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  3. If it's broke... continued .. air conditioning hoses for ancient cars.

If it's broke... continued .. air conditioning hoses for ancient cars.

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
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  • R Ravi Bhavnani

    I think you're right about Toronto's weather! That's a very generous offer - but I wouldn't know what to do with your tools!  Now if you were willing to throw in automotive repair lessons, I'd seriously consider a trip to BC! :-D /ravi

    My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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    RedDk
    wrote on last edited by
    #12

    Ravi Bhavnani wrote:

    Toronto's weather

    You mean it's in North Carolina now ...

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    • G Garth J Lancaster

      :-) I was going to say 'I hope Roger's reading the forums, he'll have undoubtledy done this and offer words of wisdom' and lo and behold, there you were :-)

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      S Houghtelin
      wrote on last edited by
      #13

      Garth J Lancaster wrote:

      and offer words of wisdom'

      Roger Wright wrote:

      But since you can also use it (with appropriate adaptors) to explode kittens, it's probably a good investment, just for the entertainment.

      Yep.

      It was broke, so I fixed it.

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      • K kmg365

        I'm finding it impossible to find replacement AC hoses for my old car/truck/van. The old vehicles are freon based and apparently hose parts for the old systems are near impossible to get. I have no options, other than to seek out a machinist to make the parts. Any suggestions? And no I don't want to buy a new car.

        "Sanity is not statistical." - Eric Blair, 1984, Chapter 9

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        RedDk
        wrote on last edited by
        #14

        Seriously? Home Depot or Lowes or just about any big box home improvement store will have something to make into a replacement. Which remind me of a joke. Another time, perhaps.

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        • K kmg365

          I'm finding it impossible to find replacement AC hoses for my old car/truck/van. The old vehicles are freon based and apparently hose parts for the old systems are near impossible to get. I have no options, other than to seek out a machinist to make the parts. Any suggestions? And no I don't want to buy a new car.

          "Sanity is not statistical." - Eric Blair, 1984, Chapter 9

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          C Offline
          Chris Maunder
          wrote on last edited by
          #15

          You need to ask[^]?

          cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

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          • R Ravi Bhavnani

            You should be able to get your A/C converted.  I had the A/C on my (now) 22 year BMW converted when it was 13 years old (in 2004). /ravi

            My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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            R Offline
            Rajesh R Subramanian
            wrote on last edited by
            #16

            Ravi Bhavnani wrote:

            my (now) 22 year BMW

            I reckon you were trying to pass it off as a decent car available for sale some time ago. I take it that there were no buyers? :laugh:

            "Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.

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            • R Ravi Bhavnani

              I think you're right about Toronto's weather! That's a very generous offer - but I wouldn't know what to do with your tools!  Now if you were willing to throw in automotive repair lessons, I'd seriously consider a trip to BC! :-D /ravi

              My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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              Roger Wright
              wrote on last edited by
              #17

              I can certainly guide you through the process, and I'll be happy to do so, after it cools off some... Below 100°F at noon would be a good indicator. :)

              Will Rogers never met me.

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              • R Roger Wright

                The last time I had an R-12 type a/c unit on a car, I changed it myself. If your hoses are bad, you probably don't have to worry about venting R-12 to atmosphere - it's already done that. You can buy aftermarket hoses to replace the ones you need, or fabricate your own from kits made for that purpose. Next you'll need to disassemble everything and thoroughly flush the system. This is critical, as the ester-based oil used in R-12 systems isn't compatible with the modern R-134a refrigerant. At all of the joints - condenser, evaporator, compressor, accumulator/dryer, etc - replace the o-rings. The old ones were black; the new are light green in color, generally. On the high and low pressure ports, install conversion connectors from the auto parts store - these adapt the R-12 fittings to match gauge sets and tools made for the modern refrigerant. Before assembling all the parts, consult a manual for your particular car and pre-charge the system with PAG oil, distributing some into each component until you have the specified amount of oil. My last project (a Buick) called for 2 oz in each of the parts - compressor, accumulator, condenser and evaporator - for a total of 8 oz. Re-assemble everything and put a hard vacuum on the system to remove all the water vapor. Keep the vacuum on for at least 45 minutes to boil off any moisture, then shut it off and let it sit for a bit, watching the vacuum gauge to check for leaks. If all goes well, you can then charge the system with R-134a. This is done through a gauge set, and if you're smart, make sure you buy one that allows you to read vacuum for the previous part of the process. Again consult the manual for your car, and use only as much R-134a as specified for that model. I know professionals use the gauge pressures to judge how much to put in, but we amateurs don't have that skill. Buy just as many cans as you need, and maybe one extra. The instructions are on the cans, but you might want to buy a Chilton manual or something similar to read and understand the process. As to cost: The vacuum pump is the most expensive tool - $300 and up, easily. But since you can also use it (with appropriate adaptors) to explode kittens, it's probably a good investment, just for the entertainment. Gauges will set you back $50 or so, and you'll spend about the same on R-134a and oil. The most cost effective way to buy the freon is in bulk, of course, but then you need a scale to measure how much you use, and that's an extra expense. The little cans are pricey, but less hassle. You'll a

