Air Conditioning; Safety Precautions When Working On Cars With Air Conditioners And When Handling Refrigerant - Audi A3 1997 Manual

Audi A3 1997 ➤
Heating, Air Conditioner - Edition 06.2000

87 - Air conditioning

1 - Safety precautions when working on cars with air conditioners and when
handling refrigerant
1.1 - Safety precautions when working on cars with air conditioners and when handling
refrigerant
The assemblies and pipes in the air conditioner are filled with refrigerant
1.1.1.2 Tetrafluorethane (CF3-CH2F or CH2F-CF3)
This refrigerant is currently known in Germany by the trade names R134a, H-FKW 134a, SUVA 134a and KLEA
134a (other trade names may be used in other countries).
Safety precautions
The following precautions should be observed with this refrigerant in Germany (additional regulations may be
applicable in other countries).
If it is necessary to open the refrigerant circuit during repair work, first drain the refrigerant circuit (=> Page
125 ), making sure to avoid all contact with liquid refrigerant or refrigerant vapours. If, despite the observance
of the safety precautions, refrigerant should escape, the refrigerant/air mixture must not be inhaled.
For this reason, always switch on the extractor systems, and protect hands with gloves and eyes with safety
goggles.
Reason:
The intensive action of refrigerants will cause frostbite on unprotected parts of the body.
Warning!
It is recommended that an eye bath be kept to hand.
If liquid refrigerant comes into contact with the eyes, the eyes should be thoroughly rinsed for about 15 minutes.
Then apply eye drops and consult a doctor , even if the eyes are not painful.
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permitted unless authorised by AUDI AG. AUDI AG does not guarantee or accept any liability
The doctor should be informed of the type of refrigerant which caused the frostbite.
with respect to the correctness of information in this document. Copyright by AUDI AG.
If, despite observance of all the security precautions, refrigerant should come into contact with other parts of
the body, they should also bethoroughly rinsed immediately for at least 15 minutes in cold water.
Although refrigerants do not represent a fire hazard, smoking, welding, soldering and brazing are not permitted
in areas exposed to refrigerant.
Reason:
The high temperature of a naked flame or hot objects causes refrigerant gas to undergo chemical decompo‐
sition. The inhalation of the toxic decomposition products results in dry coughing and nausea.
Draining the refrigerant circuit
Refrigerant must not be allowed to escape into the environment, it should be extracted from the refrigerant
circuit by means of a suction unit or service station. The extracted refrigerant is then reprocessed on site or
returned to the manufacturer for environmentally friendly disposal (in other countries, different or additional
1.1 - Safety precautions when working on cars with air conditioners and when handling
125
refrigerant