it's getting hot here in dc and i recently bought a new a/c compressor online. like many things i've learned to fix on my 240, i assumed this wouldn't be that difficult. just in case though, i upgraded from the basic haynes repair manual to the bentley one. come to find out though, it has one page given to a/c related issues, and half of it are warnings. is this a task only for a shop with "proper safety equipment," or a layman's job?

outside of this, any suggestions for replacement?

many thanks,

raymond

You should get/rent a vacuum pump and a gauge set. Both should have the fittings for either R12 or R134a, whichever you are going with.

Get a new drier, too. when you get ready to put the new one in, pour into it about an ounce of the correct refrigeration oil. Same kind you will use in the
compressor.

If possible, use the vacuum pump now to pump down the system and see if it holds vacuum a long time. NO = leaks. Fix them first.

There's a lot of other info if you are changing from the R12 that your car came with over to R134.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

PS: Go to the library, too.

hi there, the library has good books on this issue.
to do right you need guages and vacume=$$$
the work itself isnt all that bad.
i suggest to read up on subject, it helped me at first to watch a couple of friends do some a.c. work.
if all you need is a compressor and the other one didnt go bad and throw junk all through the system, you may get away with just a swap and a new drier.
im no expert for sure. good luck