134a Refrigerant

[Pat F.]

Does anyone have information as to when CFC-12 cooling agent was replaced with 134a? On the 1995's there is a 134a Refrigerant Label. 1994-95 was about the time frame of the change over.
GM issued a Booklet "Question and Answers about CFC's. Numerous GM Lines used the same Booklet. The Booklet for 1993 differed from the 1994 Booklet in its cover.

Even though GM issued a Booklet for 1994, did the Corvette already change to 134a, therefore no Booklet was required in the Center Console Documents.

I am showing the label from the 1995 and a separate photo of the CFC Booklets.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Pat F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

A quick review of Owner Manual Kits on E-Bay disclosed that for 1994 there were six kits offered that had the Blue CFC Booklet as part of the kit.
For 1995, seven kits were reviewed and no CFC Booklets were included.

It looks like the Blue CFC Booklet was included in the 1994 Owners Kit and the possibility was that the 1994 Corvette still used CFC-12 and the change over to 134a was with the 1995 Model.

Still looking for help on this question, Joe are you out there?

[Arland D.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Charlie,

To quote the Corvette Black Book on 1994 facts - 'Air conditioning systems were revised to use R-134A refrigerant, a non-ozone depleting CFC substitute'. My first week of production 94 has R-134a

Arland

[Doug F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Not a Vette, but my 1994 Olds has R134 refrigerant.
Doug

[Pat F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Gentlemen, thank you for your responses.

Arland your response I think answers a lot of questions. Do you have the 134a label near the fan? Was it similiar to the one I showed in my initial post?

Doug, this also answers questions about the change over and I thank you both for your time.

[Pat F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Arland, did you have a CFC Booklet in your Center Console Contents?

[Doug F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

I bought the 94 Olds in 97 and one of the criteria that I had when shopping that year was that the car had to have R134 refrigerant. Since R-12 was being phased out and I did not want to have to go thru the converson process etc. Back then, there seemed to be more concern about the ability to convert R-12 systems. Besides, I was hoarding my cases of R-12 for my 60's cars.
Doug

[Pat F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Doug, thanks for the response. In reading the statement from the Black Book, it does not indicate when the change over was made. Are we looking at a production line change some time during the 1994 year?

A lot of 1994 Owner Manual Kits have the CFC Booklet, not necessary with 134a.

If anyone else has a 1994 let us know, 134a label or no label, CFC Booklet or no Booklet. If you respond, please give us a build date.



Thanks again to all.

[Arland D.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Charlie,

The 94 came with the CFC booklet that is in the lower left of your photo.

Arland

[Pat F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Arland, thanks for the response. One more question, did your Corvette have the 134a Decal that was located under the surge tank and also a second 134a label on the fan shroud on the passenger side?
This is where the confusion is coming in to play, if you have 134a refrigerant, why did you get the CFC Booklet?

I have now seen 1994 Corvettes with both the Booklet and the 134a Labels. We are trying to resolve the question when did the change over take place and it appears to be in 1994. The Black Book does not say that the change over took place with the first Corvette built in 1994.

I appreciate your help, especially since your Corvette is a first week build.

Any other 1994 owners out there that can help us? Please take the time to look.

[Arland D.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Charlie,

The 94 has both of the labels and they are identical to the ones shown in your photos. Unless someone has documentation to the contrary, all the information I've seen indicates that 1994's came with R134a from day one.

Arland

[Pat F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Arland, thanks for the response it really helps out.

Now the only question is, why did you get the CFC Booklet?

Is this an oversight by the unit that put the Owners Manual Packet together?

[Arland D.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Charlie,

If you have read through the pamphlet, you can see that GM talked about the phasing out of R12 and the use of R134a, other GM vehicles that have R12 and are converted to R134a, the legislation that would ban any use of R12 in vehicles shortly, the benefits of using a GM dealer for service, after warranty care for your car, other substitutes, and GM's committment, etc. It was no error in packaging they are just trying to address the entire CFC conversion issue as it is implemented all through the GM product line. A fairly nice attempt at educating car owners

Arland

[Pat F.]

Re: 134a Refrigerant

Arland, thanks for your responses and your point is well taken.

I will let this decision up to the Judges.