A/C Evacuation?

[bighammer]

My defrost door broke and to get into it, I need the A/C system emptied. I called a local shop hoping for a cheap (or FREEon days that end in "Y") recovery of the refrigerant. I was told it would cost about 35 bucks for the half hour it would take.

Probably drains out on it own much faster and cheaper, but what should I do? TIA

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Pay the bucks maybe you could make a deal to come back and have it recharged when your repair is complete?

 

[B.G. Smith]

If you have it evacuated before you do the job are they going to charge you again to evacuate before you recharge? If so I would figure out some other way to get the charge out. (Can't say it here, Al Gore might be surfing) It has to be removed slowly either way because some of the oil is mixed with the refrigerant, the refrigerant will boil as the pressure drops and the oil foam will come out with the escaping gas. bg

 

[JJPage]

Anytime you open the system, you are going to have to re-evacuate, pull it back into a vacuum(sp) to get all the air/moisture out.



You will have to recover the existing refrigerant, open the system to do the repairs, close the system, pull down to 500 microns(?), then recharge the system. That is the legal procedure.



I have not really been exposed to automobile systems, I worked on all the HVAC equipment for Qwest Communications for 11 years, I believe the basic practices are the same.

 

[RVTRKN]

Have the pros do it, unless you have $1000. 00 for the equipment, and that is a conservative figure. If you have gages and the proper fittings and a vacuum pump. PM me and I'll have you go step by step for the proper procedure. No moisture in the system is a must when evacuating and charging, or the compressor may fail as well as a refrigerant restriction.



BTW, make sure the truck is in a 72* ambient garage, or moisture may remain.



I just had Dodge change my vent door, and they changed it out for $550. 00 complete, and I own all of the equipment. However that was negotiated from $800. 00, maybe you can get the same deal, it will take you a long time and a lot of trouble if you repair yourself.

 

[sag2]

If you mean you are replacing the recirc door the refrigerant system does not have to be touched.

 

[bighammer]

If you mean you are replacing the recirc door the refrigerant system does not have to be touched.

It's my defrost door. I'll look at the write-up in greater detail before I tear into it. Thanks

I rarely use the A/C in my truck. If the compressor could be converted to an on-board air system... .