Standard Procedure - Refrigerant System Evacuate

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Dodge Dakota. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: (Refer to WARNING ) AND (Refer to CAUTION ) BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION.

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 could 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:

Connect a R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE Standard J2210 and a manifold gauge set (if required) to the refrigerant system of the vehicle and recover refrigerant.
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.
1. If the refrigerant system fails to reach the specified vacuum, the system has a leak that must be corrected. See DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING- REFRIGERANT SYSTEM LEAKS for the procedures.
2. If the refrigerant system maintains the specified vacuum for five minutes, restart the vacuum pump, open the suction and discharge valves and evacuate the system for an additional ten minutes.
Close all of the valves, and turn off the charging station vacuum pump.
The refrigerant system is now ready to be charged with R-134a refrigerant (Refer to REFRIGERANT - STANDARD PROCEDURE ).