Removing all of my A/C compnents... ?

[Trakrat]

I'm planning in removing all my air condition components off the car...
As far as I know, the A/C hasn't been used in years... nonetheless, I'm not sure if there is any refrigerant in the lines or if its even under any pressure.

The car can't be taken anywhere, as it's not running.
Is there something I can do to check it myself? Or can something be removed and taken to a shop??

How can I remove the A/C from my car without taking it to a shop??

[JRSIII]

Take a very small screwdriver or punch and depress the schrader valve on one of your compressor fittings. If there is any pressure on the system you'll hear the gas escaping. If not, start disconnecting hoses and tearing stuff out.

[Coastr]

Technically it's illegal to intentionally vent the 300g or so of r12 to the atmosphere.

If one of your valves is faulty because it's loose and the gas escapes then that is just bad luck, and not illegal.

Like all water eventually ends up in the ocean, all refrigerant eventually ends up in the atmosphere, if you get my drift.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Trakrat

I'm planning in removing all my air condition components off the car...
As far as I know, the A/C hasn't been used in years... nonetheless, I'm not sure if there is any refrigerant in the lines or if its even under any pressure.

The car can't be taken anywhere, as it's not running.
Is there something I can do to check it myself? Or can something be removed and taken to a shop??

How can I remove the A/C from my car without taking it to a shop??

If it still has refrigerant call a local HVAC company and see how much they'd charge to recover the R-12. If you knew someone with an old empty refrigerant tank and a vacuum pump you could connect gauges to the car and the center line to the tank that has been put into a vacuum and suck most of the refrigerant out of the system.

[T77911S]

its not running and your concern is removing the AC?

is it a racecar?

[BullStandsAlone]

I had the same situation and discovered there was no refrigerant in the line. If it hasn't been run for years, the chances are high it's no longer in there.

[NutmegCarrera]

Those hoses are micro perfd (intentionally)
Over time, the refrigerant escapes. Not really sure what the logic was in that design.
A working system needs to be charged periodically because of this.
If system has not been run for years, chances are pretty good that there is nothing to evacuate anyway.

Mine "cooled" for about 3 years after replacing all o-rings, a new receiver/drier, pumping the system down with a vacuum pump and charging with 4 cans of r12.

After 3-4 years, no more cool air. Lots of effort for marginal results.

[jwakil]

+1 What JRSIII said

If you are planning on driving the car in Kansas, might think about fixing the AC instead of gutting it, unless its for racing purposes only. I thought I could get away with leaving windows open while driving in Texas. Its only tolerable for the first 5 minutes, then you are wishing you were in a cool Toyota Corolla instead.