Hi all. I’m trying to get my 1990 Eunos converted from R12 air conditioning to R134, as it has never worked in the five years that I’ve had the car. I recently had it leak tested, where it performed well apart from a leak somewhere on the top of the dryer, which I assume is from an O ring where one of the pipes is screwed into the dryer. As my condenser is pretty knackered and missing 75% of its fins, I thought I’d try and replace both the dryer and condenser with ‘new’ bits, and new O rings. Trouble is, I can’t seem to find any Eunos parts in decent condition.
I’ve managed to find a complete R134 system from a 1995 UK-spec MX-5 with the 1.8 engine which I’m considering buying. Can I use the condenser and dryer from this, and swap it straight on to my Eunos’ system? Or, do I need to replace the entire Eunos setup with the '95 car’s parts.
If it’s the latter, will the 1.8 AC compressor pump work with my 1.6 engine?
Last resort option would be to retain my current dryer and condenser, but replace the O rings first to see if that fixes the leak. This may work, but with the majority of my fins missing I doubt the cooling effect would be very good. Plus, with a £60 charge for getting the system filled, I want to minimise the risk of getting it filled only for it all to leak out again if it wasn’t one of the O rings leaking as I suspect.
Any advice or assistance, part numbers etc., would be greatly appreciated!
Apologies I can’t help much but you will want to replace that condenser, any condenser over 15 years old is pretty done
Good to know, thanks. So it’ll have to be a replacement rather than just the O rings. Problem is, I imagine they’re all over 15 years old now.
US spec parts should fit.
So if I order a US spec condenser and dryer, they will be direct replacements for my Eunos’ components? Not reversed for the LHD market or anything like that?
From a thread I read on another forum, someone did buy a US condenser for their Eunos but apparently the pipes had to be fabricated, which is tricky as they’re high pressure aluminium. Ideally I need a straight replacement.
You need to check the part numbers.
Japanese part numbers are at:
https://www.do-da.co.jp/sun-mec/partslist.html
(google translate obviously)
US part numbers:
https://www.miata.net/garage/90-99Parts/index.html
But its easier to look up the numbers in the Japanese source, put into Google and see what comes back. There are various online US Mazda dealers like Jim Ellis. RocAuto will do the aftermarket. The prices are quite good, and they factor in UK shipping AND vat/duty. I would also, on the off chance, try a Mazda dealership. The prices will likely be stupid, but sometimes not, and some dealers can take a JDM VIN, and look up parts availability in Japan, and ship in quite quickly. Mazda have been remanufacturing some parts recently for early cars, so you never know.
Thanks for those links, very handy.
Japanese part no. for the condenser is N001-61-480, I can’t seem to find the AC system in the US manual to see if they match.
On Rock-Auto, some of the part numbers end in ‘61480’, but the start of the codes doesn’t match. Does that mean it’s the same part, but for a different market? Or are they completely different parts.
I tried my local Mazda dealer, they told me neither the condenser or dryer could be sourced anymore from Mazda. Only new supplier I’ve seen is asking for £600 + VAT + shipping from Japan, which is a bit steep. So if one of the US parts would fit I’d much rather order them from Rock Auto.
Same part number on the US microfiche
There is this:
https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/oenumber/na7561480.html
But the number is for a late 1.8 Mk1.
Rockauto showing backward compatability
Rover parts? Not really DIY
I was intrigued by the Rover thread, but working with aluminium tubing sounds like a nightmare with a lot of new tools involved.
I did find that UK supplier you sent, but all their condenser options are out of stock presumably because they’re not manufactured for the UK market anymore. It’s looking like my best option is the US part from RA, and hopefully it fits. I might gamble on that when I get paid in a couple of weeks.
Now, I need to track down a new dryer and work out how to replace the oil in my compressor…
Have you tried asking the question on Miata.net? they have a huge knowledge base and may be able to point you in the right direction.
I have asked, they’ve said that the later 1.8 car’s entire R134 system will swap straight in if I go down that route. I’ve just asked about Eunos/US-spec parts interchangeability, will be interesting to see what they think about it.
