Date:         Fri, 9 Apr 1999 14:38:13 EDT
Reply-To:     KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: R-134A retrofit (JC WHIPME content)
Comments: To: vw4x4@fyi.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

It could be a state thing but I think the EPA regulates this stuff.  Also if
folks want to do the R-134a thing and you do happen to need a certificate in
the present (or the future as one listmember has said that R-134a could be
regulated in the future) this is a simple matter.  I have the number that you
call to get an information packet and a test to take to get you certified.  I
think the fee is under $80 and you just read through the packet and then take
the test inclosed (no peeking!).  Then send this in with your fee and you get
a nice licence that you can use to buy R-12 or whatever other kinda of
refrigerant you want.  Not a bad idea for folks who want to do more than one
conversion or want to be able to buy R-12 over the counter (although it is
still expensive as heck) or buy R-134a if it becomes regulated (it is still
$5 a can so maybe now is the time to stock up).
As far as the "get your R-12 removed for free" thing.  I know some listmember
said that they got it done but here in NJ most Pep Boys etc want to charge
you to do this.  We got a local guy to reclaim our stuff for free.  He would
actually come to your home or whatever and reclaim it using a hand operated
vacuum pump (I am serious) and a empty freon container.  "Freon Leon" was his
name, and then he would weigh the container to see how much he got.  He had a
filtering reclaiming machine at his shop where he would put the used freon
through and then use it to charge other folks cars and airconditioners.  This
worked out great for us and maybe you can find someone near you that does
something similar.
As far as the environmental impact of R-12 goes I really believe this is less
"Enviro" and more "Mental" than anything else.  But that is my opinion.  It
does seem strange to me that after using R-12 for all these years we happen
to figure out it is bad for the environment at around the same time that
Dupont's patent is getting ready to run out.
Oh well now they have a new patent on 134A so we should be OK with that for a
while.
Have fun with the conversions and no sweating allowed :)
Ken Wilford
Van-Again
John 3:16