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How to remove condenser @ home

dforeid on Sun January 10, 2016 6:17 PM User is offline

Year: 1995
Make: Jeep
Model: Cherokee
Engine Size: 4.0L
Refrigerant Type: R134a
Country of Origin: United States

Folks,

Just hit a deer in my '95 Jeep Cherokee XJ. It took out the grill, radiator and A/C condenser. I'm going to fix it myself, have the front end off and am at the point of removing my condenser. Am I OK to crack the lower line fitting where it enters the condenser and let it drain? My plan was to take it into an A/C shop once I got everything back together, but at home I don't have access to an A/C evac. system. Also, once done, can I drive it to an A/C shop to get recharged without damaging any of the components? Obviously having the heat/AC system turned off on the trip in.

Thanks for any help you can provide....

Don

Dougflas on Sun January 10, 2016 6:28 PM User is offline

Had the condenser been damaged? If the system is still holding a charge, by EPA rules and laws the charge must be recovered as you're not permitted to vent the charge of refrigerant to the atmosphere.

Edited: Sun January 10, 2016 at 6:29 PM by Dougflas

GM Tech on Sun January 10, 2016 6:32 PM User is offline

Surprised you haven't already lost all the refrigerant with the impact--9 times out of ten if the radiator is wasted, then the condenser has a hole in it as well. If it is still charged, the refrigerant is supposed to be recovered. If empty-(no pressure) then go ahead and tear it all apart- and don't worry, it won't hurt anything as long as you cover the open end points- to keep dirt and moisture out.

-------------------------
The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......

dforeid on Sun January 10, 2016 9:05 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: GM Tech
Surprised you haven't already lost all the refrigerant with the impact--9 times out of ten if the radiator is wasted, then the condenser has a hole in it as well. If it is still charged, the refrigerant is supposed to be recovered. If empty-(no pressure) then go ahead and tear it all apart- and don't worry, it won't hurt anything as long as you cover the open end points- to keep dirt and moisture out.

Well, it's bent up pretty good, definitely.... but I can't see any evidence of leaks. Is there a quick way to check if it is still pressurized?

GM Tech on Sun January 10, 2016 9:18 PM User is offline

You can depress the high side (or low side) ball valve (with a small screwdriver) momentarily and see if it hisses.

-------------------------
The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......

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