A/C system seals

underscore

Well-known member
I'm going to be putting the A/C back into my car, and I'm assuming that's a good time to be replacing all the seals and o-rings in the system. Is there a kit somewhere with everything or a list of part numbers for a 185? Searching the parts fiche I didn't see any o-rings shown.
 

simple

Active member
O rings aren't usually specified. Get a grab bag of green a/c o rings from the auto parts or hardware store. Mix and match. Get some a/c oil while you are at it to lube those seals.
 

yyonline

Member
Here are the Toyota part numbers for the AC line o-rings for systems originally fitted with R12.

Discharge line - 1/2" - 90099-14046
Liquid line - 8 mm - 90099-14044
Suction line - 5/8" - 90099-14045
Pressure switch - 11 mm - 90099-14056

I ordered a bunch of each and compared sizes, there are several used throughout the lines.

There's also an o-ring under the compressor manifold. Toyota doesn't sell that one separately, but you can get it from Honda (who also uses Denso compressors). Honda part number 38839-PR7-A01.
 

underscore

Well-known member
Thanks for the part numbers! Can the same ones be used if the system is converted to R134a (I think that's the new stuff?)
 

alltracman78

Active member
No, you're supposed to use the green O rings, not the black, with R134. The green is a better type of rubber. IIRC we just had a kit we pulled from when we did it.
This was 15 years ago or so. I don't remember too well.
There's a TSB that has some info. I had it somewhere but I haven't dug into that stuff in years.
 

yyonline

Member
The color of the rubber has nothing to do with its compatibility with different refrigerants.

Toyota's R-12 o-rings are brown, and Toyota's R-134a o-rings are black. I've never seen any green A/C o-rings from the factory on any Toyota. Toyota's TSB for A/C retrofits say nothing about changing o-rings for the Celica, so I'm lead to believe that they are made of rubber compounds compatible with R-134a, regardless of color. You can't just throw Toyota's R-134a o-rings on the R-12 lines, they're completely different sizes. I'm sure someone out there makes aftermarket o-rings that fit as well, but I've always used the Toyota ones. I put new Toyota o-rings on my all-trac with R-134a in it several years ago, and they've been holding strong for several years now. My sniffer can detect leaks as small as 0.1oz of refrigerant per year, and I can't detect any leaks. My other Celica had the A/C system refurbished several years ago with a new compressor, hoses, o-rings, and new old stock R-12. It's also holding strong.
 

yyonline

Member
To clarify my earlier point - some manufacturers of A/C parts have standardized different color o-rings for different rubber compounds. However, not all manufacturers do so (Toyota doesn't), so you can't rely on color alone to tell if the o-rings are compatible with R-134a.
 

underscore

Well-known member
It looks like OEM ones are still available and they're really cheap so I don't see a reason not to use them. I'll have to pull all the parts out to figure out how many to order and see what other potential wear items there are in the system that I should replace now.
 
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