Refrigerant - Service Equipment

Fig.29 Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling Station - Typical:

RECOVERY/RECYCLING STATION
When servicing the air conditioning system, a R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE Standard J2210 must be used. Contact an automotive service equipment supplier for refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging equipment. See the operating instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer for proper care and use of this equipment.

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.

Fig.30 Manifold Gauge Set - Typical:

A manifold gauge set may be needed with some recovery/recycling/charging equipment. 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.
- 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 accumulator at the rear 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 liquid line near the evaporator at the rear 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.

REFRIGERANT RECOVERY

WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION.

A R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE Standard J2210 must be used to recover the refrigerant from an R-134a refrigerant system. See the operating instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer for the proper care and use of this equipment.

REFRIGERANT SYSTEM LEAKS

WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION.

If the air conditioning system is not cooling properly, determine if the refrigerant system is fully-charged. Refer to A/C Performance Test for the proper procedures. If the refrigerant system is low or empty; a leak at a refrigerant line, connector fitting, component, or component seal is likely.

An electronic leak detector designed for R-134a refrigerant is recommended for locating and confirming refrigerant system leaks. See the operating instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer for proper care and use of this equipment.

An oily residue on or near refrigerant system lines, connector fittings, components, or component seals can indicate the general location of a possible refrigerant leak. However, the exact leak location should be confirmed with an electronic leak detector prior to component repair or replacement.

To detect a leak in the refrigerant system, perform one of the following procedures:

System Empty
1. Evacuate the refrigerant system. Refer to Refrigerant System Evacuate for the proper procedures.
2. Connect and dispense 0.283 kilograms (0.625 pounds or 10 ounces) of R-134a refrigerant into the evacuated refrigerant system. Refer to Refrigerant System Charge for the proper procedures.
3. Position the vehicle in a wind-free work area. This will aid in detecting small leaks.
4. With the engine not running, use a electronic R-134a leak detector and search for leaks. Because R-134a refrigerant is heavier than air, the leak detector probe should be moved slowly along the bottom side of all refrigerant lines, connector fittings and components.
5. To inspect the evaporator coil for leaks, insert the electronic leak detector probe into the center instrument panel outlet. Set the heater-A/C controls as follows: Blower control in the lowest speed position in the A/C compressor On direction, Airflow control in Recirculation, Mode control in Panel.

System Low
1. Position the vehicle in a wind-free work area. This will aid in detecting small leaks.
2. Bring the refrigerant system up to operating temperature and pressure. This is done by allowing the engine to run with the air conditioning system turned on for five minutes.
3. With the engine not running, use a electronic R-134a leak detector and search for leaks. Because R-134a refrigerant is heavier than air, the leak detector probe should be moved slowly along the bottom side of all refrigerant lines, connector fittings and components.
4. To inspect the evaporator coil for leaks, insert the electronic leak detector probe into the center instrument panel outlet. Set the heater-A/C controls as follows: Blower control in the lowest speed position in the A/C compressor On direction, Airflow control in Recirculation, Mode control in Panel.

REFRIGERANT SYSTEM EVACUATE

WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION.

If the refrigerant system has been open to the atmosphere, it must be evacuated before the system can be charged. If moisture and air enters the system and becomes mixed with the refrigerant, the compressor head pressure will rise above acceptable operating levels. This will reduce the performance of the air conditioner and damage the compressor. Evacuating the refrigerant system will remove the air and boil the moisture out of the system at near room temperature. To evacuate the refrigerant system, use the following procedure:
1. Connect a R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE Standard J2210 and a manifold gauge set to the refrigerant system of the vehicle.
2. Open the low and high side valves and start the charging station vacuum pump. When the suction gauge reads 88 kPa (26 in. Hg.) vacuum or greater, close all of the valves and turn OFF the vacuum pump.
a. If the refrigerant system fails to reach the specified vacuum, the system has a leak that must be corrected. Refer to Refrigerant System Leaks for the proper procedures.
b. If the refrigerant system maintains the specified vacuum for five minutes, restart the vacuum pump, open the suction and discharge valves and evacuate the system for an additional ten minutes.
3. Close all of the valves, and turn OFF the charging station vacuum pump.
4. The refrigerant system is now ready to be charged with R-134a refrigerant. Refer to Refrigerant System Charge for the proper procedures.