A/C - R134A, Precautions/Applications
REF. NO. MBNA 83/41TO: OUR MERCEDES-BENZ PASSENGER CAR DEALERS
DATE: June 1992
SUBJECT:
R-134a REFRIGERANT
A. WARNINGS
B. MODEL APPLICABILITY INFORMATION
C. CONTAINER AVAILABILITY INFORMATION
A. WARNINGS
In cooperation with the Society of Automotive Engineers recommendation for continued safe handling of air conditioning Systems, please observe the information below:
When servicing R-134a air conditioning Systems, all personnel should follow the normal safety procedures for handling refrigerants (such as wearing goggles) and should in addition note the following warnings:
WARNING!
Avoid breathing A/C refrigerant and lubricant vapor or mist. Exposure may irritate eyes, nose, and throat. To remove R-134a from the A/C system, use service equipment certified to meet the requirements of SAE J2210 (R-134a Recycling Equipment). If accidental system discharge occurs, ventilate work area before resuming service. Additional health and safety information may be obtained from refrigerant and lubricant manufacturers or Material Safety Data Sheets.
WARNING!
Under no circumstances should R-134a service equipment or vehicle A/C systems be pressure tested or leak tested with air/R-134a mixtures. Some mixtures of air, R-134a have been shown to be combustible at elevated pressures. The use of compressed air (shop air) for leak detection in R-134a system could result in fire or explosion, causing injury or property damage Such methods are not necessary since approved test equipment performs a leak test as part of the recycling process.
B. MODEL APPLICABILITY INFORMATION
Effective Serial Number
The vehicles shown are equipped with R-134a Systems as of this date:
NOTE:
There are no plans to convert model 201 to R-134a refrigerant.
C. CONTAINER AVAILABILITY INFORMATION
R134a has the trade name SUVA(R), much as R12 is known as FREON(R) Since R134a refrigerant is also used in central air conditioning systems for buildings, as well as automotive applications, dealers should be aware of the following differences that depend on the intended use of the refrigerant, so that the correct product is purchased:
^ R134a refrigerant for automotive applications:
Trade name: SUVA TRANS A/C(R)
Supply side fitting: 0.50 inch Acme thread
Packager: lg-Lo(R)
Available in 15 and 30 lbs. container which are light blue in color.
^ R134a refrigerant for stationary applications:
Trade name: SUVA COLD MP(R)
Supply side fitting: 5/8 inch flare (typically used for R-12 applications) Packager: DuPont(R)
The SUVA COLD MP(R) container will not connect to the R134a charging equipment.