1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Heating and air conditioning

(2) Disconnect the refrigerant lines from the A/C
compressor. Cap open lines to prevent moisture from
entering the system.
(3) Remove the A/C compressor from the vehicle.
(4) From the suction and discharge ports on the
A/C compressor, drain the lubricant from the old A/C
compressor into a clean container.
(5) From the suction and discharge ports on the
A/C compressor, drain the lubricant from the new
A/C compressor into a clean container.
(6) Install new lubricant back into the new A/C
compressor in the amount measured from the used
compressor, plus adding any amount of lubricant lost
when the refrigerant system was reclaimed.
(7) Install the A/C compressor and connect the
refrigerant lines. Then evacuate and charge refriger-
ant system.
SERVICE PORT VALVE CORE
DESCRIPTION
A/C SERVICE PORT VALVE CORES
The A/C service port valve cores are serviceable
items. The A/C pressure transducer is mounted on
the high side service port which is located on the dis-
charge line near the A/C compressor. The low side
service port is located on the suction line near the
accumulator outlet tube.
REMOVAL - SERVICE PORT VALVE CORES
WARNING: REFER TO THE APPLICABLE WARN-
INGS AND CAUTIONS FOR THIS SYSTEM BEFORE
PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION (Refer
to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
WARNING) and (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CON-
DITIONING/PLUMBING - CAUTION).
(1) Remove the protective cap from the low side
service port as necessary.
(2) Remove the A/C pressure transducer from the
high side service port as necessary (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/CONTROLS/A/C
PRESSURE TRANSDUCER - REMOVAL).
(3) Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant
system (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITION-
ING/PLUMBING/REFRIGERANT - STANDARD
PROCEDURE).
(4) Using a standard Schrader-type valve core tool,
remove the valve core from the service ports as
required.
(5) Install a plug in or tape over the opened ser-
vice port(s).
INSTALLATION
(1) Lubricate the A/C service port valve core with
clean refrigerant oil prior to installation. Use only
refrigerant oil of the type recommended for the A/C
compressor in the vehicle.
(2) Remove the tape or plug from the A/C service
port.
CAUTION: A valve core that is not fully seated in
the A/C service port can result in damage to the
valve during refrigerant system evacuation and
charge. Such damage may result in a loss of sys-
tem refrigerant while uncoupling the charge adapt-
ers.
(3) Using a standard Schrader-type valve core tool,
install and tighten the replacement valve core into
the A/C service ports as required.
(4) Evacuate the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
FRONT/REFRIGERANT - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE - REFRIGERANT SYSTEM EVACUATE).
(5) Charge the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
FRONT/REFRIGERANT - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE - REFRIGERANT SYSTEM CHARGE).
(6) Install the A/C pressure transducer to the high
side service port as necessary (Refer to 24 - HEAT-
ING & AIR CONDITIONING/CONTROLS/A/C
PRESSURE TRANSDUCER - INSTALLATION).
(7) Install the protective cap onto the A/C service
ports as required.
SUCTION LINE
DESCRIPTION
The suction line is the refrigerant line that goes
from the evaporator outlet tube to the compressor
inlet port. The suction line for the 5.9L Diesel engine
is only serviced as an assembly with the discharge
line. The suction line has no serviceable parts except
the rubber O-rings. If the suction line is found to be
leaking or is damaged, it must be replaced.
REMOVAL
REMOVAL - 5.9L DIESEL ENGINE
WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAU-
TIONS IN THE FRONT OF THIS SECTION BEFORE
PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION (Refer
to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
WARNING) and (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CON-
DITIONING/PLUMBING - CAUTION).
24 - 70 PLUMBINGDR
REFRIGERANT OIL (Continued)

