Is a used air conditioning compressor hazardous?

As long as the used compressor is properly plugged when removed, it should be fine. If it was left on the shelf exposed to the air, I would pass.

If your A/C has the wrong oil, make sure they flush the crap out of it, and then flush it again before the new (used) compressor is installed. Also make sure they replace the drier sock.

 

The only thing considered hazardous in an AC compressor is the refrigerant. It is hazardous to the environment because it is an ozone depleter.

As long as the refrigerant was evacuated properly the compressor should be fine if it is plugged as stated above.

 

As a follow up, in a car with a standard belt driven compressor, used compressors can be an issue because the shaft seals can leak after they have been sitting unused for a while. The g2 Prius uses a sealed electric compressor and there is no shaft seal to leak. If the compressor if left unplugged, it will absorb moisture from the air and can corrode internally.

I don't know if the families mechanic knows the Prius uses an electric compressor. I guess what I am saying is they can both be correct based on their knowledge (or lack of) of the system.

 

The old R-12 (trade name Freon) refrigerant was the bad actor as far as ozone depletion was concerned. The present R-134A was brought in as the replacement, as it is much less of an ozone eater. R-134a is unfortunately a green house gas, with about 2000 times the effect, as compared to CO2. We aren't pumping the same vast amounts of it into the air, however.

(Other countries use refrigerants that have zero ozone and greenhouse gas factors, such as butane.)

 

Butane make a very good refrigerant, it also makes a very good stove fuel. 134A is almost inert and virtually non toxic. So the question is would you rather drive around with a refrigerant that can kill both you and first responders or one that that might possibly have a negative impact on the environment, but is extremely safe?

 

I use propane/butane mix in my home refrigeration. As for cars, yes, I have read through the debate and am not completely convinced of enhanced danger, considering that we have cars converted to run their ICE's on propane or CNG, with large tanks. And methane powered buses with expanding rubber bladders on the roof. In an AC system, the amount used is tiny in comparison to such cases.

I read that the Aussies have many propane AC systems on the road, without noticeable detriment. But they wrestle crocs too, so maybe not the best authorities.

This is OT and is probably moot, and in any case the real mandate is to reduce CO2 by using less fuels, with more efficiency. Refrigerants are now recycled and reclaimed well, so the loss is much less than it used to be.

 

The difference between using flammable gas for fuel and using it as refrigerant is that the refrigerant is piped into the passenger compartment and fuel is not. One can make a good argument that butane would be a better refrigerant for vehicles, but as you say it's kind of a moot point with recycling.

I prefer to err on the side of safety.

 

its now R134a is a green house gas not ozone depleting like the old R12 refrigerant from the 1960s 70s 80s up to 194 was the last year R12 was used in cars .

 

you should get the body shop to pay for it not you. I see this all the time , body shops roasting a/c compressor all the time. It takes a few weeks or months but it is guaranteed money for the repair shops by letting the body shops do air conditioning. I should be sending a commission check to all the body shops around me, they make me lots of money. it's sad but true. 90+ % of the shops do not even own a refrigerant analyzer, not one of the mobile a/c recharge guys in my area even or properly recycle and clean the refrigerant. The body shops just look for the CHEAPEST guy that will do the job the way the insurance company wants it. Many times by next year to a year 1/2 later the customer needs a new compressor. Last year when I went on vacation one of the other mobile a/c service guys did all my customers cars ( body shops and auto repair shops ) when I came back I spent over two months redoing cars. Most had contaminated refrigerant, over charger, undercharged, and no trace dye was added so when that a/c mobile service guy recharged grossly leaking 0r hard to find leaking system it wasted mine and the customers time and money.
Later when I talked to that a/c mobile service person , I asked him how can he do work like that. his replay was " the body shops want a cheap price and the insurance will not pay that price. So I don't put dye in because it cost money, I can not afford a refrigerant analyzer they cost too much and I do not charge enough to by or repair equipment". ( PATHETIC) this is the same story's I hear from many shop owners to. I asked this person that dose the mobile a/c service around here what do you do if the customer has a problem? his replay( " I just redo it again"). I asked another question about the way he skips some producers because they cost money and take time, my question was but if the compressor burns up after that then what? His replay (" then I just have the shop replace the compressor the do it all right "). I replay to him "at the customers expense you got to be kidding Wth .
This is what happens in the auto industry day in day out its gets even worse when the owner of the auto shop can not even work on cars them self. When a shop owner can not even diagnose them self out of a wet paper bag if their life depended on it. The customer will pay higher prices and replace more unnecessary parts out of their pocket book, the customer just becomes a ATM for the shop. Dont forget the insurance that will not pay the body shop to do it the right way to "! OF COURSE SAVE MONEY FOR THE CUSTOMER!". We all know our insurance has only our best interest in mine.

 

HC Hydro Carbon refrigerants are the best most efficient and would get the best MPGs, but there is that LITTLE safety issue.

2ed point many shops do not still recycle refrigerant. to keep price down they just do not buy the equipment and just release the refrigerant to the air, no one will see it, no one will smell it, mother nature will recycle it. This is what im told time after time, Nodd Nodd Wink Wink, SHHHH nobody heard that of coerce most shop follow the EPAs rules(" NOT"!!!). Especially the small body shops that the insurance pounds down on about price.