1990 300ZX - Refrigerant R-12 or R-134A ?

[trigon82]

Is it true that 1990 Nissan 300ZX has to be charged with R-12 refrigerant? What happens if I use R-134A?

Thanks,Andrek

[nsrZ32]

R12 was stock refridgerant. Should have been retrofitted to R134a a long time ago

[gpelite]

I was wondering if anyone had advice on an AC overhaul. My AC is dead in a 1990 which I'm sure is also the old style refridgerant and has been since I picked it up.

cabin gets well above ambient temp in the summer, disgustingly high since my trans runs a little hot so I'm putting in some heat shielding

Any Ideas or links to past pages, I couldn't find any

[evildky]

first step is to check for a charge, if it's got a charge, then add refrigerant up to specified pressure, if it's really low the system won't work, if you have no pressure, you need to get the system vac's adn try to find the leak, fix the leak and charge, first things first, is there ac charge and is it up to spec or at least close

[gpelite]

Evil, I never had to deal with AC before. My expertise is more removal than fixing, but the Z is something I want to enjoy. I'm kinda looking for pics or a tutorial. My Z is 1990, most everything on it was stock unless I personally changed it myself so I am assuming it has been going just as long.

How would I check the charge and pressure at least?

[evildky]

if it's been converted to R134a you can buy a gauge at autozone that will check the low pressure side, the best way si with a set of manifold gauges (cheap set is about $100) and thats if it's 134A, if it's R12 your gonna have to take it to a shop, if the valves look like tire valves then it's R12 if they look like tire valves with quick connects on them then it's R134a,a nd if they still have caps that are black ro grey it's R12, and if the caps are red and blue it's 134A, and if it's been converted there should be a sticker under the hood somewhere saying that it was converted