Removing air con???

Jono FD3 · March 17, 2007, 08:47:42 PM

like the title says, How do I go about removing the air conditioning system???
I\'m going to be doing my V-mount this week & my air con doesn\'t work so I\'m just going to remove it, but how do I release the gas, is it harmful / burn???

Jono

dandan · March 17, 2007, 08:57:08 PM

Ask stormbleeder, we only did it recently so he should be able to tell you. We did have to engine out at the time though...

No comment on the gas issue though, Rich\'s was already discharged luckily.

ozzyvelcro · March 17, 2007, 09:44:46 PM

Locate the connector where its filled from (from memory its left hand side near bulkhead) unscrew the plastic cap, put on gloves and safety googles and press the valve in (looks like a tyre valve) with a small flat head screw driver to release the pressure.Be careful when you disconnect the pipes on the condenser as they may still be some pressure and oil left which can easily take you eyes out.
And one more thing releasing the gas to atmosphere is highly illegal so dont get caught or you\'ll get a bigger fine/prison sentance than most rapists and murderers.

Cheers Danny

Jono FD3 · March 17, 2007, 10:07:04 PM

OK I can handle that....... is it OK to breath while doing this or do I need to hold my breath till I pass out?

Jono

marco · March 17, 2007, 10:27:04 PM

you should be ok, but i wouldnt take huge lungfulls of the stuff! Freon is heavier than air IIRC so that helps- what is the actual gas number in the system? different gases have different toxicity.

just dont burn it! it makes phosgene gas when burnt!

Jono FD3 · March 17, 2007, 10:40:37 PM

I take it thats bad???!!!!

marco · March 18, 2007, 08:12:45 AM

phosgene? It isnt great. they used it in the great war as a chemical weapon......

gonzoninja · March 18, 2007, 08:31:12 AM

Depends what gas is in the system. 12 is highly dangerous (as in poisonous), but also shouldn\'t actually be used in cars anymore (guess it depends how old you car is and if its been re-gassed). 13a is less dangerous, but you still don\'t want to really breathe it in.

You should really get your air-con system de-gassed by a specialist.

Jono FD3 · March 18, 2007, 10:16:11 AM

Unfortunatly I don\'t have that option mate!!! The air con doesnt work anyway.... the pump engages but I have hotter air coming out of the vents than with it off, so there probably isn\'t any gas in it anyway, Oh well, we\'ll soon find out!!!!

Jono

gonzoninja · March 18, 2007, 08:08:01 PM

Yeah that happened to mine. There was still a bit of gas left in it when I came to remove the condenser (I was told that it was broken, but it looked okay to me), and it never did me any harm. Probably.

If you\'ve got a stock bonnet, it should say what gas it has in it e.g. mine has a sticker on the top right hand side that says R13a, which is safer than R12. As I said the R12 stuff is poisonous.

Jono FD3 · March 18, 2007, 10:57:35 PM

Luckily for me there was abselutly no gas in my system (which could be why it didn\'t work!!!!) so I just removed the fittings, although I might put it back on & get it gased up for the summer!!

Jono