348 AC recharge

The AC control is blinking LOW on the 91 348 I just got. Is the charge point up under the front bonnet carpet in front of the windshield? Also the book says it takes Freon 12, can you even get that stuff anymore? Thanks for any help its supposed to be in the 90s this weekend and I'd like to have a little AC or I'll have to drive the 355 instead. ;(

 

You can still get R12. Under the carpet in the front trunk.

 

Can you convert to R14?


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I would stick with R12 as long as possible. Probably a good idea to find the leak, flush the system, change the drier, vacuum, and recharge/oil.

 

BTW, What is your opinion of the 348 vs 355? I'm thinking about adding a 355 to the stable as well.

 

Yep. Mine's been done converted

 

Thanks guys, I've been to all 4 stores in town and none of them have r12 only 134a. They have the conversion kits from R12 but I'll need to get it sucked out first. I pulled the front carpet up to look and see if maybe it had the conversion fittings on there already if someone had done it in the past but no dice. I'm still going to look for some R12 before I pull the trigger on changing. Maybe change when I do the major this winter since I'll have to discharge it then anyway. I just want to get through the summer.

I'm not sure if it really has much of a leak or would be good for the summer on a recharge. It has had no work done to it and barely been used on quite a few years but it still has some charge as I can feel it trying to cool a bit.

 

Dosn't the "low" just mean the temp is set as low as it will go?

 

Have to have a license to buy r12 from auto parts store. Maybe eBay. Any Auto AC repair shop will still carry r12 (I think).

 

Make sure the flapper valve in the evap box is opening and closing when you select recirculate. Many times the shaft on the motor snaps.

 

348 compared to 355?

 

Well honestly I've only got one day of driving on the 348 so far so still hard to say. It is a very different driving experience between the two though I can tell you that.

Also the difference between the spider and coupe makes a difference.
The 355 has Fabspeed headers, no cats, Tubi, High flow air filters and some ECU tuning. they claim with this set up it should be at 425HP at the fly wheel. The 348 is full stock so..

The 348 seems to be a very competent car the way it is though. I can't wait to do a little tweeking and see what it can do then. It hasn't had a major in over 10 years so I'm not getting too rough with it at the moment. I flog the life out of the 355 and it's been hands down the most enjoyable car I've ever owned so far.

 

yes.

 

it could be I haven't got through the owners manual yet. I just wasn't putting out much cool and I seen it was flashing low so I just assumed the system was low on refrigerant.
Is there anyway to make the display brighter? I have to put my hand over it and shadow it and I can still barely see what it says.

 

The low definitely means you've set the temp to as low as it'll go. It shouldn't flash though. If it's not very bright it's likely that the 'flash' is 'just on, just off' on brilliance rather than a flash as such.

There is a fix to make it brighter ........... and now you're going to ask me what it is - can't remember. You have to take the unit out and adjust something or other. I'll have a dig and see if I can remember where I read about the 'fix'.

 

...... this might help

ac/heat control unit stops working - FerrariChat.com

 

Read this, it may help you.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/400666-348-recirculation-door-hvac-non-functional.html

 

Yeah, the whole thing is flashing at me (super dimly) that's why I figured it meant something was wrong. It must just barely be getting enough juice to light up at all. She's definitely got some bugs to work out but that's half the fun.

 

It is indeed

 

Mine was converted last November during my last major. It didn't cost much at all, and probably paid for itself in the refrigerant price difference.