94-95 MTX A/C accumulator work on 93 MTX?

[General Geoff]

Curious because the 94-95 part is the only one listed on shosource.com, and I need a new accumulator for my '93 MTX (already got a new compressor). Anyone know if there are any differences, and if so, where I can get the correct one for the '93? Thanks.

 

[rubydist]

in 94 they changed to R134a, so they are different parts with different pressure fittings, but the line sizes and fittings are the same so it should fit.

somewhere in the system there is a high pressure cutout switch on the 94+ (I don't recall where offhand) so you may need a switch to attach to the fitting just to keep it from leaking, but otherwise it should work.

 

[General Geoff]

Yeah I was planning on converting to 134a anyway, so the newer accumulator sounds like just the ticket. I'm having my mechanic do it as I just don't have or want to invest in the equipment to do a proper evacuation and recharge of an A/C system. Thanks for the info!

 

[LOUDSHO92]

We should be able to get one if you are interested.

 

[General Geoff]

Which one would you recommend for my application (replacing accumulator and compressor, and converting to 134a)? If you'd recommend the older style, yeah I'd be interested in it.

 

[FamilySHO]

Having gone through this myself if you have R12 you have to buy the R12 accumulator even though converting to R134a. The R134a accumulator is different; my recollection is the tube routing is not the same. They changed to R134a mid-year 1993 which may be the reason for the shosource listing.

 

[General Geoff]

The plastic cover that goes over the radiator said R12, so I'm fairly confident my car is pre-r134a.

 

[FamilySHO]

At least one of the pressure fittings is different from 134a. Your mechanic should be able to tell just by looking at it.

 

[JRA2000TL]

4 Seasons part #s for the accumulator are as follows:

89-93 R-12 #55620
94-95 134a #55641

The line is the same, it's the fitting in the canister that will vary. I just went through and put an entire new a/c system in my 89 (minus the evap core). I bought the 55620 but I have a converted 134a system (was 134 converted before I removed everything). All I had to do was get the 134a switch to go on the canister. When I finished the job I took the car to the shop to have them pull a vacuum and charge the new system. Apparently it had an R-12 switch on the old canister because it would not fit on the new one. The shop just swapped it out and it worked. I'm guessing now that the part #s are just good to identify model years and maybe they're making everything with 134a fittings now regardless.

Moral of the story---either part will work as the line is molded identical, you'll just need whatever $20 pressure switch matches the fitting on the canister.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

The R12 system is different from the R134A system. The R134A system has 2 switches as opposed to 1.

As for the R134A conversion needing a different switch I do not think it was an issue of it fitting as opposed to having the right switch. We offer a R134A conversion switch that helps optimize the conversion.

I would stick to having the original system as everything will match up and you wont have the extra switch location. If the assemblies were the same then they would have the same part number. The compressors do.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

We can get the right parts for $63 shipped.

 

[FamilySHO]

Good deal IMHO