> into the passenger compartment?
>
> Mike

1994 is the first year for r134a on Accords (Hondas).

satmech

On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:24:03 -0700, Michael Pardee wrote:

> <overconsolidated@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>>I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
>> about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
>> pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
>> second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
>> was
>> low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
>> watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
>> summer.
>>
>> Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
>> quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>>
>>
>> What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
>> 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
>> hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
>> seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
>> stopping abilities. Do those work?
>>
>>
>> I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
> In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
> it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
> trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
> destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
> but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
> down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
> the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
> which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.
>
> If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
> (because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
> stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
> sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
> but a proper job is pretty expensive.
>
> Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
> dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
> Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
> into the passenger compartment?
>
> Mike

1994 is the first year for r134a on Accords (Hondas).

mred

On Jul 16, 11:24 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com>
wrote:
> <overconsolida...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
> >I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> > about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> > pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> > second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> > was
> > low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> > watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> > summer.
>
> > Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> > quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
> > What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> > 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> > hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> > seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> > stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
> > I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
> > Thanks
>
> In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
> it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
> trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
> destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
> but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
> down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
> the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
> which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.
>
> If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
> (because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
> stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
> sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
> but a proper job is pretty expensive.
>
> Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
> dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
> Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
> into the passenger compartment?
>
> Mike- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

If you know somebody in maintenence who recharges and mainatains large
building A/C units that use freon he MAY be induced to recharge your
auto A/C unit. with freon.

Been there done that on my `86 Accord.(worked in a hospital.)
mred

mred

On Jul 16, 11:24 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com>
wrote:
> <overconsolida...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
> >I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> > about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> > pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> > second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> > was
> > low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> > watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> > summer.
>
> > Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> > quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
> > What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> > 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> > hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> > seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> > stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
> > I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
> > Thanks
>
> In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
> it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
> trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
> destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
> but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
> down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
> the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
> which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.
>
> If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
> (because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
> stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
> sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
> but a proper job is pretty expensive.
>
> Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
> dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
> Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
> into the passenger compartment?
>
> Mike- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

If you know somebody in maintenence who recharges and mainatains large
building A/C units that use freon he MAY be induced to recharge your
auto A/C unit. with freon.

Been there done that on my `86 Accord.(worked in a hospital.)
mred

mred

On Jul 16, 11:24 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com>
wrote:
> <overconsolida...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1184626740.914416.67710@m37g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
> >I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX that seems to have a freon leak. At
> > about this time last year the A/C started making a funny noise and
> > pretty soon it was blowing hot air alternating with cold air for 30
> > second intervals. We had the A/C checked out. The mechanic said it
> > was
> > low on freon so he refilled it. He said there might be a leak and to
> > watch it. It worked great all winter and the first half of this
> > summer.
>
> > Well, last week it died again, only this time it went out a lot
> > quicker. I'm sure there's a leak somewhere in it.
>
> > What is the best action at this point? The car is old and has nearly
> > 200,000 miles. I don't want to spend hundreds on it, but it is very
> > hot now in Utah which makes having no A/C very uncomfortable. I've
> > seen refill kits in the newspaper adds that claim to have leak
> > stopping abilities. Do those work?
>
> > I would appreciate any suggestions or words of wisdom.
>
> > Thanks
>
> In the 1994, is that R-134a refrigerant? If so, the cost of recharging (if
> it passes the basic leak test) is probably worth it. I recommend against
> trying the DIY recharge kits. It's just too easy to overcharge R-134a and
> destroy your compressor. I was proficient at DIY recharging of R-12 systems
> but really got spanked when I tried recharging my son's Acura. We shut it
> down before damage was done, but only because I was listening carefully for
> the beginning of slugging. A pro straightened it out and charged about $90,
> which is like the tax on what a compressor replacement would have cost.
>
> If it's R-12, you really have only two choices: take it to a professional
> (because you and I can't buy R-12) and pay a couple hundred because the
> stuff is so expensive now, or learn the spiritual cleansing properties of
> sweating like a pig. Okay, there is another option in an R-134a conversion,
> but a proper job is pretty expensive.
>
> Don't put in "alternative" hydrocarbon products like Duracool. It is
> dangerous to have flammable fluids in your A/C and is illegal in the US.
> Evaporator leaks are not uncommon, and how do you feel about butane leaks
> into the passenger compartment?
>
> Mike- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

If you know somebody in maintenence who recharges and mainatains large
building A/C units that use freon he MAY be induced to recharge your
auto A/C unit. with freon.

Been there done that on my `86 Accord.(worked in a hospital.)
mred