a/c compressor removal
 

I am thinking about doing the head gaskets on my car.

Does the a/c compressor have to come out to remove the engine?

How do I drain the R-134?

How long can the compressor sit out in the air before the seals are damaged?

Thanks

1. No, not according to Alldata for a 92 model - expect other years are the same.

2. You "could" just vent to the atmosphere, I don't think it's illegal for 134 like for R12 (not the preferred solution - however if you can't get the car to a place to pull it down, then oh well).

3. Don't know, but the drier will be toast soon. Drier replacement is always recommeded with compressor replacement because freon/air/oil/desicant/moisture in an open and used drier combine in some nasty way (or so I'm told - don't know factually). The compressor might have it's life extended by occasional rotation to keep oil moving about internally. Since the freon has to go anyway, and the hoses have to come off, why not remove it and put it somewhere cool & dry, i.e., somewhere with A/C.

give me an e-mail address and I'll send you the text for an engine pull so you know what's involved. mine is:

lbridges@cfl.rr.com

1. No, you do not need to disconnect compressor in order
to take the heads out. This is according to the factory service manual and the personal experience too.
You have to remove compressor mounts and shift it forward couple of inches - that's all.

2. It is illegal to vent R134 into atmosphere. Any A/C shop
can evacuate R134 from your system for a "nominal charge".

3. The a/c system should not sit open at all. The problem is
not with the compressor seals, it is with moisture absorbed
by oil and filter/drier. If it was open for any length of time, you will
have to replace the filter-dryer anyway and it is a good
idea to flush oil (it is distributed throughout the system).

3+. Before you put new R134 in the system you have to pump out air out of it - you'll need a vacuum pump. If you don't do it,
it might still work, but it will be less efficient, put more stress
on compressor, and moisture from the air might freeze in the
system blocking the refrigerant flow and causing compressor
failure.
The biggest problem you'll face daily is the a/c efficiency...