Heating and Air Conditioning: Tools and Equipment

Fig 6 Manifold Gauge Set -- Typical:

Fig 12 Spring Lock Coupler Disconnect:

WARNING: Eye protection must be worn when servicing an air conditioning refrigerant system. Turn off (rotate clockwise) all valves on the equipment being used, before connecting to or disconnecting from the refrigerant system. Failure to observe these warnings may result in personal injury.

REFRIGERANT SYSTEM SERVICE EQUIPMENT
When servicing the air conditioning system, a refrigerant charging station and a recovery/recycling device for R-134a must be used. This device must meet SAE Standard J2210. Contact an automotive service equipment supplier for refrigerant charging and recycling/recovering equipment. Refer to the operating instructions provided with the equipment for proper operation.

A manifold gauge set may be needed with some charging and/or recovery/recycling devices. The service hoses on the gauge set being used should have manual (turn wheel), or automatic back-flow valves at the service port connector ends. This will prevent refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere.


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 suction service port. This port is located on the suction line, near the front of the engine compartment.

High Pressure Gauge Hose
The high pressure hose (Red with Black stripe) attaches to the discharge service port. This port is located on the discharge line between the compressor and the condenser, near the front of the engine compartment.

Recovery/Recycling/Evacuation/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.

Fig 3 Refrigerant Recovery Machine Hookup:

Fig 5 Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling Station -- Typical:

A/C RECOVERY/RECYCLING STATION
When servicing a system, it is required that an air conditioning charging recovery/recycling machine be used. Contact an automotive service equipment supplier for proper equipment. Refer to the operating instructions provided with the equipment for proper operation.

THERMO COUPLE PROBE
To diagnose the A/C system, a temperature probe is required to measure liquid line temperature. The clamp-on type K probe mentioned is available through the Chrysler Professional Service Equipment (PSE) program. This probe is compatible with temperature-measuring instruments that accept Type K Thermocouples and have a miniature connector input. Other temperature probes are available through aftermarket sources. All references will reflect the use of the probe made available through the Professional Service Equipment program.

In order to use the temperature probe, a digital thermometer will be required. If a digital thermometer is not available, an adapter is available through the Professional Service Equipment program. It can convert any standard digital multimeter into a thermometer. This adapter is designed to accept any standard K-type thermocouple.

If a digital multimeter is not available, it to can be ordered through Professional Service Equipment program.