                enhzflepE Offline
                enhzflepE Offline
                enhzflep
                wrote on last edited by
                #18

                Roger Wright wrote:

                As to cost: The vacuum pump is the most expensive tool - $300 and up, easily. But since you can also use it (with appropriate adaptors) to explode kittens, it's probably a good investment,

                :omg: :wtf: That's just about signature material right there. My +5

                "Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation, so that belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin

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                • K kmg365

                  Problem is 2nd hand hoses tend to be in bad shape. I have registered on a "junk yard network" (6$) for the hoses I'm looking for but no responses yet. Thanks.

                  "Sanity is not statistical." - Eric Blair, 1984, Chapter 9

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                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #19

                  I read that reply as take the car to the junkyard!

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                  • R Roger Wright

                    I can certainly guide you through the process, and I'll be happy to do so, after it cools off some... Below 100°F at noon would be a good indicator. :)

                    Will Rogers never met me.

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                    G Offline
                    Gary R Wheeler
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #20

                    Roger Wright wrote:

                    Below 100°F at noon would be a good indicator

                    Yeah right, Roger: we all know that happens one day of the year in Bullhead, late in January :laugh:.

                    Software Zen: delete this;

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                    • R Rajesh R Subramanian

                      Ravi Bhavnani wrote:

                      my (now) 22 year BMW

                      I reckon you were trying to pass it off as a decent car available for sale some time ago. I take it that there were no buyers? :laugh:

                      "Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.

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                      R Offline
                      Ravi Bhavnani
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #21

                      Apart from a now non-functional AC, the car is in excellent condition.  At the time, I entertained 2 offers of approx $4K and decided I wanted to hold on to her.  I was considering selling her because I'd have to pay $1200 a year to rent a garage.  My brother graciously swapped his 2-car garage for my single spot, allowing me to keep the car.  Today, the street price for a 325iX in this condition is about $5,500.  But I have no plans to sell. /ravi

                      My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                      • R Roger Wright

                        I can certainly guide you through the process, and I'll be happy to do so, after it cools off some... Below 100°F at noon would be a good indicator. :)

                        Will Rogers never met me.

                        R Offline
                        R Offline
                        Ravi Bhavnani
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #22

                        Very gracious of you, sir!  I hope to meet up with you and other CPians south of the border someday. /ravi

                        My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                        • R Ravi Bhavnani

                          Apart from a now non-functional AC, the car is in excellent condition.  At the time, I entertained 2 offers of approx $4K and decided I wanted to hold on to her.  I was considering selling her because I'd have to pay $1200 a year to rent a garage.  My brother graciously swapped his 2-car garage for my single spot, allowing me to keep the car.  Today, the street price for a 325iX in this condition is about $5,500.  But I have no plans to sell. /ravi

                          My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                          R Offline
                          Rajesh R Subramanian
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #23

                          Yeah, shortly after I posted that message, I read your reply to another person in this thread which included pics. I must say that it looks to be well maintained. :)

                          "Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.

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                          • R Rajesh R Subramanian

                            Yeah, shortly after I posted that message, I read your reply to another person in this thread which included pics. I must say that it looks to be well maintained. :)

                            "Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.

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                            R Offline
                            Ravi Bhavnani
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #24

                            Thanks.  In case you're interested, here[^] is her younger sibling.  A 1971 model 2002 would nicely round out my collection. :) /ravi

                            My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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