Refrigerant

Working with refrigerant (A/C)
Saab 9000:
R134a refrigerant was introduced for model year 1992 cars in certain markets. Starting with model year 1993 cars, R134a refrigerant was used in all markets. Due to the absence of chlorine in R134a, the chemical properties of this new refrigerant are completely different to those of the R12 refrigerant used earlier.

Saab 900:
In model year 1994 and later Saab 900 cars (the "new" Saab 900), only R134a refrigerant is used.

In Saab 99-900 cars of all model years up to and including model year 1994, only R12 refrigerant is used.


Important
R134a refrigerant must never be mixed with R12 refrigerant.

Purging equipment for R134a refrigerant must never under any circumstances be used for R12 refrigerant.


Drained refrigerant may contain oil, moisture and a mixture of different refrigerants as well as non-condensable gases. The refrigerant may also contain solid (mechanical) impurities and acids.


WARNING
R12 and R134a refrigerants are environmentally hazardous waste products and should be dealt with accordingly.

There is a danger of frostbite and injury due to corrosive action.

Smoking and naked flames are not allowed in the vicinity of refrigerants.

Refrigerant must not be released into the atmosphere haphazardly. If refrigerant is accidentally spilt or released in the premises, open all doors and windows and ventilate the area thoroughly before continuing work.

Receptacles used for the refrigerants are classed as pressure vessels and should be handled accordingly.







In case of an accident
Bear in mind the following when working with refrigerant and A/C units:

Wear protective gloves and goggles and use extraction equipment when working with refrigerant, as there is always a danger that small amounts of refrigerant could leak out. Frostbite could result if refrigerant comes into contact with your bare skin or gets into your eyes.

If your bare skin comes into contact with refrigerant, bathe the area in cold water and treat it like a bum injury.

If refrigerant gets into your eyes, rinse them copiously with water, preferably for at least 10 minutes. To be on the safe side, see a doctor for a check-up.







Draining refrigerant
It is important to carry out a careful inspection of every component that is suspected of being damaged. Inspect soldered joints with special care.

Equipment for draining refrigerant
Recommended equipment for draining refrigerant is AKA MINI Force and Robinair. For information about the equipment, see the manufacturer's manual. Follow primarily the connection schematic for your draining unit. Use hoses with shut-off valves to make your work easier.


Important
Draining equipment for R134a refrigerant must never under any circumstances be used for R12 refrigerant.


1 Check whether there is pressure in the system.
2 Connect suitable equipment to the car's outlet.
3 Open the necessary cocks on your equipment. Start the unit.
4 Most units feature automatic operation so you do not have to supervise the process. When the unit indicates "Ready", the car's A/C system will have been drained of refrigerant.
5 Close the valve connected to the car's service outlet and disconnect same. When you do this, a little refrigerant may escape under pressure but the amount is so small that it is nothing to worry about.

For a complete description of the procedure to adopt when draining refrigerant, refer to the relevant service manual.