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Need help with the AC

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Old Apr 16, 2003 | 10:20 PM
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Default Need help with the AC

where is the Ac filter? my car isnt blowing cold air anymore, how do i change the free-on or whatever its called, i got a 92 sc300
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Old Apr 16, 2003 | 11:56 PM
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um, if you can't spell freon, you can't change it
do a search on climate control regulator valve
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Old Apr 17, 2003 | 05:44 AM
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Default Re: Need help with the AC

Originally posted by lexsc3
where is the Ac filter? my car isnt blowing cold air anymore, how do i change the free-on or whatever its called, i got a 92 sc300
92's didn't come w/ a/c filters.

Freon should be done by an a/c shop if you don't have the tools. And since you had to ask how, its obvious you don't have the tools. Bring it to a shop and have the R12 freon swapped for R134a. The swap isn't too expensive and will save you money in the long run. Your whole system needs to be bled and vacumed, etc. You can rent the tools, but if you've never done it before- just pay someone. Just one small mistake and youre out a lot of money for that freon!

But before you go flushing and re-charging your freon, make sure the compressor isn't bad or that you don't just have a bad electrical connection

Good luck.
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Old Apr 17, 2003 | 10:52 PM
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i cant just buy a A/C recharge kit from NAPA or auto zone...i did a search and thats what alot of people said
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Old Apr 17, 2003 | 11:49 PM
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sounds like a lex-rolet or a lex-woo. post 2 summed up everything. you wanted it, you got it.
a lex-us goes to the shop for a/c repair. hey, if you wanna risk your compressor, thats up 2 you my friend.

Last edited by O. L. T.; Apr 17, 2003 at 11:50 PM.
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Old Apr 18, 2003 | 12:58 AM
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Anyone have a picture of the low pressure port on the SC300 AC? I couldn't see it when I took a look tonight. The high is very visible.

Also, careful when doing this. If you contaminate R12 with R134a the technician may refuse to work on your car and send you to the EPA for a $400 evacuation.
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Old Apr 18, 2003 | 06:06 AM
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Originally posted by lexsc3
i cant just buy a A/C recharge kit from NAPA or auto zone...i did a search and thats what alot of people said

UUUUHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh- NO!

I sure hope you didn't find that info on a search here!

Its a little bit more involved that that. Your car has a different kind of freon (free-on) than the newer cars. You can't mix old "free-on" with the newer freon. The EPA has severly restricted the sale of R-12 "Free-on" and now cars have R-134a freon. They run on different pressures and use different oils.

R-12 runs 30-50$ a pound.- Good luck trying to buy it over the counter, as you need a license.
R134a runs ~1.50$ a pound (or at least it did last year) and you can buy it at WalMart.

It takes a couple of pounds to charge your system. Do the math.

Have your system switched to the new refrigerant. It'll cost some money, but it pays for itself in the long run. That way you can then buy the cheap re-charge kits every month trying to top off the lost freon when you have a slow leak, and after a few years there will be another hole in the ozone, and the EPA will restrict the R134a freon as well. Just in time for another freon to come out- Ahhh the circle of Life.

Moral of the story: Find out why its not blowing cold air- There are dozens of reasons, so don't blindly try to fix things as you will just waste money and hurt the environment. Most shops offer free A/C diagnosis. A/C problems aren't cheap to fix. Expect around $1000. More if the compressor is bad.
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Old Apr 18, 2003 | 08:01 AM
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Another note on this is that R12 is more efficient. A common complaint about the change to R134a is that the car does not get as cool anymore. Get your car done right. There are still shops that use R12 legally but do get your system leakproof first. My SC400 is 25 degrees F at the AC vents on full blast.
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Old Apr 18, 2003 | 09:27 PM
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My SC400 is 25 degrees F at the AC vents on full blast.
Hermosa, if your register hasn't cracked yet, i would expect it to at that temprature as it changes from parking lot temprature to ice cold. you might wanna reinforce the register from behind with some fiberglass strips before it becomes a problem. (just a thought).
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Old Apr 29, 2003 | 01:50 PM
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how much does it cost to convert your system to the new type of freon?
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Old Mar 9, 2004 | 11:27 PM
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Does the 93 SC300 have an a/c filter, also which freon does it use?
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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 10:05 AM
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Default 93 SC Freon

The 93 SC 300 has the old type of freon in it.
Just took mine in to a A/C Shop and they confirmed.
It is easy to tell as the connections to fill the system are a different size.
Small connections=old freon
Large connections=new freon.

Rob
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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 02:50 PM
  #13  
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thanx man, what about the A/C filter... do we have one?
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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 03:15 PM
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Default Filter

I chacked my 93 SC 400 and there was no filter.
It is easy enough to check though, just pull the cover off your filter area and see if there is a filter there.

Rob
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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 03:28 PM
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Now Rob,

You make it sound like it's obvious where that filter cover is. It's not but, unless someone other than the Lexus factory has installed one, it will be empty.

George
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