air conditioning removal

[combover]

have to change the valve cover gaskets on my 2.9 liter and the air conditioning doesn't work so I was going to take it off and get it out of the way ...anything I should know before removing the AC compressor ....or should I just start removing stuff ?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It would be real nice if the government provided a place to have the ozone depleting chemicals safely removed, but that's gonna happen.....yeah, right
Depending where you live, it might be illegal to let the chemicals directly into the air. And they can be harmful to you personally, so if you do "somehow" have a possibility of coming in contact, please be careful. Best would be to have the stuff professionally removed, but not everyone has the money to do that. I removed the entire system from my 91 ranger without disconnecting anything.....it took me 7 hours and some head scratching. I still have the system laying out back until I come up with a solution for the chemicals still inside the system.
Good luck,

Richard

 

[adsm08]

If you can get a hose for the AC fitting you can run it through the intake of the engine and burn it off.

The upside to this is that the by-product is not ozone depleting. The down side is that it is highly toxic.

Although, if the AC doesn't work, the system is probably depleted anyway.

 

[wildbill23c]

I'm guessing since you say the A/C isn't working that it has lost its freon so there shouldn't be a problem with removing all the components.

I will say this from a past experience dealing with freon, it is nothing to play around with, people say its illegal to release it into the air, not only is it illegal, but the freon can kill you in the way of suffocation. I was moving a freezer to haul to the dump last year and at some point one of the freon tubes snagged on a door frame, it instantly caused me to drop the freezer because I couldn't breath. Its very dangerous stuff.

Other than that, you can remove the whole A/C system if you like if you never plan on using it again. If the compressor is still good I would plug the input & outputs on it and hang onto it as that is the most expensive component to replace.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I doubt a shop would charge much to evacuate the system for you.

Changing to the non-AC heaterbox and ditching the compressor makes the engine scary accessable.

 

[97RangerXLT]

I looked up having someone reclaim my refrigerant here in the Indy area and it was about 100 bucks. you pay to have them use the fancy reclaiming machine...

AJ

 

[combover]

85_ranger4x4 said .."Changing to the non-AC heaterbox "........do I have to change the heaterbox ?

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

have to change the valve cover gaskets on my 2.9 liter and the air conditioning doesn't work so I was going to take it off and get it out of the way ...anything I should know before removing the AC compressor ....or should I just start removing stuff ?

Wrenchin Rule #1,
Don't remove anything you don't have to.

To access the valve cover, you should be able to just unbolt the compressor, leave the lines attached, flop it off to the side.

Also, I'm not condoning illegal activities but, contrary to what the government told you, R134a is chemically stable and doesn't deplete the ozone. It is however harmful to breathe, and the green oil is hard to clean up.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[CurtisP87]

If you get rid of all the A/C components you could get a working compressor and make an onboard compressed air setup. I've found it useful numerous times, and never missed the A/C

 

[adsm08]

Urban, it's a bronco II. R12, not 134a.

Now, yes, it is "illegal" to vent R12 to atmosphere. BUT that law applies mostly to salvage yards. In one of their smarter moments the government realized that the equipment for R12 is expensive and not likely to be around, AND that you can't use an R134a machine with R12.

That being the case they included a "minimus release" clause which exempts situations like this one, where an individual or a shop with no R12 equipment may vent the system for the purpose of removing it from the vehicle if there is no intention of putting it back on or recharging it.

Just do it outside and be careful, as said before, it is unfriendly stuff.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Oh yeah... Been years since my B2s.

Actually 2 of the 3 were retrofitted with 134a.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[kimcrwbr1]

The way refrigerant is dangerous is if in an enclosed area it will deplete the oxygen you breath its not at all toxic. If it has the chlorine molecule it will damage the o-zone but the EPA has determined all refrigerant adds to global warming. It is unlawful to vent any refrigerant into the atmosphere intentionally push on the schrader valve on one of the service ports being real careful put a rag over it then see if there is pressure in the system. you dont want to get it in your eyes and can burn your skin from cold just be sure and wash your hands good if you contact the oil. Do not crack open a fitting you may never get it to seal again from a slow leak. Oh yea a slow leak is acceptable with the EPA.

 

[PanamaExpat]

I'm guessing since you say the A/C isn't working that it has lost its freon so there shouldn't be a problem with removing all the components.

I will say this from a past experience dealing with freon, it is nothing to play around with, people say its illegal to release it into the air, not only is it illegal, but the freon can kill you in the way of suffocation. I was moving a freezer to haul to the dump last year and at some point one of the freon tubes snagged on a door frame, it instantly caused me to drop the freezer because I couldn't breath. Its very dangerous stuff.

Other than that, you can remove the whole A/C system if you like if you never plan on using it again. If the compressor is still good I would plug the input & outputs on it and hang onto it as that is the most expensive component to replace.

Kids used to break open air conditioners to inhale the freon to get a buzz.... You don't remember that?

The tree huggers logic is flawed... Do they even stop to think how many vehicle AC units need recharged at least once every year and that recharging it is cheaper than finding and fixing the leak... There is a lot of 134 going into the air every day if you look at it on a global basis. Likewise ... R22.... R410....and probably just about any other ozone depleting gas you can think of.

All in all your contribution won't make any appreciable difference... No matter what the enviro-nazis say... vent it and be over with it. Who is going to know except you?

 

[adsm08]

I will. But I told him to just do it.

Postin' from teh Galaxy

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

At least check the options before venting. Every little bit counts. How do I know? 30 years of drinking. 3 years sober. I am 30 years behind where I could have been if I hadn't spent my money on beer $1.00 at a time. average 6 beers a day for 30 years....you figure it out. The same process applies to people polluting....... I also won't think twice about venting if there is not a reasonably cheap way of collecting the gas.

Richard