Fixing Airconditioning on 1980s Audis

Modus · 21-06-17, 06:43 PM

Has anyone managed to get a 1980s Audi's Aircon refilled with gas?

Does it need an 'R12 successor' gas (rather than modern R134 gas) as detailed here?:
http://www.kwecars.com/technical/air...nversion-myth/

Does anyone know where the refill ports are in a 1980s 5 cyl Quattro turbo (petrol) engine bay?

steveb · 21-06-17, 07:56 PM

I "think" you have to use the R134 and have all the seals changed as it will destroy the old ones

Where inn the country are you ? i know a good chap who might be able to help in west sussex

Modus · 30-06-17, 06:39 AM

Thanks, bit far though. The car's in Berkshire

Has no one else had their 1980s Audi aircon re-gassed?

chalkyh · 30-06-17, 09:43 AM

The service ports are in front of the main radiator and air con condenser. The small connector on the smaller diameter pipe is the high pressure, the larger one on the wider pipe the low pressure side - this low pressure side is where you should refill from. Ideally you will need to change the drier / filter along with all system nitrile seals for R134a ones, and the system needs vacuuming to remove all traces of moisture. Then a refill with PAG oil and the right weight of gas. Sometimes the compressor housing seals aren't compatible, and the whole compressor needs swapping for an R134a compatible one. I'd link a pic but photobucket had disabled my account.

Modus · 30-06-17, 01:59 PM

Great advice -thanks.

Here are a couple of other places that will recharge an RS12 system with RS24:
http://www.bee-cool-aircon.co.uk/r12...tem-servicing/ £125 + additional Call-Out Fee of £25.00 for mobile service (within NN Postcodes)

http://www.autoclimatecontrol.co.uk/
no receiver/dryer -it has an accumulator (around £50-60 but might have to order it from Audi dealer), but as a rule of thumb they only replace it if the system has been opened (e.g. a broken pipe) or a burnt out compressor. Normally just dehumidfying the dryer is adequate.
Approx £106-115 for the service (takes a couple of hours), incl a Nitrogen pressure test and UV dye. However, their mobile service doesn't extend outside Swindon in the summer as they have enough work on as it is (and R12 cars have to come to their premises in Swindon to be done). This will also be fine on other R12 classic car systems e.g. 1970s onwards Jag XJ-S cars etc.

http://www.subzeroac.co.uk/classic-cars/

msh · 30-06-17, 09:03 PM

What's the model in question?

Back in the day Audi released official R12 to R134a conversion manual and conversion parts kit. Essentially it was for late R12 cars - different restrictor, different low pressure sender and adaptor for it, and adaptor for filling up - of course, change of o-rings and dryer was needed, system had to be flushed, and also compressor had to be compatible - zexel and denso compressors made after some date only.

In today's reality almost any old compressor is likely to leak, the same applies to o-rings and therefore, as the option "just regassing" is likely out of the question, conversion is quite viable, especially if the owner has technical knowledge. Reminds me about one latvian guy, who in his garage experimented with C3 AC - at first, he put together and got working with R134a old type AC, with Harrison compressor - seals are available in ebay, so he made pulley pulling tool and changed the seals - new o-rings and off he went. Later he refurbished in a similar way Denso compressor.

Modus · 16-12-18, 10:46 AM

great advice thanks. The model in question is an Audi 200

21-06-17, 07:56 PM	#2
steveb Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Berkshire Posts: 1,155	I "think" you have to use the R134 and have all the seals changed as it will destroy the old ones Where inn the country are you ? i know a good chap who might be able to help in west sussex __________________ [FONT] '76 Leyland Princess 2200 HLS '79 Scirocco storm '84 WR '89 coupe quattro '01 A2 1.4 TDI SE '14 A3 1.4 TFSI COD [/color][/size][/font]

30-06-17, 01:59 PM	#5
Modus Grown up member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 53	Great advice -thanks. Here are a couple of other places that will recharge an RS12 system with RS24: http://www.bee-cool-aircon.co.uk/r12...tem-servicing/ £125 + additional Call-Out Fee of £25.00 for mobile service (within NN Postcodes) http://www.autoclimatecontrol.co.uk/ no receiver/dryer -it has an accumulator (around £50-60 but might have to order it from Audi dealer), but as a rule of thumb they only replace it if the system has been opened (e.g. a broken pipe) or a burnt out compressor. Normally just dehumidfying the dryer is adequate. Approx £106-115 for the service (takes a couple of hours), incl a Nitrogen pressure test and UV dye. However, their mobile service doesn't extend outside Swindon in the summer as they have enough work on as it is (and R12 cars have to come to their premises in Swindon to be done). This will also be fine on other R12 classic car systems e.g. 1970s onwards Jag XJ-S cars etc. http://www.subzeroac.co.uk/classic-cars/ Last edited by Modus; 23-09-19 at 04:10 PM.

30-06-17, 06:39 AM	#3
Modus Grown up member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 53	Thanks, bit far though. The car's in Berkshire Has no one else had their 1980s Audi aircon re-gassed?

30-06-17, 09:43 AM	#4
chalkyh Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 116	The service ports are in front of the main radiator and air con condenser. The small connector on the smaller diameter pipe is the high pressure, the larger one on the wider pipe the low pressure side - this low pressure side is where you should refill from. Ideally you will need to change the drier / filter along with all system nitrile seals for R134a ones, and the system needs vacuuming to remove all traces of moisture. Then a refill with PAG oil and the right weight of gas. Sometimes the compressor housing seals aren't compatible, and the whole compressor needs swapping for an R134a compatible one. I'd link a pic but photobucket had disabled my account.

30-06-17, 09:03 PM	#6
msh 4 ring whore! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rucava, Latvija Posts: 3,816	What's the model in question? Back in the day Audi released official R12 to R134a conversion manual and conversion parts kit. Essentially it was for late R12 cars - different restrictor, different low pressure sender and adaptor for it, and adaptor for filling up - of course, change of o-rings and dryer was needed, system had to be flushed, and also compressor had to be compatible - zexel and denso compressors made after some date only. In today's reality almost any old compressor is likely to leak, the same applies to o-rings and therefore, as the option "just regassing" is likely out of the question, conversion is quite viable, especially if the owner has technical knowledge. Reminds me about one latvian guy, who in his garage experimented with C3 AC - at first, he put together and got working with R134a old type AC, with Harrison compressor - seals are available in ebay, so he made pulley pulling tool and changed the seals - new o-rings and off he went. Later he refurbished in a similar way Denso compressor.

16-12-18, 10:46 AM	#7
Modus Grown up member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 53	great advice thanks. The model in question is an Audi 200