When I got my 85 T/A last spring the A/C was out of charge.I used one of the DIY kits to put some charge in it just to see what wouldhappen and it actually worked! The car blew cold all summer but going into thefall the compressor started to leak oil (weird, right?). I bought a good (used)replacement compressor, but the weather got cold and I never got around toreplacing it.

So this spring I am planning on swapping the compressor(which looks fairly simple) and then recharging the system. Since I’ve got afew older vehicles in the fleet, and my truck also has an A/C leak that Irepaired in the fall and haven’t bother to recharge yet, I figured it might beworthwhile to invest in the proper equipment to service the A/C systemscorrectly.

I am learning, but I am no expert, so here’s what I think I’llneed to evacuate (vacuum) and recharge my system. Can any expertschime in and let me know if I am missing something, or if there is betterequipment I should be using:

-Gauge kit and hoses (

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00K325MC6?colid=3RS5H7MKMVSM6&coliid=I3AXLRMPXR374K&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00K325MC6?colid=3RS5H7MKMVSM6&coliid=I3AXLRMPXR374K&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00K325MC6?colid=3RS5H7MKMVSM6&coliid=I3AXLRMPXR374K&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl">http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00K325MC6?colid=3RS5H7MKMVSM6&coliid=I3AXLRMPXR374K&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl" /> http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00K325MC6?colid=3RS5H7MKMVSM6&coliid=I3AXLRMPXR374K&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl">http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00K325MC6?colid=3RS5H7MKMVSM6&coliid=I3AXLRMPXR374K&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl

)


-Vacuum pump
(

or )


-Can tap ( )


-I’ll probably use RedTek or Duracool cans for thereplacement refrigerant and compressor oil, I’ve had good luck with the stuff.

Is the above stuff ok?


I also need to get a retention tank to capture the old refrigerant,but I can’t seem to find much info on these. Anyone got a link? Is there acertain type of tank and hose I need?

Before anyone says something, my buddy from work iscertified to handle refrigerant so I’ll make sure he’s around whenever we’redoing the work.

 

Sorry for the links...I am not sure why they are duplicating- maybe something Amazon is doing?

 

dont know anything about it, but a few reviewers seemed to be happy with their results on a couple of truck a/c's - the pumps that is. good luck and keep us posted!

 

If you have a really good air compressor, a venturi vacuum system will work just as good. I had an old one for doing R12 systems. Since they're all obsolete and everything is R134, I converted the tool to be a cooling system vacuum tool.

This one has fittings to use with R134 gauges.


or

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vac...ors-96677.html

Since you assume the pump is the only problem, refilling the AC system may not last. To do a proper AC system check, after repairs are made, you need to charge the system with nitrogen to do a leak test. You need to fill it with around 300psi of nitrogen. Then use a soap spray and soak all the soft lines and all the fittings to check for bubbles. If nothing is leaking, then you can vent the nitrogen, pull it down into a vacuum then fill it with freon.

In the end after your repairs are completed, it could be easier to just take it into a shop and let them do it. Probably cost less than buying all the tools to just do it once.

 

Thanks Alky. I don't think my air compressor is good enough, not to mention it's loud as heck, so I am leaning towards an actual pump.


I understand that assuming the compressor is the only problem isn't a safe assumption, only reason I am there right now is because despite the fact that the compressor leaks oil, the system seems to hold a complete charge just fine. I charged it back in June and almost 9 months later it's still at a full charge, and still blows cold - which is why I didn't mention anything else. I will put a new orifice tube in while I have the system open in case the current one has any crap in it, don't want to take out my new compressor


The truck (2000 Sonoma) does have a leak somewhere that I need to isolate and repair. I charged it with a leak detection dye and spent a couple hours looking around and soap checking everything I could but I wasn't able to find it. It must be somewhere I can't access, or maybe internal to the compressor itself. I might actually take this one into a shop.


You're also right that buying all the equipment will cost me more right now (probably significantly more) than if I took the car in to have this done; but I go through a lot of old cars, and I have a lot of wrenching years ahead of me. So I figured I'd invest now and have the stuff for future jobs.