How'd you get rid of your A/C refrigerant?

blown94cougar

Registered User
How'd you guys get rid of your A/C system on the car? Im having a huge problem trying to find a shop that will remove the refrigerant 1st without putting it back in the car after doing a recycle, Shouldnt they take it out for free? I mean its free money for them they can put it back in someone elses after a recycle .Btw it is a 1994 cougar Im referring to so it has the R134A refrigerant what would happen if someone where to release it anyway? I heard it can kill you with cardiac arrest or knock you unconsious if exposed for 4-5 mins,Rather not try it anyone know of any shops that would do it in the NJ area?
 
How'd you guys get rid of your A/C system on the car? Im having a huge problem trying to find a shop that will remove the refrigerant 1st without putting it back in the car after doing a recycle, Shouldnt they take it out for free? I mean its free money for them they can put it back in someone elses after a recycle .Btw it is a 1994 cougar Im referring to so it has the R134A refrigerant what would happen if someone where to release it anyway? I heard it can kill you with cardiac arrest or knock you unconsious if exposed for 4-5 mins,Rather not try it anyone know of any shops that would do it in the NJ area?

Vent it to atmotsphere. It's been done for decades. No harm will come to you or anyone else. And no, it won't "destroy the environment".

JD
 
R134A vented for decades? ;)

Just don't suck on the end of the hose or open it in a confined space. Heck, semi-conductor manufacturing used to use liquid freon to cool the cutting edges of machines that would cut the silicon wafers.
 
It's be kind to refrigerant week so let it go. A shop will charge you 60-80 to take it when it's $5 a can, so you make the call.
 
And just in case you have a twinge of guilt... you might want to know that cans of aerosol duster (for keyboards, etc.) are r134. ;)
 
seriously though would it be safe? Im not going to suck on the end of the pipe or nothing and I can do it in an open area should I cut the tube and run like hell?
 
slowly unbolt the lines from the back of the compressor. When it stops hissing you're done.

That's what I did when I did my head gaskets except I didn't realize what I was doing until it made a nice fog around the floor of my buddies garage! Then I decided it was time for the AC delete.
 
Vent it to atmotsphere. It's been done for decades. No harm will come to you or anyone else. And no, it won't "destroy the environment".

JD

Yes, you can vent to atmosphere, but I think you can get fined if you get caught.
 
screw the atmosphere Im worried about it killing me not the enviroment Ive read the MSDS on it and it can cause "heart thumping" cardiac arithmia central nervous system sensitizing ,nervousness ,unconsiousness sudden death...like I said screw the atmosphere Im gonna have my buddy cut it and tell him to run like the wind afterwards:D
 
let it loose like scott said. If you really want to be scared, read the MSDS for Water.

And yes, releasing automotive refrigerants to atmosphere in the U.S.A. will lead to fines, and if you are a licensed refrigerant specialist, they'll pull your license.
 
just vent the shiit already.....I work in the HVAC industry, and 134a does not have the toxins to kill the environment.

And I've probably inhaled more refrigerant than I'd like to know about...

its okay, don't be scared, just do it.
 
R134A vented for decades? ;)

Sorry, I mis-read the question. I assume anything dealing with these cars is R-12. Forgot they switched to R-134a on later ones. Either way, not a problem to vent it out.

As far as being fined, how would anyone possibly know, unless you told them you did it?

JD
 
Sorry, I mis-read the question. I assume anything dealing with these cars is R-12. Forgot they switched to R-134a on later ones. Either way, not a problem to vent it out.

As far as being fined, how would anyone possibly know, unless you told them you did it?

JD

its the EPA that would do something.....but like you said, someone would have to see you do it, then report it with enough evidence....you just can't say, joe blow did this and that, and then they come and ticket you..
 
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