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant
system (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITION-
ING/PLUMBING - STANDARD PROCEDURE -
REFRIGERANT RECOVERY).
(3) Disconnect the wire harness connector from the
A/C pressure transducer.
(4) Remove the nut that secures the discharge line
fitting to the condenser inlet port (Fig. 29).
(5) Disconnect the discharge line from the con-
denser.
(6) Remove the O-ring seal from the discharge line
fitting and discard.
(7) Install plugs in, or tape over the discharge line
fitting and condenser inlet port.
(8) Remove the bolt that secures the suction/dis-
charge line assembly to the A/C compressor.
(9) Disconnect the suction/discharge line assembly
from the A/C compressor.
(10) Remove the O-ring seals from the suction and
discharge line fittings and discard.
(11) Install plugs in, or tape over all of the opened
refrigerant line fittings and the compressor ports.(12) Remove the secondary retaining clip from the
spring-lock coupler that secures the suction line to
the accumulator outlet tube (Fig. 30).
(13) Using the proper A/C line disconnect tool, dis-
connect the suction line from the accumulator outlet
tube (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITION-
ING/PLUMBING/REFRIGERANT LINE COUPLER -
REMOVAL).
(14) Remove the O-ring seal from the accumulator
outlet tube fitting and discard.
(15) Install plugs in, or tape over the opened suc-
tion line and the accumulator outlet tube fitting.
(16) Remove the suction/discharge line assembly
from the engine compartment.
(17) If necessary, remove the A/C pressure trans-
ducer from the discharge line.
REMOVAL - 3.7L/4.7L AND 5.7L HEMI ENGINE
WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAU-
TIONS IN THE FRONT OF THIS SECTION BEFORE
PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION (Refer
to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
WARNING) and (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CON-
DITIONING/PLUMBING - CAUTION).
Fig. 29 A/C Suction Line - 5.9L Diesel Engine
1 - CONDENSER
2 - NUT
3 - LIQUID LINE
4 - NUT
5 - PRESSURE TRANSDUCER WIRE CONNECTOR
6 - A/C COMPRESSOR
7 - BOLT
8 - SUCTION/DISCHARGE LINE ASSEMBLY
Fig. 30 Suction Line - A/C Accumulator
1 - RH INNER FENDER
2 - ACCUMULATOR INLET TUBE
3 - A/C LINE SECONDARY RETAINING CLIP
4 - EVAPORATOR OUTLET TUBE
5 - BOLTS (2)
6 - ACCUMULATOR
7 - SUCTION LINE
8 - A/C LOW PRESSURE SERVICE PORT
9 - A/C LINE SECONDARY RETAINING CLIP
DRPLUMBING 24 - 71
SUCTION LINE (Continued)

(7) Remove the tape or plugs from the suction and
discharge line fittings and the compressor ports.
(8) Lubricate new rubber O-ring seals with clean
refrigerant oil and install them on the suction and
discharge line fittings. Use only the specified O-rings
as they are made of a special material for the R-134a
system. Use only refrigerant oil of the type recom-
mended for the A/C compressor in the vehicle.
(9) Connect the suction/discharge line assembly to
the compressor.
(10) Install and tighten the bolt that secures the
suction/discharge line assembly to the compressor.
Tighten the bolt to 28 N´m (20 ft. lbs.).
(11) Remove the tape or plugs from the discharge
line fitting and condenser inlet port.
(12) Lubricate a new rubber O-ring seal with clean
refrigerant oil and install it on the discharge line fit-
ting. Use only the specified O-ring as it is made of a
special material for the R-134a system. Use only
refrigerant oil of the type recommended for the A/C
compressor in the vehicle.
(13) Connect the discharge line to the condenser
inlet port.(14) Install and tighten the nut that secures the
discharge line fitting to the condenser. Tighten the
nut to 20 N´m (180 in. lbs.).
(15) Connect the wire harness connector to the A/C
pressure transducer.
(16) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
(17) Evacuate the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGERANT SYS-
TEM EVACUATE).
(18) Charge the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGERANT SYS-
TEM CHARGE).
INSTALLATION - 3.7L/4.7L AND 5.7L HEMI
ENGINE
(1) Position the suction line into the engine com-
partment.
(2) Remove the tape or plugs from the suction line
fitting and the compressor inlet port.
(3) Lubricate a new rubber O-ring seal with clean
refrigerant oil and install it on the suction line fit-
ting. Use only the specified O-ring as it is made of a
special material for the R-134a system. Use only
refrigerant oil of the type recommended for the A/C
compressor in the vehicle.
(4) Connect the suction line to the compressor.
(5) Install and tighten the nut that secures the
suction line to the compressor. Tighten the nut to 28
N´m (20 ft. lbs.).
(6) Remove the tape or plugs from the suction line
and the accumulator outlet tube fitting.
(7) Lubricate a new rubber O-ring seal with clean
refrigerant oil and install it on the accumulator out-
let tube fitting. Use only the specified O-ring as it is
made of a special material for the R-134a system.
Use only refrigerant oil of the type recommended for
the A/C compressor in the vehicle.
(8) Connect the suction line to the accumulator
outlet tube (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDI-
TIONING/PLUMBING/REFRIGERANT LINE COU-
PLER - INSTALLATION).
(9) Install the secondary retaining clip onto the
spring-lock coupler that secures the suction line to
the accumulator outlet tube.
(10) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
(11) Evacuate the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGERANT SYS-
TEM EVACUATE).
(12) Charge the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGERANT SYS-
TEM CHARGE).
Fig. 33 A/C Accumulator - Typical
1 - RH INNER FENDER
2 - ACCUMULATOR INLET TUBE
3 - A/C LINE SECONDARY RETAINING CLIP
4 - EVAPORATOR OUTLET TUBE
5 - BOLTS (2)
6 - ACCUMULATOR
7 - SUCTION LINE
8 - A/C LOW PRESSURE SERVICE PORT
9 - A/C LINE SECONDARY RETAINING CLIP
DRPLUMBING 24 - 73
SUCTION LINE (Continued)