Putting AC in my civic?

[ndekens]

I have a 96 dx hach without AC. Since this is my commuter car and I hate the heat I was wondering if it is at all feasable to put AC in my civic when it never came with it? What parts would I need to purchase? and about how much am I looking at spending to do this?

Thanks
Nate

[i_a_n112784]

You need the condenser, evaporator, the condensor fan, any relays/switches (don't know the specifics for the electrical), the compressor, the lines, and the silver canister thing that goes in the line (sorry, don't remember it's name).

The cost all depends on where they came from. If getting a component from a junkyard, make sure it still has a charge, that means that it is NOT leaking. To test for a charge, take off one of the caps near the condenser, and use a pen to poke at the valve (its similar to a valve stem on a tire), if it hisses, most of the parts are probably good.

If buying the stuff new, I'd say it could easily cost several hundred.

[kicker1_solo]

honestly, not worth the time or effort to put it in if it didn't come factory equiped

[mugenr4]

I'm doing the same thing right now with my 92 dx hatch. so far it cost me 230 for all the parts except for the harness that connects the ac compressor and evaporator. really easy hopefully i could go to the dealer and get that part. well worth it doing yourself rather going to a AC shop and paying 1500+

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by mugenr4

paying 1500+

When I first bought my dx hatch it didn't come with AC. The dealer said they could have tacked on the cost to install one into my monthly payments, and it would have costed $1200. I got an $800 moonroof installed instead

So if you've got over a grand just laying around and really really don't want to be hot, go for it. Otherwise just roll the windows down and drive faster hehe..

[i_a_n112784]

It really comes down to how much you want it, if you really want it, and have a decent amount of technical/mechanical capability, it shouldn't be that bad.

And I don't know when they switched from R-12 to R-134a, but make sure the O-rings you are using are new, and approved for usage with 134a. I'm almost positive they switched it before 96, but you or mugenr4 may need to know that.

[sageuvagony]

my 92 uses R12...I think in my repair manual it says that 94 civics and up use R134. How long can an ac system go on if you used R134 in an R12 system? just currious as to what the differences in the freons are..

[i_a_n112784]

The freeon itself is a different molecule, its not like putting 10w30 oil in a 5w30 car. And from my understanding, the wrong kind of freeon will sort of "eat" the rubber seals causing leaks. As long as the components in the car will take 134a (in older civics some compressors wouldn't take it, don't know how to tell the diference), all you need to do is just replace all of the o-rings (even any that may be in the compressor) with ones that are compatable with 134a.

[mugenr4]

i did replace all the o rings and bought more extra just in case. the hard part in doing the install was trying to figure out where the lines go through but i opened my integra hood and just followed it cause they are pretty much the same in ac lines.