Refrigerant System - Charge

REFRIGERANT SYSTEM CHARGE

WARNING: Refer to the applicable warnings and cautions for this system before performing the following operation. Failure to follow the warnings and cautions may result in serious or fatal injury.

NOTE: The Underhood HVAC Specification Label contains the refrigerant fill specification of the vehicle being serviced.

After all refrigerant system leaks have been repaired and the refrigerant system has been evacuated, a refrigerant charge can be injected into the system.

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

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.

1. Evacuate the refrigerant system.

2. Connect an R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE standard J2210 to the refrigerant system.

3. Refer to A/C SPECIFICATIONS or the Underhood HVAC Specification Label for the proper amount of the refrigerant charge.

4. Measure the proper amount of refrigerant and heat it to 52° C (125° F) with the charging station. See the operating instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer for proper use of this equipment.

5. Open both the suction and discharge valves, then open the charge valve to allow the heated refrigerant to flow into the system.

6. When the transfer of refrigerant has stopped, close both the suction and discharge valves.

7. If all of the refrigerant charge did not transfer from the dispensing device, open all of the windows in the vehicle and set the heating-A/C system controls so that the A/C compressor is engaged and the blower motor is operating at its lowest speed setting. Run the engine at a steady high idle (about 1400 rpm). If the A/C compressor does not engage, test the compressor clutch circuits and repair as required.

WARNING: Take care not to open the discharge (high pressure) valve at this time. Failure to follow this warning may result in serious or fatal injury.

8. Open the low-side valve to allow the remaining refrigerant to transfer to the refrigerant system.

9. Disconnect the charging station from the refrigerant system service ports.

10. Reinstall the caps onto the refrigerant system service ports.