Is R134a readily available in USA?

[curlermon]

Hi Guys,

My first question on this site.

The new (to me) 2003 that I just bought has sketchy A/C. The compressor clutch is clicking on and off OK, so I'm deducing low refrigerant charge.

Here in Canada we cannot pop down to Walmart, Pep Boys etc. to buy a recharge kit as it's illegal to sell 134 to non licenced individuals here.

I've seen many references on this site to 134 recharge kits, containing the "real” 134 stuff - not some voodoo mixture stuff that requires depleting the system - that are easily available over the counter in the USA. Before I make a trip to the USA, can someone confirm that R134a recharge kits are really available over the counter to non licenced individuals?

Thanks for any info, this site is a great resource.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I just bought 6 cans at like $8 a can... Local Autozone...

 

[curlermon]

Thanks for the quick response Beanmachine, I'll dust off the passport and head on down to America (when it cools off a bit!).

 

[fastpakr]

Yep, very easy to acquire here. It may be worth checking into getting the license, though. The EPA 609 cert required in the US for buying R12 is a pretty straightforward open book test that costs about $20 and can be taken online. Not sure what you have to go through in Canada.

 

[snoman6115]

tip just dont go to WI or CA those are the only states you cant get 134

 

[Frank The Tank]

We go through a case or two each planting season....

Frank

 

[thegoat4]

Avoid the cans with "sealant." The sealant will eventually clog up the metering parts of the system.

 

[Loanranger]

You may want to look into the legalities of crossing the border with it too. Just a suggestion, I don't know whether it would be concidered hazardous materials or not.

 

[Captain Ledd]

You may want to look into the legalities of crossing the border with it too. Just a suggestion, I don't know whether it would be concidered hazardous materials or not.

Not if it's already in the A/C system

 

[Frank The Tank]

I believe the only real hazard is that it's pressurized. Past that I don't see a threat, unless your dumb and give yourself frost-bite.

Frank

 

[TrexMex]

tip just dont go to WI or CA those are the only states you cant get 134

You can get R134a in CA... I just bought a recharge can at autozone with charging gauge for 18 bucks

 

[curlermon]

Thanks for all the comments folks, I'll be heading to North Dakota to pick it up.

I don't think they can stop me brining it back into Canada as long as I declare it's $ value in my allowance. It doesn't appear to be illegal to actually possess 134 here, it's just that it can't be sold to you unless you have the licence. A Canadian thing!

Cheers

 

[4x4junkie]

What's funny... Cans of straight R-134a (1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane) are legally sold as electronic component chillers for detecting faults in electronic circuits. Why all the hub-bub about licensing and negative effects on discharging this particular refrigerant into the atmosphere in cases of automotive applications is beyond me when this product is intentionally sold to do just that.

 

[dhinch279]

+1 ^^^