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Wagons Kia Rio Kia Rio
605 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 5:30 AM
You are in the Kia Rio Forum. Your Host is kcram
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Replying to: jchan2 (Apr 02, 2005 8:11 am)
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Replying to: chrisducati (Apr 17, 2005 9:39 am) |
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My '86 Pontiac has factory A/C but it doesn't work, and the cost to recharge an old R-12 system is ridiculous. So I've gone without it for the five years I've owned the car. It's just on the edge of bearable here in the NJ/PA region. I've learned to bring a water bottle with me when I drive in the summer. I can imagine it would be really awful to drive down south without A/C. -Andrew L
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Replying to: a_l_hubcaps (Apr 17, 2005 2:53 pm) You can actually recharge your system with a retrofit R134 Kit. They run about 50.00, come with a 2 Oz can of oil, and 3 cans Of R134, along with a high and low side connector, and the main Refilling connector that screws onto the can and has the valve on it. I've redone several R12 Systems over the years. First step.. Take your rig in and get the old stuff sucked out, (most places will recover and recycle it for FREE). If you do the re charging (its easy to do im telling ya), but get help from someone you know if you aren't sure where the High and Low Side Ports are, or even if you dont feel comfortable doing any of this. The Low Side typically is a Larger connector than the High Side... and the High Side is almost always mounted closest to the Radiator. The replacement connectors screw over the old valves, the Low side becomes a larger one with a Blue Cap, and the High Side Becomes a Slightly larger connector with a Red Cap. Make sure that when you recharge it, you put the Oil in first, have your AC turned on full blast, and engine running. Then (this isn't perfect science, but your car WILL blow cold air compared to none at all!) It needs to be 85% of whatever the amount the Factory originally put in the system. So, if its say, 23 OZ of R12, that comes out to, 19.55 OZ. Its VERY important you remember this. if you dont, it can damage your Compressor! I say its "not a science" because each can is 12OZ.. So, you can add one, but only a bit over 3/4 of the other. Just make sure you keep your finger on the shut off valve for the R134.  Some people say that you should "consider" replacing all your system O-rings. Honestly, with 99% of the rigs out there with R12 made in the 1980s, you will be just fine leaving it completely stock. What makes the diff is that the Oil you charge it with in the Kit will have the necessary lubricant, and sealing qualities that work great with R12 Systems. Just something to consider. If you know where your Low and High side is, Get your Numbers figured out for the best amount to add of R134, You can have your AC up and running in about 15 minutes. Just MAKE sure you get your old stuff evacuated, (will help get some of the old oil out) and the R12 is GONE. They Don't mix. 
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jemtec- Yeah, I'm aware of the R-134A retrofit, but I've heard mixed reviews. Some people say it works fine, others say it causes all kinds of problems. So I've been reluctant to give it a try. Although the car is 19 years old, it's not a piece of junk, and I don't like to make haphazard repairs. Well, I guess I dragged this discussion a bit off topic... -Andrew L
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Will it have side curtain airbags?
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Replying to: jchan2 (Apr 19, 2005 1:44 pm) "The new Rio also offers class-leading interior volume and six standard airbags, including full-length side-curtain airbags." You can find it here
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Replying to: gwido (Apr 20, 2005 4:33 am) Here's official web page of kia's New Pride ( which is 2006 Rio here in the united states)
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Replying to: gy563 (Apr 21, 2005 11:44 am)
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Andrew, I can see your qualms but consider this: Unless your current compressor is already hosed, I would give it a whirl. Personally, Ive had perfect luck with 10 different vehicles (asian and domestic) so far, and not a single hitch. The big thing is to be sure you are as accurate as you can be with the refill. Always put in slightly less R134. There are many people out there that dont understand how a R12 Compressor has a different head pressure (piston that compresses the gas) when using R12 Freon and you need to be sure you dont overfill because of the different molecular makeup of R134. Ive met a couple people that overfilled them, and damaged their compressors from really overdoing it.. (overheated them). Its really just simple math. Just be sure to do an 85% fill of R134 to your Recommended Fill of R12, and realize that the only possible component to take a crap on you is a possibility of well worn R12 Compressor. If your Car is in as good a shape as you say, Im sure you will be fine. Heres another tidbit.. My most recent R12 to R134 Kit conversion I did recently was in a 1993 Honda Civic CX. 327,000 Miles.. ALL ORIGINAL components!.. Flawless install, and it blows cold. Be aware that R134 Isnt as cold as R12, (85% the coolness of R12 is accurate, Interesting that its the same as what you have to fill it to. LOL) but its also 10 times cheaper! Yeah, you can run a risk in anything, but I say go for it. You have absolutely nothing to loose. Look at it this way.. If your compressor is on its way out, its better to learn about it with a R134 Retrofit, then to refill with very expensive R12 and find out that way.  I can see your worries, but its really a piece of cake. Jeff 
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