RAM 3500 Truck 4WD L6-5.9L DSL Turbo VIN C (2002)
Refrigerant: Service and Repair
Refrigerant System - Evacuate
Refrigerant System Evacuate
WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS IN THIS SECTION BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING
OPERATION. See: Service Precautions/Technician Safety Information.
If the refrigerant system has been open to the atmosphere, it must be evacuated before the system can be charged. If moisture and air enters the system
and becomes mixed with the refrigerant, the compressor head pressure will rise above acceptable operating levels. This will reduce the performance of
the air conditioner and damage the compressor. Evacuating the refrigerant system will remove the air and boil the moisture out of the system at near
room temperature. To evacuate the refrigerant system, use the following procedure:
1. Connect a R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE Standard J2210 and a manifold gauge set to the refrigerant
system of the vehicle.
2. Open the low and high side valves and start the charging station vacuum pump. When the suction gauge reads 88 kPa (26 in. Hg.) vacuum or
greater, close all of the valves and turn OFF the vacuum pump.
a. If the refrigerant system fails to reach the specified vacuum, the system has a leak that must be corrected. (Refer to DIAGNOSIS AND
TESTING - REFRIGERANT SYSTEM LEAKS See: Testing and Inspection/Symptom Related Diagnostic Procedures/Heater Diagnosis)
b. If the refrigerant system maintains the specified vacuum for 5 minutes, restart the vacuum pump, open the suction and discharge valves and
evacuate the system for an additional 10 minutes.
3. Close all of the valves, and turn OFF the charging station vacuum pump.
4. The refrigerant system is now ready to be charged with R-134a refrigerant.