Replacing grille is more involved than I thought

[saffy]

So I hit a deer a couple weeks ago in my 2000 TJ and dented my grill and destroyed my radiator pretty nicely. Got a new radiator shipped to me as well as a decent used grill from ebay. currently in the process of removing the radiator and grill to get them both replaced.

I realized that in order to get the grill out, though, I need to disconnect the AC lines from my condenser. But I should obviously evacuate the system before doing this. I would take the jeep to a shop to have them do this, but I can't take it to a shop unless I get it towed, as the radiator is nonfunctional currently. Does anyone have advice for evacuating the AC system myself? Cheap vacuum tool to do it myself, etc? I'd have to pay a shop to do it so I might as well get a tool to do it myself.

Any advice on doing the grill replacement or radiator replacement would be great too. This is the first somewhat major piece of work I'm doing on my TJ since I installed the 2" suspension lift 6 years ago.

 

[NskLJ]

Buy a cheap set of a/c gauges connect the high and low side fitting. Drop the yellow line in a bucket of water crack the lines a bit let the refrigerant out. Go slow to keep the oil in the system. You will have to open the valves more as pressure drops. When it’s all gone disconnect and cap the lines. Replace the grill and bring to shop to recharge unless you want to buy a pump. Make sure you can buy refrigerant first though, I know two people who couldn’t purchase it due to license requirement.

 

[TheBoogieman]

"You don't have to evacuate the A/C. All you do is separate the condenser from the grill. You grab the upper ones underneath the top of the grill with whatever you can to remove the upper two bolts and pry those lower mounts out and just replace the mounts when you put it back together. You are going to have to do this anyway, just do it before and you don't have to deal with the A/C."
@pagrey.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

^This. You can definitely replace the grill without impacting the A/C. There is plenty of room and slack to unbolt the condenser and move it far enough out of the way. Just be careful not to damage the fins - covering each face with cardboard helps.

I’ve done this more times than I can count - the last time about two months ago when I replaced my grille.

 

[flyinfish]

Buy a cheap set of a/c gauges connect the high and low side fitting. Drop the yellow line in a bucket of water crack the lines a bit let the refrigerant out. Go slow to keep the oil in the system. You will have to open the valves more as pressure drops. When it’s all gone disconnect and cap the lines. Replace the grill and bring to shop to recharge unless you want to buy a pump. Make sure you can buy refrigerant first though, I know two people who couldn’t purchase it due to license requirement.

It is illegal to vent refrigerant beyond what is termed "de minimus".

 

[mrblaine]

It is illegal to vent refrigerant beyond what is termed "de minimus".

How many of us whose systems have leaked out all the refrigerant are going to jail? I've dealt with at least 20 over the last 10 years. How long am I going to be behind bars?

 

[JMT]

How many of us whose systems have leaked out all the refrigerant are going to jail? I've dealt with at least 20 over the last 10 years. How long am I going to be behind bars?

 

[flyinfish]

How many of us whose systems have leaked out all the refrigerant are going to jail? I've dealt with at least 20 over the last 10 years. How long am I going to be behind bars?

Just pointing it out. I'm no fan of theses three letter agencies.

Edit: Leaking out isn't illegal.

 

[mrblaine]

Edit: Leaking out isn't illegal.

Which shows how dumb some stuff is since the end result is the same.

 

[flyinfish]

Which shows how dumb some stuff is since the end result is the same.

Agreed

 

[tnjeepguy]

Which shows how dumb some stuff is since the end result is the same.

Surely you were not looking for a reasonable/logical/economical government policy ??

Next step is ban air conditioning on all vehicles; except electric Jeeps of course !!

 

[saffy]

"You don't have to evacuate the A/C. All you do is separate the condenser from the grill. You grab the upper ones underneath the top of the grill with whatever you can to remove the upper two bolts and pry those lower mounts out and just replace the mounts when you put it back together. You are going to have to do this anyway, just do it before and you don't have to deal with the A/C."
@pagrey.

this is why I joined this forum! thank you! I'll take a look at how to do this. would be great if I didn't have to touch my AC.

 

[mrblaine]

this is why I joined this forum! thank you! I'll take a look at how to do this. would be great if I didn't have to touch my AC.

You will have to touch it since you have to remove the flange head bolts from the rubber well nuts in 4 places, but you won't have to evacuate and recharge.

 

[saffy]

You will have to touch it since you have to remove the flange head bolts from the rubber well nuts in 4 places, but you won't have to evacuate and recharge.

yeah sorry that's what I meant

 

[NskLJ]

It is illegal to vent refrigerant beyond what is termed "de minimus".

I well aware but I watch hundreds of lbs being released by large companies yet no one seems to care about that.