Heating and Air Conditioning: Service Precautions
INSTRUCTIONSWHEN HANDLING REFRIGERANT
1. R-134a liquid refrigerant is highly volatile. A drop on the skin of your hand could result in localized frostbite. When handling the refrigerant, be sure to wear gloves.
2. If the refrigerant splashes into your eyes, wash them with clean water immediately. It is standard practice to wear goggles or glasses to protect your eyes, and gloves to protect your hands.
3. The R-134a container is highly pressurized, never leave it in a hot place, and check that the storage temperature is below 52 °C (126 °F).
4. A halide leak detector is often used to check the system for refrigerant leakage. Bear in mind that R-134a, upon coming into contact with flame (this detector burns propane to produce a small flame), produces phosgene, a toxic gas.
5. R-134a refrigerant and R-12 refrigerant must never be mixed, even in the smallest amounts, as they are incompatible with each other. If the refrigerants are mixed, compressor failure is likely to occur.
6. Use only recommended lubricant for R-134a A/C system and components. If lubricants other not recommended one used, system failure may occur.
7. The PAG lubricant absorbs moisture from the atmosphere at a rapid rate, therefore the following precautions must be observed.
- When removing refrigerant components from a vehicle, cap immediately the components to prevent A/C system from the entry of moisture.
- When installing refrigerant components to a vehicle, do not remove the cap until just before connecting the components.
- Complete the connection of all refrigerant tubes and hoses without delay to prevent the A/C system from entry of moisture.
- Use the recommended lubricant from a sealed container only.
8. If an accidental system discharge occurs, ventilate the work area before resuming service.
9. When at high speed and A/C "ON", all the oil comes out of compressor and it can make instantaneously the dried moving parts of compressor damaged until the oil out of compressor comes in the compressor back.
So, if is a new compressor, on first A/C "ON", you had better drive at low speed.
WHEN REPLACING PARTS ON A/C SYSTEM
1. Never open or loosen a connection before discharging the system.
2. Seal the open fittings with a cap or plug immediately in disconnected parts to prevent intrusion of moisture and dust.
3. Do not remove the sealing caps from a replacement component until it is ready to be installed.
4. Before connecting an open fitting, always install a new sealing ring. Coat the fitting and seal with refrigerant oil before making the connection.
5. Because of the differences in the physical properties and characteristics between the R12 and R-134a refrigerants, the compressor oil for lubricating the air compressor and other system parts are not interchangeable between the R12 and R-134a system. Use the utmost care to avoid using the wrong one. The compressor oils and some other materials are not visually distinguishable. To avoid any misuse, be sure that the materials for the R12 system and those for the R-134a system are separately controlled.
- If an O-ring usable only for the R12 system is used for the R-134a system by mistake, the O-ring will foam and swell, subsequently causing the refrigerant to leak.
- If the compressor oil specified for use in the R12 system is inadvertently used for the R-134a system, the compressor will lock.
FLANGE WITH GUIDE PIN TYPE
1. Check for missing or damaged the new O-ring (use only specified one) and lubricate using compressor oil. Tighten by hand the nut pushing the one side pipe. Tighten the nut to the specified torque.