after completely gutting out my civic, ive been looking at removing the AC. i hardly ever drive the car at all, so it doesnt seem unreasonable to me. i was just curious as to if anybody found a DIY for it? i was thinking about just ordering the Helms Civic service manual to look in there, but was hoping i could just find a DIY. Thanks!

 

Just don't vent the refigerant. It's bad on many levels.....

 

what exactly do you mean by that?

 

welll...if its the old R-12, it might be worth something as it's no longer manufactured. If exposed to an open flame it turns into phosgene (sp) gas. Highly poisonous. (I think they all do this actually) If it's the newer R-134a...well it's just oxygen depleting...meaning it is heavier then air and in enclosed areas (garage) will suffucate you. As far as really bad...if someone sees you venting and wants to hassle you the fine starts automatically at $10,000 for knowingly venting a hydroflurocarbon (refrigerant) into the atmoshpere.....

Take it to a shop and pay 25 or so to get the system sucked dry...then you can hack it out without fear.

 

Dogmeat is correct, but i think he is blowing it way out of proportion. I was in a shop where one of the techs stuck a pen in the high side valve until all the refrigerant was evacuated. Nothing happend to me. I don't doubt that R-134A will suffacate you in high levels, but i don't think the amount of refirgerant in your A/C (about 2lbs or less) is enough to fill your garage enough to kill you. I'm not telling you to vent your A/C, because it is highly illegal to knowingly release R134A into the atmosphere but it isn't as dangerous Dogmeat implies. R-12 hasn't been used for a very long time, but it does sell for like 1500-3000 for a drum.

 

well, the stock AC went out a couple years ago, and i had it replaced, so i dont think its the one ya'll are talking about. but anyways, thanks for the advice, 25 bucks really isnt much, i'll just take it to a shop and have it drained. thanks everyone!