R-12 refrigerant... do they even sell it anymore? Any good alternates?

I have a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am that requires R-12 refrigerant. My mechanic says that he can't recharge it there, and to look for stuff called AutoFrost. I read on the internet that you need some type of certification for it. But, he said I could find it at Walmart, or some type of store like that. Which is true? Do they even make R-12 available to the public anymore? Has anyone had this problem? I don't want to have to change my A/C system to the R-134, or whatever it is, that could be expensive... any suggestions? Thanks!

R-12 refrigerant... do they even sell it anymore? Any good alternates?
134a is 1/3 R12 but that is besides the point. Cars produced after 1994 are mostly 134A. \





Now, converting to 134a would be the best choice. the tech. will


install a universal oil and a label to indicate that it has been converted. The temp. difference is minimal on most cars. There should be no hard parts to change unless some thing is faulty.


some cars require a different cycling or high pressure cut off switch as not to damage the compressor with the 134a gas.





I do not recommend any other refrigerant substitutes as some of these contain Propane and other combustibles.





If the repair shop does it's job correctly, a 134A conversion should give you many years of comfy driving....
Reply:you cant get r-12 without a HVAC license anymore. And all cars made today use r-134a its safer to deal with, better for the air quality. Wal mart sells the conversion kit for the r-12 to 134a.
Reply:R-12 is illegal to use I believe. Something about emissions and greenhouse gasses. (by the way R134A is on it's way out. You heard it here first!)


R134A retrofit kits are like $20 at a parts store. Buy the damn thing and have your mechanic install it and charge the freon.


OR..... use "Polish A/C". That's where you roll the windows down and drive really fast!


(Before I get death threats in my e-mail, I'm part polish.)
Reply:R-12 was dicontinued for ozone reasons, 134 iis the best way to go and cheapest, unfortunately your system probably wont handle conversion because you probably already have leaks...expensive no matter how you look at it
Reply:Yes, they still sell R-12. It is very expensive, and you have to find someone who is lic. to do it. They make a conversion kit for your car, ask them to convert it over to 134a. You can goto any NAPA store and ask for it. It less costly than the R-12.





www.napaonline.com





You can only buy R-12 if you have a lic. to buy it. A 5 gallon tank costs $300. Well, it was that much in 2003, I am unsure how much it costs now. Your better off converting it.





=]
Reply:It might be R-22...but don't quote me on that. There are things you can buy at walmart or any real supply store....it looks like can of fix-a-flat. You locate the valve under your hood, connect the can then refill your refridgerant.





FYI





IF YOU KNOWINGLY HAVE A LEAK AND YOU REFILL, YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW.
Reply:They sell a kit at K mart that you can change your old freon to the new stuff, it comes with everything, and it works, I used it myself, its about 30.00
Reply:R12 difficult to find at best, you might find a indidual with a few cans squirreled away but thats about it, best advice would be to do the conversion, its not that expensive if you have to do another repair to get you a/c going again, usually you have to change you accumulator/reciver dryer(same thing different terms) add some pag oil and screw on some adaperrs charge it and go. probly about 150-200 most shops , If you could find someone willing to part with the r12 they have left you would easily spend that much buying it. It really hasn't been availible to the public for a few years now.
Reply:Changing your A/C system to R-134A is not expensive you can buy the retro fit kit at most stores like wal-mart, etc. R-12 is dangerous for the environment which is why they do not sell it anymore.
Reply:i buy cases of it in mexico,, never tell them at the border,, i dont think r12 is a terrorist plot so its no big deal,, if you know someone in a border town give them a call,, you know the have autozones in mexico
Reply:R-12 is still available. It is not THAT expensive. It is about $25 bucks a can here. A cheaper alternative is to get a product called 'FREEZE 12'. It is a drop in replacement that is available at Champion Auto Stores here in the Omaha area. It is only $9.00/can and works well.





Find a different mechanic to work on this. Your mechanic probably COULD fix this easily but he probably does not have an R-12 Freon Recovery machine any longer.





I would NOT convert this to R-134a. It will not cool as well PLUS it is more likely to leak on R-134a than on R-12. The R-134a molecule is 1/3 the size of the R-12 molecule.





Ask a few mechanics in your area about fixing your leaks and recharging with FREEZE 12, HOTSHOT, or another Drop-in Replacement for your R-12. I am sure you will find someone willing to work on this. If you still have some R-12 in your system, have this Recovered and then put back in after the leaks are fixed. This will save some money on refrigerant, and they have to recover it anyway. Good Luck!
Reply:You may purchase R12 refrigerant in Mexico for about $1.00 per can ( 11 ounce can) Other options : Duracool makes a replacement you can purchase on-line and they offer next day shipping. No matter which way you choose to go, make sure you change the orffice tube, located in the refrigerant lines. They only cost about 2.00. Best two bucks you will spend.
Reply:R12 is illegal Freeze 12 is its replacement and you have to have a license to purchase it convert it to 134 so much better for your pocket and the environment a retrofit kit can be purchased at any parts store try Advanced Auto Parts they have the kit resonabally priced and will be willing to assit you and answer your questions
Reply:r-12 is no longer available to any one but certified mechanics for a/c.. it is so expensive now that it cheeper to have the system changed ovewr to 134... but if u check a/c repair shops u might find r 12....