My son in law just changed the evaporator on the car we got for my daughter following Tech's directions. He did not charge it right away due to lack of funds. It's probably been about three weeks since he did it. I called around about getting it charged and got prices ranging from $120 to $200. One guy said he had to put oil in the evaporator at the time he installed it. Another guy said you HAVE to change the Dryer too. Can we just take the car the way it is to somebody and have it vacumed outand recharged?

 

Yes, but you are taking a chance.

Did a LOT of ooil come out when you took out the evaporator?
If not like maybe a couple tablespoons worth came out then you can try to charge it yourself.

I have done my Volkswagen system myself twice, Heres what I did.

I bought
"mighty vac" hand vacuum pump
An R-134A hose
1 can of r-134a with Oil Charge
enough additional cans of R-134 for complete system

You need to adapt the vacuum pump to the R-134 hose (I used an old can of R-134 that had a clear hose and plastic fitting on it. Cut it off the top of the can and adapted it to the vacuum pump with included fittings.

I put the pump on the low side and drew about 25 inches vacuum I let it sit like that for about a half hour. It will bleed down some usually because of the connection at the low side fitting. I then pumped it bacl up for a while. I then quickly attached a can of R-134 to the valve and let the vacuum suck it in. I removed the empty can attached the oil charge and started the car and A/C. I put in the oil charge. Let the car idle for a while and then charges the system to reccomend pressure. IT has worked fine for 2 summers of 90+ heat!

One note: All of the above including vacuum pump cost less than $60.

 

The dryer should be replaced do to moisture entering the system when it was open.

Oil can be installed in the system after it is all together.
After a really good vaccum was put on the system oil can be sucked back into the system.

The system is vaccumed to get the moisture out of the system.

Once it is vaccumed and oil is in it can be charged.

 

Thanks guys. We are going to order a Dryer from fcpgroton, install it and then take it somewhere to get it vacumed and recharged. Wonder if we could trust a place like Meinike or Tuffy to do it properly? The Volvo shop is going to charge way too much.

 

You can follow my instruction above and save $$$

In essence you will be doing exactly what they do.

 

Hi Jim,

First of all, congratulations on becoming a moderator. I always wondered why you weren't a moderator, since you're the 3rd top poster and have owned many Volvos. I myself have also agreed to be a moderator, even though my database on Volvos is not as deep as yours.

Anyway, as for the receiver/dryer unit, keep it in the original package until installation, or if already installed, block all ports to prevent moisture from entering the unit. I personally wouldn't trust any franchise shop for any job, but you could perhaps find a shop that does a lot of A/C work.


JPN

 

I called the independent Volvo shop I use here in Columbus and they want the same price as Meinike to vacum and recharge the system, so we will be going there.

Has anybody used the fcpgroton receiver/dryer? It's $49 while the OEM at the dealer is $135, which I could get for around $120.

 

I have installed 2 of them on peoples cars at my house and never any problems.