![]() |
|
|
|
User
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Oakland
Posts: 940
|
AC Delete: Safe DIY Refrigerant Check?
Is there an easy, SAFE way to check my refrigerant level before I go to the trouble of taking the car to a shop to have it evacuated (and possibly finding out there isn't any left)? Thanks for any help.
__________________
82 Targa |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: So. Calif.
Posts: 19,910
|
Assuming you don't have an A/C pressure gauge set, inspect the sight glass on the high pressure side of the system. With the system ON, you should see either bubbles floating past (indicating the system is low) or no bubbles (indicating the system is either full or empty).
If no bubbles are visible, remove the cap from the Schraeder valve and depress the valve and see if refrigerant leaks out. Wear safety goggles and gloves. If nothing comes out, it's probably empty. If so, have an A/C shop evacuate the rest of the refrigerant. It's not okay to release it into the atmosphere. Sherwood |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
Ooops!
__________________
John Original owner '81 911SC blackmetallic coupe. Terbatrol, SSI, M+K Gen 4, SC+ cams, A/C delete, console delete, heater backdate, 7 & 8 x 16 Fuchs with polished rims, Turbo tie rods, tensioner update, Rennline engine mount bar, Mainely Custom sump plate, new top-end, corner balance. |
||
![]() |
|
User
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Oakland
Posts: 940
|
Quote:
__________________
82 Targa |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: So. Calif.
Posts: 19,910
|
Sorry. My answer was confusing. I meant to say, if the system has refrigerant, have an A/C shop recycle it. If it's empty, go ahead and remove the system from the vehicle.
Sherwood |
||
![]() |
|
User
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Oakland
Posts: 940
|
OK, cool. Thanks!
__________________
82 Targa |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Birthplace of Bix
Posts: 1,145
|
I just did this. After checking the valve to see if high pressure gas would come out (it didn't), I just vented it to the atmosphere (one second of hiss, then nothing), so a big Al Gore shame, shame on me.
But since I've never used Aqua Net and I didn't put four pounds of R12 in there to leak slowly out over the next six months, I figure I've earned some kind of a carbon credit. Sorry if the tip of Florida falls off next week.
__________________
Joe 85 Carrera 64 Honda Dream - for sale 71 Hodaka Super Rat - keeper |
||
![]() |
|