ok so i've done a few cursury searches on this.

My AC compresser is on it's way out so i need to replace it. (green dye leaking out of the back of it) i can supply a pic if you would like to see it.

What is the best and safest way to depressurize my stock AC system?... if it has not all leaked out i'm pretty sure that sinse this is a car from '88 that there is still freon, not the new hfc134a environmentally friendly refrigerent in the car. will i have to get someone to come out with special equipment to remove the freon?

thank you for your help,
TR

 

Call around to find a shop that will do it for you. I called a couple of places in my local area and got some different and interesting answers.

Firestone (known for scamming people) told me it would take a half hour of labor and some hazmat disposal fee, est $50.

A place that specialized in auto AC repair quoted me about the same.

The local Honda and Acura guys said to bring it over and they'd do it for free.

From what I understand Freon is impossible to get these days since it was banned some years ago. The shop can basically turn it around and sell it or use it to recharge someone else's AC.

I brought it over to the Honda guys and he hooked it up to the machine, sucked out the Freon and mentioned that he only got 1/4 lb, when the normal charge should be something like 2 lbs.

It should be noted that R12, Freon, is a CFC that acts like a catalyst to break up Ozone. The chlorine yoinks the extra oxygen atom off of two O3 molecules to make more O2. (Bad.)

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/q_a.html#q2

Moral of the story: DO NOT RELEASE FREON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

I'm not a crazy enviromentalist or anything (I do drive a RX-7) but this is serious **** and is easily avoided by getting it disposed of properly.