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GENERALINFORMATIONAND
MAINTENANCE
may result in skin or eye irritation or frostbite. Al-
formed to help maintain the efficiency of the vehicle's
though low in toxicity (due to chemical stability), in-
A/C system. For preventive maintenance, perform the
The idle speed is factory set and usually no ad-
halation of concentrated refrigerant fumes is danger-
following:
justments are ever necessary. If an adjustment be-
ous and can result in death; cases of fatal cardiac
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The easiest and most important preventive
comes necessary, first check that the spark plugs, in-
arrhythmia have been reported in people accidentally
maintenance for your A/C system is to be sure that it
jectors, idle air control servo and compression
subjected to high levels of refrigerant. Some early
is used on a regular basis. Running the system for
pressure are all normal.
symptoms include loss of concentration and drowsi-
five minutes each month (no matter what the season)
Data from various sensors and switches are used
ness.
+ will help ensure that the seals and all internal compo-
by the ECU to determine the proper fuel/air mixture
for optimal engine performance.
cGeneraiiy, the limit for exposure is lower
nents remain lubricated.
for R-134a than it is for R-12. Exceptional
*Some newer vehicles automatically oper-
care must be practiced when handling R-
ate the A/C system compressor whenever the
134a.
windshield defroster is activated. When run-
Also, refrigerants can decompose at high tempera-
ning, the compressor lubricates the A/C sys
tures (near gas heaters or open flame), which may re-
tern components; therefore, the A/C system
SYSTEM SERVICE& REPAIR
suit in hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid and phos-
would not need to be operated each month.
gene (a fatal nerve gas).
* In order to prevent heater core freeze-up during
R-12 refrigerant can damage the environment be-
A/C operation, it is necessary to maintain proper an-
cause it is a Chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC), which has
tifreeze protection. Use a hand-held coolant tester
been proven to add to ozone layer depletion, leading
(hydrometer) to periodically check the condition of
to increasing levels of UV radiation. UV radiation has
the antifreeze in your engine's cooling system.
been linked with an increase in skin cancer, suppres-
sion of the human immune system, an increase in
*Antifreeze should not be used longer than
cataracts, damage to crops, damage to aquatic organ-
the manufacturer specifies.
isms, an increase in ground-level ozone, and in-
. For efficient operation of an air conditioned ve-
creased global warming.
hicle's cooling system, the radiator cap should have a
R-134a refrigerant is a greenhouse gas which, if
holding pressure which meets manufacturers specifi-
allowed to vent into the atmosphere, will contribute to
cations. A cap which fails to hold these pressures
global warming (the Greenhouse Effect).
should be replaced.
It is usually more economically feasible to have a
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Any obstruction of or damage to the condenser
certified MVAC automotive technician perform A/C
configuration will restrict air flow which is essential
system service on your vehicle. Some possible rea-
to its efficient operation. It is, therefore, a good rule
sons for this are as follows:
to keep this unit clean and in proper physical shape.
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While it is illegal to service an A/C system
without the proper equipment, the home mechanic
ti See Figure 122
*it is recommended that the A/C svstem be
serviced by an EPA Section 609 cehified au-
tomotivetechnicfan utilizing a refrigerant re-
covery/recycling machfne.
The do-it-yourselfer should not service his/her
own vehicle's A/C system for many reasons, includ-
ing legal concerns, personal injury, environmental
damage and cost. The following are some of the rea-
sons why you may decide not to service your own ve-
hicle's A/C system.
According to the U.S. Clean Air Act, it is a federal
crime to service or repair (involving the refrigerant) a
Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) system for
money without being EPA certified. It is also illegal to
vent R-12 and R-134a refrigerants into the atmos-
phere. Selling or distributing A/C system refrigerant
(in a container which contains less than 20 pounds oi
refrigerant) to any person who is not EPA 609 certi-
fied is also not allowed by law.
State and/or local laws may be more strict than the
federal regulations, so be sure to check with your
state and/or local authorities for further information.
For further federal information on the legality of ser-
vicing your AK system, call the EPA Stratospheric
Ozone Hotline.
*Federal law dictates that a fine of up to
$25,000 may be levied on people convicted
of venting refrigerant into the atmosphere.
Additionally, the EPA may pay up to $10,000
for information or services leading to a crimf
nai conviction of the violation of these laws.
When servicing an A/C system you run the risk of
handling or coming in contact with refrigerant, which
Fig. 122 A label with information concern-
ing the A/C system is typically located in the
engine compartment
f
would haveto purchase an expensive refrigerant re-
covery/recycling machine to service his/her own ve-
hicle.
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Since only a certified person may purchase re-
frigerant-according to the Clean Air Act, there are
specific restrictions on selling or distributing A/C
system refrigerant-it is legally impossible (unless
certified) for the home mechanic to service his/her
own vehicle. Procuring refrigerant in an illegal fash-
ion exposes one to the risk of paying a $25,000 fine
to the EPA.
R-12 Refrigerant Conversion
If your vehicle still uses R-12 refrigerant, one
way
to save A/C system costs down the road is to invesh-
gate the possibility of having your system converted
to R-134a. The older R-12 systems can be easily
converted to R-134a refrigerant by a certified auto-
motive technician by installing a few new compo-
nents and changing the system oil.
The cost of R-12 is steadily rising and will con-
tinue to increase, because it is no longer imported or
manufactured in the United States. Therefore, it is of-
ten possible to have an R-12 system converted to R-
134a and recharged for less than it would cost to just
charge the system with R-12.
If you are interested in having your system con-
verted, contact local automotive service stations for
more details and information.
u See Figures 123 and 124
Although the A/C system should not be serviced
by the do-it-yourselfer, preventive maintenance can
be practiced and A/C system inspections can be per-
Fig. 123 A coolant tester can be used to de-
1
termine the freezing and boiling levels of
the coolant in your vehicle
Fig. 124 To ensure efficient cooling system
operation, inspect the radiator cap gasket
and seal
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