Discharge ac compressor?? Can you DIY this??

[Herm99]

anyone ever discharge the ac system by themselves? How would you do this? I'm putting in a new (used) ac compressor and need to discharge the system, do I really need to pay a shop to do this??

Also while on the topic of AC, I saw a kit at autozone that will convert any r-12 system to r-134a, it was pretty cheap too...anyone ever used this kit?? Does it work well? Thanks.

[PhyrraM]

The trick with those kits is you still need to vaccum the system down before you re-charge it.

Unless you've got the vaccuum pump, your still in for a trip to the A/C guy. So, might as well let them discarge it for you. Some *might* even pay you for the R12.

[Herm99]

The trick with those kits is you still need to vaccum the system down before you re-charge it.

Unless you've got the vaccuum pump, your still in for a trip to the A/C guy. So, might as well let them discarge it for you. Some *might* even pay you for the R12.

what do you mean "vacuum the system down"..what does this do?

[PhyrraM]

To properly charge the system, there needs to be no air left in it. This means attatching a vaccuum pump and sucking all the air out before charging with the freon.

This is also usually the check for a leak system. Any leaks and it will not hold the vaccuum.

[Herm99]

Well I dont mind making one trip to the ac guy, but 2 trips sounds like a pain in the arse....Is there anyway I can discharge the system the first time just so I can put in the new ac compressor, and then take the car to them to charge/test it???

[asc_up]

Yeah. Just push in the little relief valves and it'll discharge. Just don't breathe it in.

[Legacy777]

If you're going to discharge it, unbolt the fitting on the compressor, that way you don't need to be in the area.

[SubaruNation]

Yeah. Just push in the little relief valves and it'll discharge. Just don't breathe it in.

lol sounds safe!

you could also just roll down the window

[asc_up]

Lol what?

To discharge it, you have to open the hood and mess with the relief valve in there or unbolt the fitting on the compressor.

You're not in the car when you do it...

[New92]

Yup just unbolt then do 12 hail marys for the "chemical contamination" youll be releasing into the environment. Ive done this twice, once by accident, just dont breath it and youll be fine. You can unbolt it at the firewall on the pass side.

[SubaruNation]

roll down the window, like dont take out the a/c

i love how bad it is for the environment lol