1996 Dodge Caravan Replace Compressor?

You know, people will start talking about the proper way to do things, but they will be the same people thats taking all of the shortcuts. Let me tell you what I did to my van before I started working here. My compressor had a leak, I went to the junkyard, bought a 20.00 compressor off of a damaged vehicle. Came home unbolted the compressor, gently unscrewed the pressure lines so that the coolant would gently leak out, (threw a towel over it to help absorb the leakage and so that the fumes would not be released into the air). When it was done releasing the coolant I finished taking the hose off, put the compressor that I bought in, hooked the line up and bought some 134a refrigerant from autozone and filled it. This sucker has been ice cold for two years now. What do u think these people are doing when they buy refrigerent from the parts place? Vacuuming their system out and presure checking it and all that? No they are not. I would buy a new compressor have it put on(if you cant' do it yourself) and buy some refrigerant or bring it to one of those shops to fill it up. They will usually vacuum the system out and pressure test it for you. Before refilling it, two hundred doolars or even less or maybe a little more as opposed to whatever those other people(mechanics) are talking about. Sometimes you have to cut corners. And you cant feel guilty about it. Write back if you have any further thoughts or questions

Yes it can be done yourself. Its just that. Those machines that vacuum and refill are expensive. No you cant use forced are there has to be a suction there and it has to be able to be held at a certain amount of pressure to tell if there are any leaks