Charging With a Charging Cylinder

WARNING:
^ CARBON MONOXIDE IS COLORLESS, ODORLESS AND DANGEROUS. IF IT IS NECESSARY TO OPERATE THE ENGINE WITH THE VEHICLE IN A CLOSED AREA SUCH AS A GARAGE, ALWAYS USE AN EXHAUST COLLECTOR TO VENT THE EXHAUST GASES OUTSIDE OF THE CLOSED AREA.
^ R-134A IS CLASSIFIED AS A SAFE REFRIGERANT, BUT MISUSE CAN MAKE IT DANGEROUS. THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS MUST BE OBSERVED.
^ ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES WHEN REPAIRING AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.
^ AVOID CONTACT WITH LIQUID REFRIGERANT R-134A. R-134A VAPORIZES AT APPROXIMATELY -25°C (-20°F) UNDER ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND IT WILL FREEZE SKIN TISSUE.
^ NEVER ALLOW REFRIGERANT R-134A GAS TO ESCAPE IN QUANTITY IN AN OCCUPIED SPACE. R-134A IS NON-TOXIC, BUT IT WILL NOT FURNISH THE OXYGEN NEEDED TO SUPPORT LIFE.
^ NEVER USE A TORCH IN AN ATMOSPHERE CONTAINING R-134A GAS. R-134A IS NON-TOXIC AT ALL NORMAL CONDITIONS, BUT WHEN IT IS EXPOSED TO HIGH TEMPERATURES, SUCH AS A TORCH FLAME, IT DECOMPOSES. ONE OF THE PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL BREAKDOWN IS A PHOSGENE GAS, WHICH IS HIGHLY TOXIC.
^ DO NOT ALLOW ANY PORTION OF THE CHARGED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO BECOME TOO HOT. THE PRESSURE IN AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM RISES AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES AND TEMPERATURES OF APPROXIMATELY 85°C (200°F) CAN BE DANGEROUS.

CAUTION:
^ The A/C refrigerant of all vehicles must be identified and analyzed prior to refrigerant charging. Failure to due so can contaminate the shop bulk refrigerant and other vehicles.
^ Do not add R-12 refrigerant to an A/C system that requires the use of R-134a refrigerant. These two types of refrigerant should never be mixed. Doing so can damage the A/C system.

NOTE: Ford Motor Company recommends the use of a UL approved recovery/recycling device such as an R-134a service center that meets SAE Standard J1991 during an A/C system repair and recharge procedure that requires the A/C system to be discharged.

1. Connect the Manifold Gauge Set with the center hose connected to a charging cylinder.
2. Purge the center hose.
a. Loosen the center hose at the gauge set.
b. Open the charging cylinder refrigerant drum valve.
c. Allow the refrigerant to escape to purge air and moisture from the center hose.
d. Tighten the center hose.

3. Add refrigerant to the A/C system.
a. Open the low-pressure valve on the Manifold Gauge Set.
b. Add refrigerant until no more refrigerant is being drawn in by the A/C system.
^ Consult the vehicle specification label for the A/C system refrigerant capacity.
c. Start the engine.

WARNING: CARBON MONOXIDE IS COLORLESS, ODORLESS AND DANGEROUS. IF IT IS NECESSARY TO OPERATE THE ENGINE WITH VEHICLE IN A CLOSED AREA SUCH AS A GARAGE, ALWAYS USE AN EXHAUST COLLECTOR TO VENT THE EXHAUST GASES OUTSIDE THE CLOSED AREA.

NOTE: In high ambient temperatures, it may be necessary to operate a high volume fan to blow air through the radiator and A/C condenser core to aid in engine cooling and to prevent excessive A/C system pressures.
4. Set the heater blower motor switch to HIGH.
5. Set the A/C-heater function selector switch to MAX A/C.
6. Add refrigerant until the specified amount is in the A/C system.

NOTE: Consult the vehicle specification label for the A/C system refrigerant capacity.

7. Close the low-pressure and refrigerant supply valves.
8. Operate the A/C system to verify proper operation and system pressures.
9. Disconnect the Manifold Gauge Set.
10. Install the A/C charging valve caps on the service gauge port valves.