General

General

Be aware of, and comply with, all health and safety requirements.

Before beginning any repair or service procedure, disconnect the vehicle battery ground connection and protect the vehicle from dirt or damage.

Work in a well ventilated, clean and tidy area.

Recovery and charge equipment must comply with, or exceed the standard detailed in the General Description.

Handling Refrigerant

Wear eye protection at all times.

Use gloves, keep skin that may come into contact with refrigerant covered. If the refrigerant comes into contact with your eyes or skin wash the affected area immediately with cool water and seek medical advice, do not attempt to treat yourself.

Avoid inhaling refrigerant vapour, it will irritate your respiratory system.

Never use high pressure compressed air to flush out a system. Under certain circumstances a combination of HFC 134A and compressed air in the presence of a source of combustion (for instance, welding or brazing equipment), results in an explosion that releases toxic compounds into the atmosphere.

The refrigerant and CFC 12 must never come into contact with each other as they form an inseparable mixture that can only be disposed of by incineration.

Do not vent refrigerant directly into the atmosphere, always use approved recovery equipment. Refrigerant is costly but it can be recycled. Clean the refrigerant, using the recovery equipment and reuse it.

Carry out Leak Tests only with an electronic analyser dedicated to Refrigerant E134A.

Handling Lubricating Oil

Avoid breathing lubricant mist, it will cause irritation to your respiratory system.

Always decant fresh oil from a sealed container. Do not leave oil exposed to the atmosphere for any reason other than to fill or empty a system; PAG oil is hygroscopic (it absorbs water) and is contaminated rapidly by atmospheric moisture.

Following the recovery cycle do not reuse the oil when it has been separated from the refrigerant; dispose of the oil safely.

System Maintenance

Do not leave the system open to the atmosphere. If a unit or part of the system is left open for more than five minutes, it is advisable to renew the receiver-dryer. There is not a safe period in which work is to be carried out. Always plug pipes and units immediately after disconnection and only remove plugs when re-connecting.

If replacement parts are supplied without transit plugs and seals do not use the parts. Return them to your supplier.

Diagnostic equipment for pressure, mass and volume should be calibrated regularly and certified by a third party organisation.

Use extreme care when handling and securing aluminium fittings, always use a backing spanner and take special care when handling the evaporator.

Use only the correct or recommended tools for the job and apply the manufacturer’s torque specifications.

Keep the working area, all components and tools clean.

Do not attempt to guess the amount of refrigerant in a system, always recover it and recharge with the correct charge weight. Do not depress the charge or discharge port valves to check for the presence of refrigerant.