Pauk

360Rocket, I like your idea.  And given the view out my window currently, I expect to have plenty of raw material well into May.

Thanks very much, Frosty.  Wow, what a great link.  I see they sell kits, so maybe they can sell me what they need and I can get someone who knows what they're doing to install here.  Or get brave and do it myself!

I'll try again.  Cut and paste to be sure. 

http://www.1973pontiaclemans.net/

What did the problem turn out to be?

Thanks, Kim.  I found mine living in Chicago two years ago and picked it up on New Year's Day.  Its heater was broken, too, like yours.  The fellow who sold it to me warned me that his son had driven it recently was smelling antifreeze in the passenger compartment.  So I suspected the heater core was leaking and came prepared with down parka, sleeping bag, down boots and mitts, etc.  I drove it home across Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Alberta over the course of six days in January.  Fortunately it was during a relatively mild spell when the temperature was mostly between 10 and 35 degrees F, and I had a fair bit of sunshine to help warm the interior.  

The good news is that if it is the heater core, it's not too difficult a thing for you to have replaced.  My local GM shop was able to get a replacement shipped in the same day that I dropped the car off.  The bill was only about $250.  

As I see you're in coastal California, you probably aren't as desperate for a working heater as I was.  There's only a few weeks during the year up here in western Canada that you absolutely want to have working A/C, but it bugs me to have it there and not working. 

I notice from your profile that your LeMans is 'green.'  Mine was, too.  Sort of pea soup green.  The official name was 'Golden Olive.'  I had it repainted this past summer to 'Burma Brown' which was the colour of the '73 LeMans I owned from 1977-1982.  My first car.  Would love to see pics of your car if you want to post them here. 

My car's story is at www.1973PontiacLeMans.net.

Thanks for your note and I'll appreciate hearing about anything you learn.

Gary 

Greetings!  So I have me a 1973 Pontiac LeMans.  When I bought it two years ago, the A/C wasn't working.  I had my local GM dealer take a look at it.  It came back to me blowing only somewhat cool air.  They said something about one spot in a flow line freezing up and that I needed a new thermal expansion valve and the associated circuit breaker.  Well I had no trouble finding a new TXV, but couldn't find anything online about any circuit breaker. 

So I took her back in to GM with the new TXV.  When I got her back they hadn't installed the new TXV and were talking about not being able to do anything with it because it was an old (R13?) refrigerant system.

You can tell from my description that 'what we have here is a failure to communicate.'  I never had a chance to talk to the mechanic and was getting information filtered through the service rep, who really didn't have a clue.  My bad for not going back and talking to the mechanic.  Water under the bridge.

Anyone want to guess what my options are?  The local classic car auto parts guy says I need to completely change over the system and he's never seen that done for less than $4,000.  My brother-in-law, who takes cars apart for a living, says all it needs is a kit with new seals and gaskets and R134a refrigerant to do the trick.  I live in Canada, but it's a US-built car, if that makes a difference.  

Thanks for helping with my utter confusion!

Gary 

1973 Pontiac LeMans base model.  350 cu in engine.  Recently purchased in the Chicago area with 23,151 miles on the odometer.  Driven to the Calgary, Alberta area and restored.  

Thanks, all, on this.  One more question.  IS there actually a circuit breaker associated with this A/C Thermal Expansion Valve?  I've searched online and don't see it even listed, much less available.

Gary

You said it.  Perfect.  Many thanks.

G

Geez it's nice to run into someone who knows what they're talking about.  Thanks, Frosty.  Does converting from R12 to R134 necessitate replacing the whole shebang, as in compressor, condenser, pipes and hoses?  Or maybe just the seals, I've heard?  Or can you just take the R12 out (disposing of it properly of course), and put in R134 and have it all work?  I know, the A/C specialty shop will know, but I'm curious and I've 'got you here.'

So I picked up a sweet 1973 LeMans last year with only 23,000 miles on the clock.  One of only things not working is the A/C.  I wonder if anyone out there knows what needs to be done to an old A/C system.  When took mine in to the local GM shop, they got it sort of half working - putting out cool air, not cold.  The mechanic evidently said one of the tubes was freezing up and I'd need a new Thermal Expansion Valve.  So I got one and took it back, but evidently he then said he'd need the circuit breaker that goes with it, (I've looked around and see nothing about circuit breakers being available).  There was also talk about having to do a conversion from R12 to R134 and someone told me that could cost me Cdn$4,000-5,000 (I live in Canada).  Yes, you're right, I'm not getting a lot of help out of GM mostly because I have only been able to talk to the dealer service representative and not directly to the mechanic.  Which is why I'm here on Forever Pontiac!  Anyone want to suggest what they would do if they found themselves in my situation?  Thanksabunch.