A/C suction hose and accumulator

Tiny
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  • 2006 PONTIAC G6
  • 3.9L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
I am replacing the condenser, the compressor, the TXV and [yes-lucky me] the evaporator. I am getting ready to flush the A/C lines with the recommended solvent using compressed air. I noticed, the suction hose has an accumulator. Can this A/C accumulator be flushed? If yes, is it effective? Or should it be replaced with a new suction hose (which has an accumulator attached to it)? I don't think the accumulator on this suction hose can be separated and replaced right?
Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 12:44 AM

14 Replies

Tiny
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Good morning,

No, the accumulator must be replaced anytime the system is opened. It becomes contaminated with water and there is nothing you can do to save it.

Do not flush it at all. That moisture will contaminate the bag inside and the system will not work correctly.

Flush only the components that have not been replaced and then assemble the system.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

Roy

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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:28 AM
Tiny
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Okay, is the accumulator part of the suction hose and cannot be replaced separately? Also, I don't see a receiver/dryer or is it inside the new condenser? Lastly, the A/C compressor hose has a screen; do I need to replace that screen as well before I flush the hose?
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 7:27 AM
Tiny
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That is correct.

Roy
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 7:32 AM
Tiny
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That is correct.

Roy
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 7:32 AM
Tiny
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I ordered a new suction line, but I can't seem to find the A/C compressor suction screen. I know I saw a procedure to remove it and reinstall it.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 7:42 AM
Tiny
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I attached the procedure for you for the replacement below.

Roy

AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) REFRIGERANT FILTER REPLACEMENT

TOOLS REQUIRED
J 39400-A Halogen Leak Detector

REMOVAL PROCEDURE
1. Recover the refrigerant. Refer to Refrigerant Recovery and Recharging.
2. Remove the surge tank from the surge tank bracket.
3. Remove the suction hose and liquid line nut from the thermal expansion valve (TXV).
4. Remove the suction hose and liquid line from the TXV.
5. Remove the line clip from the dash.

ImageOpen In New TabZoom/Print

imageOpen In New TabZoom/Print

6. Remove the refrigerant filter from the line.
7. Remove and discard the sealing washers.

IMPORTANT: Cap all A/C components immediately to prevent system contamination.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
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I did find the procedure for replacing the suction screen (but I cannot find a new screen to buy unless it can be cleaned and reinstalled. Can you find out?). It confused me at first because the suction hose connects to the compressor hose (half-way en-route to the compressor), GM calls it suction screen (even though it is located at the compressor entrance inside the compressor line part of the whole line) while the one you outline in the procedure (above in your last message) is for the liquid line refrigerant filter (also known as TXV screen). This suction screen on the other hand (which requires a threading tool) was the one I could not find. I could not even pull up anything that talks about it. If I cannot find a seller for it, I am wondering if it can be removed and cleaned and replaced after flushing the compressor line. I know it may not be a big deal but this screen seems to have an important function in that it stops solid particles form entering the compressor.
Thanks again Roy for your help.

James
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 3:11 PM
Tiny
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Yes, I clean it with brake kleen. It is a screen that collects debris and it can be cleaned.

The dealer sells them all the time.

You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 3:37 PM
Tiny
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Thanks so much.

James
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 9:12 PM
Tiny
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Anytime.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 9:24 PM
Tiny
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Hi Roy,

I had two sets of G6 GTP Refrigerant lines (they are both from a 2006 3.9L). I attached images below. After our last messages, I did some reading on how the accumulator does its work. To make the story short, I decided to find out for myself. I found nothing inside! Nothing inside the accumulator (no desiccant bags, no tubes and no oil separation mechanism) and nothing inside the compressor tube (no screen to protect the compressor). That means, liquid could over flow and damage the compressor and the compressor could also be damaged because there is no suction screen. Is this an original GM design or an aftermarket line and accumulator? I looked at three GM 2006 G6 GTP lines; they are all the same. Should I be looking into adding an in-line accumulator instead of this empty container that is not even vertically deep? I really don't know much about the behavior of the refrigerant, but many articles state that the refrigerant goes into the accumulator with liquid in the vapor. What do you think?
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Thursday, March 18th, 2021 AT 3:24 PM
Tiny
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That is not the accumulator at all. That is for the pulses of the pressure when the system is working.

Your system does not have a accumulator as the other systems. It has that filter and that is all. I would not install anything that is not factory at all.

Roy

A/C Cycle
Refrigerant is the key element in an air conditioning system. R-134a is presently the only EPA approved refrigerant for automotive use. R-134a is an very low temperature gas that can transfer the undesirable heat and moisture from the passenger compartment to the outside air.

The A/C compressor is belt driven and operates when the magnetic clutch is engaged. The compressor builds pressure on the vapor refrigerant. Compressing the refrigerant also adds heat to the refrigerant. The refrigerant is discharged from the compressor, through the discharge hose, and forced to flow to the condenser and then through the balance of the A/C system. The A/C system is mechanically protected with the use of a high pressure relief valve. If the high pressure switch were to fail or if the refrigerant system becomes restricted and refrigerant pressure continued to rise, the high pressure relief will pop open and release refrigerant from the system.

Compressed refrigerant enters the condenser in a high temperature, high pressure vapor state. As the refrigerant flows through the condenser, the heat of the refrigerant is transferred to the ambient air passing through the condenser. Cooling the refrigerant causes the refrigerant to condense and change from a vapor to a liquid state.

The condenser is located in front of the radiator for maximum heat transfer. The condenser is made of aluminum and aluminum cooling fins, which allows rapid heat transfer for the refrigerant. The semi-cooled liquid refrigerant exits the condenser and flows through the liquid line, to the thermal expansion valve.

The thermal expansion valve is located in the liquid line between the condenser and the evaporator. The thermal expansion valve is the dividing point for the high and the low pressure sides of the A/C system. As the refrigerant passes through the thermal expansion valve, the pressure of the refrigerant is lowered. Due to the pressure differential of the liquid refrigerant, the refrigerant will begin to vaporize at the thermal expansion valve. The thermal expansion valve also meters the amount of liquid refrigerant that can flow into the evaporator.

Refrigerant exiting the thermal expansion valve flows into the evaporator core in a low pressure, liquid state. Ambient air is drawn through the HVAC module and passes through the evaporator core. Warm and moist air will cause the liquid refrigerant boil inside of the evaporator core. The boiling refrigerant absorbs heat from the ambient air and draws moisture onto the evaporator. The refrigerant exits the evaporator back through the thermal expansion valve and into the suction line and back to the compressor, in a vapor state completing the A/C cycle of heat removal. At the compressor, the refrigerant is compressed again and the cycle of heat removal is repeated.

The conditioned air is distributed through the HVAC module for passenger comfort. The heat and moisture removed from the passenger compartment will also change form, or condense, and is discharged from the HVAC module as water under the vehicle.
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Friday, March 19th, 2021 AT 2:34 AM
Tiny
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Thank you; the description you included confirmed what I learned about the refrigerant and its cycle through the system. So, the moisture collected from the cabin is released exteriorly and the refrigerant is as dry as it can be before heading back to the compressor, and therefore the accumulator's dessicant was eliminated? Someone told me "systems that do not have an accumulator must have a receiver/dryer" (which I am assuming is inside the condenser itself since I do not see one either). Okay, I think I am ready to install all new A/C components (except the pressure line after adding a new filter in it).

Have a good one,
James
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Friday, March 19th, 2021 AT 3:24 PM
Tiny
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You are welcome.

Keep me updated as to how it turns out.

Roy
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Friday, March 19th, 2021 AT 3:41 PM

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