Do you have to put freeon back into your ac compressor if you disconnect the hoses from it on your 2001 Malibu 3.1?

Answer 1

Repairing and servicing an air conditioning system is most definitely NOT a "do-it-yourself" task, and your question does a lot to highlight the reason why. You're getting in way over your head - I'm not trying to be snarky or condescending when I say this, but it's true, and I'll explain why.

First off, the refrigerant needs to be recovered and stored before you open up the AC system in any way. This must be done by an ASE certified tech in shop which is EPA certified to service an R-134a refrigerant system. I don't know what the equivalent is in Canada, but Canada has traditionally been a bit more conscious about these sorts of things, and I can almost guarantee you a similar law is in place there. Discharging refrigerant into the atmosphere is not only harmful and illegal, but also poses a lot of potential risk to someone who doesn't know what they're doing. You do not want to open up the system with refrigerant in it - the stuff is under pressure, and will escape out of the opening. This poses significant risk to the person working on the system.

Furthermore, you would also have to measure out the compressor oil you lost if such a discharge should occur (the compressor oil is cycled with the refrigerant) and ensure that the correct amount is put back into the compressor - too little lubricant, and the compressor could end up seizing; too much lubricant, and the system will generate excessively high pressure, which will end up damaging components of the AC system. Then, you end up spending a lot more on repairs than if you just had a professional service the system in the first place.

Adding to this, whenever you open up the AC system, there's a component you'll have to replace - what component that is depends on what type of system you have. If it's a Fixed Orifice Tube system, you'll have to replace the accumulator. If it's a Thermal Expansion Valve system, you'll have to replace the receiver-drier. Both contain a desiccant which will become completely saturated within five minutes of exposure to atmospheric air and humidity - even in an arid state such as Colorado, this holds true.

Furthermore, you don't refrigerant directly into the compressor - exactly where it gets charged varies by make and model, but it's always on the low pressure side of the system somewhere - you'll see the schrader valve. And you must charge the system with the amount of refrigerant specified by the vehicle's manufacturer - too little refrigerant or too much refrigerant will also cause damage and component failure to the AC system, and again, you end up spending a whole lot more than you would have by having a professional who knows what they're doing service your system.

While I don't doubt that you're perfectly capable of servicing other systems in your vehicle, and have probably done so in the past, you're getting into something here which you're not prepared for.