STANDARD PROCEDURE

When servicing the A/C system, a R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE standard J2210 must be used (1). Contact an automotive service equipment supplier for refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging equipment. Refer to the operating instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer for proper care and use of this equipment.

A manifold gauge set (1) may be needed with some recovery/recycling/charging equipment. The manifold gauge set should have manual shut-off valves (2 and 6), or automatic back-flow valves located at the service port connector end of the manifold gauge set hoses (4 and 5). This will prevent refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere.

MANIFOLD GAUGE SET CONNECTIONS

CAUTION: Do not use an R-12 manifold gauge set on an R-134a system. The refrigerants are not compatible and system damage will result.

• LOW PRESSURE GAUGE HOSE - The low pressure hose (Blue with Black stripe) attaches to the low-side service port. This port is located on the A/C liquid line near the front of the engine compartment.
• HIGH PRESSURE GAUGE HOSE - The high pressure hose (Red with Black stripe) attaches to the high-side service port. This port is located on the A/C discharge line near the A/C condenser.
• RECOVERY, RECYCLING, EVACUATION AND CHARGING HOSE - The center manifold hose (Yellow, or White, with Black stripe) is used to recover, evacuate, and charge the refrigerant system. When the low or high pressure valves on the manifold gauge set are opened, the refrigerant in the system will escape through this hose.

REFRIGERANT SYSTEM RECOVERY

An R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station (1) that meets SAE standard J2210 must be used to recover the refrigerant from the R-134a refrigerant system. Refer to the operating instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer for the proper care and use of this equipment.

REFRIGERANT SYSTEM EVACUATE

NOTE: Special effort must be used to prevent moisture from entering the A/C system oil. Moisture in the oil is very difficult to remove and will cause a reliability problem with the A/C compressor.

If an A/C compressor designed to use R-134a refrigerant is left open to the atmosphere for an extended period of time. It is recommended that the refrigerant oil be drained and replaced with new oil or a new A/C compressor be used. This will eliminate the possibility of contaminating the refrigerant system.

If the refrigerant system has been open to the atmosphere, it must be evacuated before the system can be filled. Moisture and air mixed with the refrigerant will raise the compressor head pressure above acceptable operating levels. This will reduce the performance of the A/C system and damage the A/C compressor. Moisture will boil at near room temperature when exposed to vacuum. To evacuate the refrigerant system:

NOTE: When connecting the service equipment coupling to the line fitting, verify that the valve of the coupling is fully closed. This will reduce the amount of effort required to make the connection.

CHARGING PROCEDURE

CAUTION: A small amount of refrigerant oil is removed from the A/C system each time the refrigerant system is recovered and evacuated. Before charging the A/C system, you MUST replenish any oil lost during the recovery process. Refer the equipment manufacturer instructions for more information.