You have it done by an ASE certified tech in an EPA certified shop which has the equipment necessary to recover, store, and recycle refrigerant. Releasing it into the atmosphere is prohibited by federal law.
This would be due to the fact that the system has a leak, it must be found and repaired then the system will need to be evacuated and recharged.......
You may have to replace the entire compressor. Either way, it'll involve disconnecting and dismounting the compressor, and you legally cannot do this on your own. It must be an ASE certified tech who does this, and the shop which does the work must be EPA certified and have approved equipment, as they must evacuate refrigerant out of the system and prevent its release into the air. When the air conditioning system is opened up like that, the receiver-drier (if it's a thermal expansion valve system) or accumulator (if it's a fixed orifice tube system) will also have to be replaced.
No, not unless you have the right tools and training to refill it properly. You must evacuate the system before you can refill it; that requires special machines. Contrary to popular belief you cannot back-fill the system using the compressor to evacuate it.
It involves evacuating the refrigerant out of the system, and you'll have to open up the system, which also means that the receiver-drier (on a Thermal Expansion Valve system) or accumulator (on a Fixed Orifice Tube system) will need to be replaced. Legally, you cannot do this on your own. An ASE certified tech in an EPA certified shop with the equipment to evacuate, store, and recycle refrigerant must do this in order to ensure both that it's done correctly and that refrigerant isn't released into the atmosphere.
because the compressor must be running to circulate the refrigerant in the system
Do not add refrigerant. You must completely evacuate the system, then fill it _by_ _weight_ to prevent overcharging. Overcharging can cause leaks and/or compressor failure.
Prepatory, conditioning, and maintenance
Preferably evacuate, get out of there
PreparatoryConditioningMaintenance
There is little the common person can do these days to fix an AC system in a car. With all the environmental regulations, the system must be hooked up to a recovery system, and recharged only by those who have the qualifications (and license sometimes) to do such kind of work.
If the cap is not holding pressure or if it is damaged, the engine will overheat. The automotive cooling system must be pressurised, WHY?? its because when you pressurise the fluid, the boiling point will increase.
To evacuate the gas fumes, so you don't blow up.