Regarding your AC, sounds like it needs to be recharged ..... maybe because of a leak, but most older vehicles you can get away with a recharge once or twice a year.
There is a refrigerant called Duracool, fairly inexpensive and non ozone depleting , enviro friendly .... and is supposed to be up to 40% more efficient than R134a.
I've used it in a vehicle with a R134a system as a direct replacement and it sure felt like it blew alot cooler than R134a even when it was working properly.
__________________
|