GMC chevrolet camaro 2000 Service Manual page 188

HVAC
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
1-91
Refrigerant R-134a
) Caution: Refer to Caution - Breathing R-134a in
Cautions and Notices.
)
Refrigerant performs the following functions in the air
conditioning system:
" Absorbs heat
" Carries heat
• Releases heat
These vehicles use Refrigerant-134a (R-134a).
RefrigeranH 34a is a nontoxic, nonflammable, clear,
colorless liquefied gas.
Handling Refrigerant R-134a
Caution: Avoid breathing the A/C Refrigerant 134a
(R-134a) and the lubricant vapor or the mist.
Exposure may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
Work in a well ventila.ted area. In order to remove
R-134a from the A/C system, use service
equipment that is certified to meet the
requirements of SAE J 2210 (R-134a recycling
equipment). If an accidentt;1I system discharge
occurs, ventilate the work area before continuing
service. Additional health and safety information
may be obtained from the refrigerant and lubricant
manufacturers.
Important:
• Use only the approved lubricant for the R-134a
system and the R-134a components. If lubricants
other than those specified are used, compressor
failure may occur. Coat all of the fittings and
the 0-ring seals with a clean approved refrigerant
oil. This action will provide a leak-proof seal
and to aid in assembly and disassembly.
• Do not store or heat the refrigerant containers
above 125°F (52°C).
• Do not heata refrigerant container with an open
flame, If the container must be warmed, place
the bottom of the container in a pail of warm water.
• Do not drop, puncture, or incinerate the
refrigerant containers.
.. Refrigerant will displace oxygen. Work in
well-ventilated areas in order to prevent
suffocation.
• Do nbt introduce compressed air to any refrigerant
container or refrigerant component. The action
may cause the contamination of the refrigerant.
" If i 1 is necessary to carry a container of Dot CFR
Refrigerant-134a in a vehicle, do not carry it in
the passenger compartment.
Handling Compressor Oil
Use approved compressor oil from a closed, sealed
container. When adding refrigerant oil, the transfer
device and container should be clean and dry to
minimize the possibility of contamination. Refrigerant
oil is moisture-free and will readily absorb moisture
from the air. Do not open the oil container until
the service procedure requires oil. Cap the oil
immediately after use. Always store compressor oil in
a closed sealed container. Compressor oil left in
open or improperly sealed containers will absorb
moisture. Do not reuse oil that has been removed from
the refrigeration system. Dispose of used oil properly,
according to local regulations.
Handling of Refrigerant lines and Fittings
• Ensure that the metal lines do not exhibit the
following conditions.
This will preventthe loss of system capacity due
to line restriction:
- Dents
- Kinks
• Do not bend the flexible hose line to a radius of
less that 4 times the diameter of the hose.
• Do not allow the flexible hose line to come within
a distance of 63.5 mm (2 1/2 in) of the exhaust
manifold.
• Inspect the flexible hose lines regularly.
Replace the flexible hose line with new hose if
one of the following conditions exist:
- Leaks
- Brittleness
- Deterioration
• Before disconnecting any fitting in the refrigeration
system, discharge all of the Refrigerant-134a.
Refer to Refrigerant Recovery and Recharging.
• Once you open a refrigerant line to the
atmosphere, cap or tape the line immediately.
This will prevent any of the following items from
entering the line:
- Moisture
- Dirt
• Use the proper wrenches when you make
connections on the 0-ring fittings.
Back-up the opposing fitting with a wrench in
order to prevent distortion of the following areas:
- The connecting lines
- The components