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Old 08-17-2009, 02:43 PM   #1
Smave
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Lightbulb Need Advice on adding freon

So i replaced my radiator and in doing so i also replaced my thermostat. When replacing my thermostat i broke a bolt in the thermostat housing and the only way to get it out without pulling the engine out and drilling it was to remove the ac and drill it out. I got it all working but when i removed the ac freon sprayed everywhere when i released the seal. I know i need to refill with r134a (to the best of my knowledge). I have heard that if you opened it though that I would have to vaccum it first. Is this correct? also once vaccumed can I just add freon or is there any other procedures I should do before attemting to do this.
Thanks
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Old 08-17-2009, 03:28 PM   #2
ciper
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Why didn't you get a right angle adapter for the drill? I got one for about 20$ at home depot

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Old 08-17-2009, 04:31 PM   #3
rdodger
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How do you plan on putting it into a vacuum. Any air or moisture in an ac system is killer,I normally leave a vacuum pump running for a half hour to get everything out, and its designed for ac systems. You can also purge the system which is dumping gas in one port and letting it go to asmosphere on the other one to push out all the air and moisture but it wastes alot of freon (and I doubt you get it cheap like us a/c techs do) and is most likely illegal to do on purpose. Your best bet is to find an a/c shop to recharge it and tell them what you did, it will probably only be ~ $30 more than buying freon and hoping it works from a parts store.
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Old 08-17-2009, 04:52 PM   #4
Smave
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@ciper

I havent seen that tool before and it was a pretty tight working space. I will try that if it happens again. Thanks!

@rdoger

I dont plan on putting it on a vaccum myself, i just need to know if i needed to do it or not. I dont want to just refill it with freon and screw it up. Are you saying I need a proffesinal to do this for me(vaccum the system)? By recharge do you mean refill with r134a?
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Old 08-17-2009, 05:02 PM   #5
rdodger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smave View Post
@ciper

I havent seen that tool before and it was a pretty tight working space. I will try that if it happens again. Thanks!

@rdoger

I dont plan on putting it on a vaccum myself, i just need to know if i needed to do it or not. I dont want to just refill it with freon and screw it up. Are you saying I need a proffesinal to do this for me(vaccum the system)? By recharge do you mean refill with r134a?
Yes you HAVE to vacuum it or purge it.Recharge is just the same as saying refill or repressurize.The only reason those diy kits work for vehicles is because even a vehicle that is very low on freon will usually still have some pressure and thus keep moisture and air out. Since you let everything out and thus exposed the sytem to air/moisture is has to be vacuumed with an expensive pump or you need a guage set that will allow you to dump freon out one port and fill through the other which will push all air and moisture out the dump port. Just call around to a few shops and let them know what happened, and that it needs to be evacuated/vaummed and not just a simple recharge. It shouldn't be too spendy. Next time just bend or work around a/c hoses.
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Old 08-17-2009, 05:13 PM   #6
bluerex47
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I don't have much of anything to add, but wanted to second everything that rdodger said. I work for a refrigeration company,and have done this job more than a few times, similar to rdodgers a/c tech specialty.

Also to note, somewhere you should have a refrigerant charge sticker (either hood or near the radiator) telling you the amount of refrigerant. This is just for your knowledge as the mechanic should already know that.

Good luck!
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